Acrylic Urethane Clear Coat
 

What's the difference between a 'medium solids' and a 'high solids'
in a clear coat? Would you need a different tip to spray them?
Thanks.

In most paints you have a volatile portion(solvent) and a "solids " portion, which it what forms the film after the solvents evaporate. So, for example, a "medium solids" clear might be 33% volume solids or so, which means if you apply 3 mils wet, 2 mils of the wet paint will evaporate, leaving you with 1 mil dry film thickness. Let's assume your high solids clear is 50% solids, you would only have to spray 2 mils wet to get the same dry 1 mil film thichness. Net result is more coverage at a given film thickness with higher solids. You won't necessarily need a smaller tip to spray high solids, will probably depend more on the viscosity of the clear, but if you went with a slightly smaller tip(or adjust your fluid delivery at the gun) it will be easier to control your film thickness. Hope this helps.

Thanks, that helps a lot.

I would think that a higher solids formula would have a higher viscosity,
and will be relatively more difficult to control the layer thickness. So
it's maybe better for a non-professional to spray more coats of a lower
solids formula if you are looking for an even surface?

All of what you stated is true, except for the fact that a higher solids paint won't necessarily have a higher viscosity (has to do with the molecular weight of the resin when they mfr. it). Lower solids coatings are a little more forgiving in the fact that they tend to "orange peel" less thatn higher solids. higher solids paints (and clears) also have a tendency to dry slower, because of the lower molecular weight.

I was told by a bodyman one time to spray the acrylic ureathane clear solid with little or no reduction the first 2 coats and then reduce down the 3rd coat to flow and even it out. Don't know if this will work but if you try it let me know if it works.