SDTM Cary Hardy: Pinball Clear Coating - The First Coat

SDTM Cary Hardy Series Opener of How To clear coat your pinball playfield

[@totalinsanityfc4227]

The issue you had is called Fisheyes. It’s caused by wax or contamination stuck in the surface of the playfield. Even though you cleaned and prepped it properly, it was still contaminated in the tiny cracks and ball swirls in the playfield. It didn’t happen the second coat because now all the wax and contamination was “sealed in” under that first coat. It wasn’t product failure or temp/hardner related. Notice the test pattern on the cardboard didn’t do it. I’ve been spraying cars as a profession for 25+ years, I’ve pretty seen it all as far as problems go. You did the exact same thing I would have done to save the project by burying it with clear. It would have been a disaster sanding that out without getting into the art. My only other advice would be in pre clear prep, use a red scotch brite to scuff up the surface, not sandpaper. You run the risk of sanding through the edge of an insert or the edge of a hole. The scotch brite is much more forgiving and will give you the same result, and switch to your normal wet sanding of the clear you applied. Love your videos, keep up the great work!

[@mattharjo4145]

A have a question for you when you're talking about the "red scotch brite" to give your clear more surface area: do you mean any regular 3M red scotch brite, or are you being specific such as the 7447 Pro? I'm about to go through this entire process and am currently gathering information. I happen to have a need for the 7447 Pro anyway but being able to use this for my PF would be amazing. I have a feeling that the 7447 Pro is rougher than we want though. TIA.

[@troyhill4270]

Very informative, thanks! Too ambitious for me right now. Liked the Zelda music early in video

[@loubilly]

Nice work!

[@TxJayYT]

Great detail..even the screw ups ..LOL..Keep it up , very informative.

[@CaryHardy]

learn from my mistakes, buddy!

[@michaelcollins1526]

Awesome.this is some much needed information. Thanks bud.

[@CaryHardy]

Thank you kindly, sir.

[@YootubeUK]

Love your videos! Make sure you strain your lacquer just before it goes into the gun. Looked for all the World like contamination on the surface from wax rather than the fast hardener going off. Glad you sorted it out! Also use a small block when spot sanding - even if it's a piece of 1" wood as a block not your finger tips.

[@CaryHardy]

the spot sanding was a very low spot - no way a block sander would have reached it unless it was the corner of the block. So, roughed up the low spots and eye dropped clear to help level out the playfield and make the final coat go smoother. Which you will see very soon... Thanks for watching!

[@guesswho3945]

Few questions. I've watched your video a couple of time, as I'm about to give the clearcoating a try. I have a REALLY nice playfield for a Paddock, I picked up as it was heading to the dump. I figure it's a good one to learn on as it really doesn't need any paint touch-up. So, questions. Where things were screwed into the playfield, the wood around the holes is slightly lifted. Any suggestions on how to flatten these areas out before clearing? I'm not really comfortable sanding them as normal, as I think I'd wind up digging into the viable art work on the playfield. Second question. I'm pretty sure you understand the difference between "smooth" and "flat". The sanding pad you're using, at least in the early part, has a rubber backing. This is going to slightly conform to any contours of the playfield. (though, you did mention that you would be using something "unusual" towards the end of the process). I have a "bit" of a background in wood working and furniture refinishing, and when I want FLAT, I like to use a piece of granite from a counter top. It's perfectly flat, and hard as a....well, rock, and wont conform to any existing contouring of the surface. Any comments on this? Forth question....when's Part 2 of the video coming? :-)

[@TiltingT]

I can imagine the feeling in your stomach when that coat strted puddling

[@CaryHardy]

It was at that moment when I knew that this was going to require a lot more post work than I intended. lol.

[@chuckreed2677]

Video is 4 years old now, how much clear coat would you have put on if it hadn't orange peeled on you?

[@Srt8Adam]

Should you, or can you clear coat a diamond plate playfield?

[@Grant7]

you should Try the "OH MY" clear from BuyCustomPaint.com ...lays down like glass, doesnt need any buffing.. great coverage in 2 coats..

[@Mark-hb5zf]

Ever figure out what caused the puddling?

[@CaryHardy]

High atmosphere temperature with a fast hardener. It set in my gun too long.

[@BaZzZaa]

Yeah you fucked that first coat dude but it sounds like you learned a lot from the process Keep it up

[@Sweetrayz]

I'm at a arcade and I feel like they have too much clearcoat.The balls have so much spin the even climb up the flippers

[@KoSLoW27]

Oucchhhh 24:32 i feel bad when seeing this

[@Oberdorfer7]

You lost me at "Sanding" My playfield had been underwater, possibly a flood, and the paint is cracked and peeling everywhere. No way can it be sanded, just brushing it would flake all the paint off. I need something that will soften, and re-attach the paint to the playfield first.