Spray max USC 2k High Gloss Clearcoat Aerosol

Used this to repair motorcycle fairings. I've worked at auto body shop since I was 15yrs old and still know people in the biz. I have to say, this is a great solution (not substitute!) for DIY folks who want a reliable clearcoat but do not want the hassle or price paid for getting an auto body shop to clear for you. I did my prior research on this and other suitable aerosol clear coats and none matched the quality of this product. If you don't know the main contributing factor for this clear versus the other off-the-shelf clearcoats that you can get at an auto store or hardware store, this is a 2 part (2k) clearcoat, which means 1 part clearcoat solvent and 1 part hardener. The hardener is within the aerosol can and requires activation prior to use. Additionally, as the can recommends, this is for professional use. While not a professional by any means, I do have experience painting so that does help as far as prepping and application goes. Don't expect flawless results by just popping open the can and clearing on anything you see - SORRY but it doesn't work that way! Patience is key, not just with this product but with painting in general if you want a good finish.Let me go with this as the first part as I know most people will overlook this aspect (myself included). SAFETY! This isn't your run of the mill rattle can from autozone or home depot and even if it was, you shouldn't be using aerosol spraycans, especially Spraymax 2k in your garage/basement/bedroom unless it is set up properly for ventilation. Wear a respirator!To activate the hardener, shake vigorously for about 2min, remove the attached red button press, turn the can upside down and place the red button on the activator switch (totally made up the name for that part). Using the ball of your hand, press firmly down until it won't go anymore. Make sure you place it either on the ground or something sturdy when doing this. You won't really get any notification that you did it right other than a slight click, but if you did, the red button will stay in place. Then shake for another 2min to ensure proper mixture of the two solvents.As far as application and finish, Spraymax 2k is on point. The spray pattern is super wide, mimicking that of a real spray gun. When spraying, you will also notice that it sprays on SUPER fine which helps it blend well with what you already have laid down. You want overlap 50% of your previous line. The high gloss finish is amazing! You really will be surprised at how nice this sprays as well as the finish. To further the finish even more, Spraymax 2k has great buffability so taking wetsanding with 1500 or greater sandpaper and buffing afterwards will yield you mirror finish!As with all auto painting, your finish will be reliant NOT on just how you spray! People fail to remember that surface preparation as well as outside temperature play a huge role in the outcome of your finish. Again, take the time to prep and paint and you will truly be amazed at this product. You will see beyond the $30 a bottle and notice that in the end it was worth every penny.

I used this on my beloved Telecaster build. I finished the body with automotive products, it turned out very nicely. This was my first clearcoat job, but it went surprisingly well. Would definitely go this route again on future guitars.

Why did you pick this product vs others?:I used on frosted over plastic headlight lenses on a 2007 Buick after using the 3M headlight restoration sanding kit. First time using both products and very impressed. Follow directions to a T. Spray can has pin that needs to be pressed to mix paint. The first few sprays were watery so make sure to test with 5 or 6 sprays on a different material. After that I sprayed on pretty thick and no running. This stuff is sticky ( why it didn’t run) when on hands and wear a mask. It was initially cloudy, give it 10 minutes to dry and it clears up.

As I've written in other reviews. I'm a professional furniture repairman and refinisher. When I read the product description of this aerosol I was intrigued. I spray a lot of post catalyzed Conversion varnish on furniture, which is a similar concept to this product. When I mix the catalyst in conversion varnish, I have 3 hours to use what I mixed. With this product I have 48 hours to use it. I purchased this product to spray the trim on the steering wheel on my 2020 Toyota 4Runner. I sprayed it black a few months ago with SEM 49143 Trim Black Ultra, Black Spray Paint Satin Finish. The results were pretty good, but with using alcohol based hand sanitizer and other things that came in contact with the finish I applied, it eventually wore pretty quickly and started to look unsightly. So, I sanded down the finish, cleaned it with naptha and reapplied 3 coats of the SEM satin black. Once it dried for about 2 hours, I started to apply this product. I applied 4 coats during 68 degree weather in early October in NY. I let each coat dry about an hour. The last coat I applied about 4 PM. I left it overnight and was able to install it at 7:30 AM this next morning. I could see that it wasn't cured yet but it was hard enough to gently install it. Once I got home from work, the finish was really hard. There was some of the oversprayed product on the paper that I used to cover my work area. I was able to scratch the over sprayed paper with my fingernail and it did not damage the finish. I know it is still not cured but this is an amazing product. If used properly and prepped well you will not be sorry. I'll be purchasing this for other projects. I highly recommend it.