I’ve been painting a metal fence and giving it a faux finish. I would like to spray on a top coat that is not quite clear so it obscures the faux finish a bit. I’ve been using oil enamels for the color coats. I’ve looked at products that are urethane, polyurethane, and spray spar varnish. There is spray spar urethane. The problem I’m having is that the cans say they are all clear. I know from experience that a lot of “clear” coats for wood aren’t clear but it doesn’t matter because they are on top of wood. Does the word spar in the description mean it will be amber? Varnish? Thanks!
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Replies
The opaque enamels have lots of advantages as far as longevity, especially in light colora so heat build up in the sun is minimized. Adding a clear coat doesn't add protection--probably reduces it, possibly by a considerable margin. I'd genearlly recommend you make your finish of a single finishing system material. Metal needs to be properly prepared--obsessively clean and bare metal--with the primer system specifically recommended by the top coat manufacturer and the top coats applied as recommended. Light colors hold up much longer because they reduce excessive heat build up. Divergences from the ideal are frequent but usually have negative consequences.
What specifically have you used so far? My metal finishing experience is a bit limited, but with plenty of background information there are folks around here that can probably offer some better help.
Thanks for your response. I have painted the metal with a brush on rustoleum. It is an oil based enamel.
I want to spray or brush on a light clear coat that has some amber in it to change or mute the faux finish I've put on. All the paint I've used is Rustoleum oil enamel.
I read the label and this Rustoleum is an oil modified alkyd.
I could just call Rustoleum monday and see what they have to say.
Well, if you do want a clear coat to shift the color without changing the "texturing" of your faux finish, I would recommend using the best marine spar varnish I could find, primarily for the UV protection. My choice would be Epifanes, which is a tung/alkyd varnish that is a fairly dark amber. As long as the enamel is scuffed a bit with 320 grit it should adhere OK. The only problem is that long term clear finishes just don't combat UV as well as pigmented. Apply multiple coats, and in particular watch for any signs that the finish needs renewing, such as any lessing of the gloss. At the first such sign, then scuff sand and add another coat.
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