Clear Coat reviews - YouTube
 

Some might find this interesting, especially after it's painted and how it levels out or holds up.

Production painter.....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYZ_mY_Dbd0

Ratings start about 3 min in, and he's in Alaska - so only tested what he can buy locally.

So companies like SPI are not inbound the mix.

Side note - YT "Paint Society" did a review of Sherwin-Williams "Acme Finish1" line of clear.

Claim to fame was how fast it dried and a decent product.

Not show quality, but priced ok too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_uBT1yW3I4

Ill have to watch that later. I do a bunch of small projects as a hobby, so I always have some cheap 2k clear around, often well past its expiration. Ive used a bunch of the Speedokote stuff and never had an issue.

That said, my stuff is indoors all the time and doesnt see a ton of weather. I feel like a true test of clear is years of outside storage. Im very big on searching "Best budget _______" whenever I buy something, so Im looking forward to watching this one.

He does some good reviews. Watched his spray gun review today.

I mean, some of the spray guns are pricey - but he seems honest and says what has worked for him, what isn't the best (e.g. spraying metallics with certain guns).

He did a good video on how a clear coat can screw up high metallic base coats - amount of VOC's affect things.

The Harbor Freight Black Widow was in the mix too. He mentioned using a Techa (forget the model) for over 10 years, and the
Iwata LPH400 and WS400 as good choices......

Enjoy !

Reviews are useless without SPI in the mix

Ive heard the DuPont clears are over $600 gallon now

Nobody reviews paintguns like Petes Hobbies. That dude is awesome.

I've used a few different clears over the years, for regular stuff my go to is 5 star 5185. My "good stuff" gets SPI. I have a couple of Iwatas, LPH400 and a Supernova. I was taught with a cheap gun, logic was that if I can get good results with a cheap gun, I could do great work with a good gun. He was right. I still use my old Matco redline HVLP once in a while to keep me sharp though. I have a couple Astros too, it's technique more than anything. If it looks crappy, I did something wrong.

Yup, not cheap......some websites show the $400 range, but without the activator.

I haven't tried SPI yet, on my to do list.

I started out a PPG guy, but the prices are nuts these days.

I kinda think its hard to get a bad paint gun in 2026. Maybe you catch one with a QC issue, but by and large, Ive only ever used cheap or mid priced guns (Eastwood and Porphis) and Im a rank amatuer, but still have had solid results. I actually just in the last project I did had my first bad orange peel event ever. And im 99% sure it was because I was using stuff I had laying around. Used fast urethane hardner when it was about 90* ambient.

I'm learning LVLP/compliant guns now, mainly because of less overspray. Yeah, fast activator at 90 degrees, it never had a chance to level. I use medium all the time, everywhere from 60-90 degrees.