Varnish questions

[Scratchbuilder]

Would it help the drying time and levelling if I diluted it with water? That's if I can find some. My local Tesco doesn't have ANY liquid polish - only aerosol spray cans and those squeegee type spray bottles.

You could try decanting the spray can into a bottle, but in the long term you are giving yourself even more work, and mess (experience tells a story). I would rub down with wet n dry 400 and then use a gloss from Tamiya etc.
Cheers
Mike.

[Gern]

You could try decanting the spray can into a bottle, but in the long term you are giving yourself even more work, and mess (experience tells a story). I would rub down with wet n dry 400 and then use a gloss from Tamiya etc.
Cheers
Mike.

Decanting seems to be more trouble than it's worth. I'll give the Humbrol one more try and if that doesn't work, it's off to John's shop!

[Gern]

You say you put on two coats of Klear with an hour in between dave? That could be the start of the problem - klear will dissolve itself so the second coat will have softened and lifted the first. I usually only give one coat or if I need a second I’ll give it at least 24 hours to harden . Second are you using the new Humbrol Clear ? If so then its a different animal altogether from the johnsons Klear . The Humbrol is quite a bit more solvent based and will attack paint if not fully cured . I got a bottle to try and didnt like it at all. Maybe the combination of the Klear softening the first coat and then the two coats if Humbrol doing the same gave the patchy results? Add into this the very warm weather and its no surprise . Heres what works for me - after painting and leaving to cure 24 hrs I give it one brushed coat of Klear . This is left another 24 hours then I decal . I dont use any decal softener or fixer , all I do is paint a small area of Klear where the decal is to go. This helps to eliminate silvering and as it dries the decal will conform to any surface detail ,raised or recessed .A few times I have tried decal softener (gunze mr softer) but found it doesnt work any better than my method so only use it in extreme cases , plus it can react with the Klear and leave a mark. Good luck with the second try , cheers tony

I vaguely remember hearing about Klear dissolving itself, and that would explain the patchy appearance.

I can't find any replacement Klear in my local supermarket, so I'm going to give the Humbrol one more try - plus 24 hrs drying if I need a second coat!

Am I right that you use Klear as a sort of setting fluid for decals? Would that also work with other varnishes?

[JR]

Good luck Dave. I've found many varnishes in when stored for some time left have white flecks in them , promptly block up the AB

[yak face]

Am I right that you use Klear as a sort of setting fluid for decals? Would that also work with other varnishes?

Yes ive always done it dave , hardly ever have to resort to decal solvent. As for working with other varnishes , i doubt it . I think the very thing that might be causing the problem here is whst makes it do effective - ie the pool of klear under the decal soffens the first coat and when it subsequently dries it pulls the decal down into the detail