Super Thick Clear Coat / Handprints

[swarfrat]

Starting to close in on my kiddo's bass project. I'm currently thinking about painting it either solid black or solid white, and doing a hand print (his or maybe both of ours - since hopefully he'll want to hang onto this after I'm gone).

I'm looking for suggestions for paints, especially the clear coat.  Something darn near indestructible.
1) What sort of clear coat is super thick yet still clear?  Or at least bullet proof?
2) What sort of paints are compatible with 1)
3) Do the undercoats need to be gloss if it has a super thick clear coat? Do I WANT them to be gloss / matt if it doesn't matter for other reasons. (Making it pop, paint sticking, etc...)

I'm willing to entertain letting someone else do the clear coat if need be (shooting something I don't have equipment for.) Thoughts? Suggestions?

 

[bagman67]

2k clear coat is pretty bulletproof, but nasty stuff to spray.  You'll definitely want to keep the little one far away and wear a respirator while spraying outdoors.


http://www.autobodytoolmart.com/spray-max-2k-glamour-high-gloss-clear-coat-3680061-p-31867.aspx?gclid=Cj0KEQjw5Z63BRCLqqLtpc6dk7gBEiQA0OuhsAiJhjdmtsCQBMlKa693jFk33p0ynuf0qOVXwBFQNJgaAucE8P8HAQ

 

[bagman67]

...and I would go with a white color coat, since the contrasting handprint you're contemplating will be more difficult to make "pop" against a black colorcoat.

 

[swarfrat]

Perhaps pertinent. I wanted to let the kiddo pick the color - but if we do the hand print thing, that's going to be "Dad paints base color, kiddo picks color for hand print". So far he's picking GREEN, and loud greens. Like dayglow putrescent green. Which might actually show up on black.

(I actually have some glow in the dark paint somewhere. That thought crossed my mind on a black background, but IMO they're kinda undwhelming most of the time.)

 

[Cagey]

I'd go with the white color coat, too. Otherwise, your painted hand print will have to compete with every other speck of dust/hand/fingerprint that'll show up pretty prominently on glossy black. I loves me a black guitar - I have 4 of them at the moment - but keeping them attractive is a never-ending project. As for matte/satin vs. gloss, a matte finish is usually a non-starter for me. They look great right after the finish cures, but for most of them that's the last time they do. They mark too easily.

 

[swarfrat]

I wasn't going for a matte finish per se. I was just wondering aloud if something other than gloss might be appropriate when the clear top was gloss, or if it was gloss all the way down to primer.

 

[bagman67]

I reckon as long as your clearcoat is gloss and laid on heavily enough, the undercoats can be whatever sheen - you generally will dull them somewhat with sandpaper before you apply the clear topcoat anyway.

 

[Cagey]

Most finishes are glossy by default and getting anything less requires additives. But, you're going to level sand the color coat with some 320-400 grit before you clear coat it anyway, so it doesn't matter. You'll have a good surface for the clear coat to bite into.