Clear lacquer on metal

[GeorgeHurst]

Hi there,

Since getting a compressor I've been doing a bit of panel spraying for friends etc, someone has asked me about painting bare steel panels (not stainless) with a lacquer, i.e. so that the natural colour of the metal shows through but is protected from rust by the lacquer.

I know normally one uses an etch primer to key the metal and then primer, base and then clear - does anyone know if it's possible to just paint clear onto metal? Perhaps there is a clear etch primer available, or the metal could be keyed with sanding / scotch brite?

Any ideas or comments would great, cheers,
George

[GeorgeHurst]

Just had a thought, perhaps POR15 metal ready could be used to key the metal as I'm pretty sure that one of the selling points is that it etches metal, any thoughts?

[Budgie]

don,t now if this helps but many years ago my mother had a large amount of brass ornaments which she got fed up of polishing to remove the natural tarnishing so i washed them sprayed them with an aerosol lacquer and they stayed tarnish free for years,admitidly they were not subject to the elements

[hotrodder13]

most hotrod and ratrods now a days are baremetal with clear on top and dont rust( been done a few years) but never done my self so i cant say

[GeorgeHurst]

cheers guys, well it definitely can be done then, that's good news I'm trawling the web as I write so hopefully should come across some other useful info...

[GeorgeHurst]

POR-15 GLISTEN PC! Ludicrously expensive as one would expect but it looks to be just the ticket
Have also come across other products on American hot rod sites etc but don't seem to be available in the UK, other suggestions include regular application of WD40 or oil over the whole car! Slippery