FLOW COAT CLEAR VS STACKED CLEAR | FLOW COAT CLEAR | STACK CLEAR COAT 

I think the thought process for most is flow coating allows you to flatten the previous layers of paints. Then by reducing the next two coats of clear you will end up with less trash and peel which means less cutting and buffing for the final finish.

im going to flow coat today ,i do every job this way

The whole idea of a flow coat is you end up with a flat finish(no orange peel) so you only need to denib the last paint, not flat and polish it .

That was a great way to demonstrate this debate. There is pros and cons either way, but generally i think it boils down to painter/buffer skillset and condtions in the paint environment. The stacking of excess layers of clear will tend to look very heavy around bodylines etc and need more aggressive cut and buff methods to get a nice look. Faster in paint slower in buff, but the flow coat way allows you to paint production style, sand away texture or defects easy and reclear for a sweet topcoat that is easy to buff. if done right this is a better way imo but time is money so depends on the situation. As a guy who has done tons of paint/buffing in my trade you have plenty of time to notice details that most others wouldnt....

I’m pretty sure that there is a much greater time between coats when stacking. If not each layer just melts into the last which is why you have runs.

Honestly, that was an extreme test, valid, but extreme. I think it's safe to say under a normal and careful cut and buff like one would in a 2-3 coat clear job, flow coating is relatively safe. It took a lot to break through that side plus the addition of thinners. The next question would be the suggested clear to use. Same or supposedly better? Reduced or unreduced?

You basically have created a blend line on a modern thermoset clear coat. That’s why it’s not recommended to try to “burn in” clear on a repair. The edge will show up sooner or later. Guys that are old enough to have used lacquer were able to melt in a blend within a panel because it would re-wet the under layer of lacquer paint and you could buff the hazy edge away. Catalyzed clears and single stage urethane won’t do that. The new layers lay on top of what has set up with hardened/catalyzed paint. I enjoyed your demonstration. I can tell you take a lot of pride in your craft👍

I used to work in a bodyshop that did a lot of drag race cars and collision work ......most jobs got 3 to 4 good coats of clear and the cut with 100 1500 200 2500 and sometimes 3000 and buffed......and the shop was known in the area for slick paint jobs ....that being said ....when I painted my personal truck a 96 s 10 with a core swap 2000 front end.....I did 3 coats clear....came in 12 hrs. Later 800 water sanded then put on 3 more coats .....cut and buffed it and it looked amazing ....and was easier to cut and buff ...idk ....but definitely be careful not to sand threw the clear if you flow coat

Fantastic job , I see the flow coat for artwork or stripes but as you showed the halo effect could happen to a cut threw area of the flow coat, I tend to stack

Cool video Thanks

both look pretty good from here

I am not a painter .this is a very interesting project! I think it is good to know.

I have tried stacking clear in the past. Maybe the HS euro clear didn’t like the millage but I noticed it framed the edges alot . I walk the side when I spray too. Anything that I want flat I flow coat, much cleaner finish.

Similar concept to a smart repair. I did it on my daily and every 6 months or so I have to buff a halo out. It was meant to be a temporary repair so I am fine with 10 minutes of work ever 6 months. But for a $10,000+ full paint job I wouldn’t be a happy camper. I am still contemplating a flow coat on my corvette I am about to repaint. I think it has benefits for those of us without a paint booth. Let’s me 800 grit all of the trash out and then I only need to worry about trash in my last 2 coats of clear while buffing.

Bro next time take it outside the booth so we can see it with the sun light. Just a suggestion. Thank you for the Information.

So I’m flow coating my square body truck , I just did the last clear spray on my tailgate and back side of doors . When I sanded the tail gate

Flow coating in my opinion is for show cars only less Orange peel and will weather better in the long term and will always look better and you couldn’t rub through unless you had a big night the night before 😂

You're supposed to wait a couple of months for the clear to cure properly before spraying a flow coat. Otherwise because the original clear isn't cured properly it absorbs the flow coat and can look "cloudy".

flow coat has a much better flatter finish off the gun. If you are getting paid by the hour on the job might as well stack the clear and cut and buff it.

Nice. What clear is this u used

For a show car paint it gives an optical illusion of depth the more flattens and flows layers you do. Flow coating has a place but also has a co$t 😂

Where is your shop located? Are younin yhe Charleston, SC area?

Thank you for this, flow coating has seemed to be a fad that took off, had a professional painter tell me exactly what you proved and it is twice as much work, so unless you are burying art work, graphics that are done on top of a clear coat … why do it ? Burn thru is not worth it.

You need to either eat or do video not both .

Flow coating is also a secondary go if you’re a shit painter and get sags and runs ..

low country, so are you in SC

Absolute waste of time. Do a extra coat and cut it flat with 1000 and buff it after you get back to 3000

I saw the flow coat. In the image. Just before u buffed and polished. Before u add solvent. Watch vid. Easier to see on film. It’s 1” back from stack coat line

Flow Coating is what the pros do for show cars and has been done for decades. You tried way too hard to look for this failure which is really unrealistic in properly done paint jobs. Im going to keep flow coating. It also gives a deeper gloss and shine to a paint job.