Painting woes on my Trek reno

[septuagenarian]

The you beaut shiny black paint job on my Trek frame looked sensational. Unfortunately either the etch primer or the filler or the topcoat, or all three didn't like each other and the paint just started to lift off.

Back to square one and another back to metal strip.

I decided to go the rattle can route this time with White Knight and started with their Etch Primer and three coats and quite pleased with the result.

I'd initially wanted the 'Rat Bike' look but my spray painter mate talked me into some super high gloss stuff he had on hand.

Decided to go with my Rat Bike look so now it has two coats of White Knight Flat Black Epoxy Enamel and it is exactly the look I'm after.

However, and 'aint there always a 'however', the finish is not giving me a feeling of great durability and needs some sort of flat/matte clear coat to seal it. I don't really want to go the wrap route and the only other alternative I can think of is to maybe do the topcoat in Satin but that's a last resort.

Anyone know of a clear coat that will do what I want?

Thanks

[open roader]

Ideally the enamel finish could be oven baked, however if your are going 100% DIY, let it dry off for a few weeks then grab a can of 2K flat clear coat and hit it with a couple of coats of that.

[septuagenarian]

Thanks open roader

[bychosis]

I’ve heard etch primer and filler aren’t good bedfellows. Unfortunately I heard this after using both on a resto. Fortunately it hasn’t gone pear shaped et for me.

[septuagenarian]

Got onto a mob in Revesby, BCS Auto Paints, who specialise in auto paints, and they are going to make me up a dead flat 2K top coat.

[septuagenarian]

To Wet and Dry or not ??

OK, I am really happy with the look of the frame and am still waiting for the matte clear coat to arrive.
The guy supplying the clear coat suggested a wet and dry with 1200 before applying the clear but I'm a little concerned about maybe introducing some sheen.
I understand the need to wet and dry when using gloss to improve adhesion but the matte black as it stands doesn't look like it needs it.

What do you guys think?

[septuagenarian]

Well the wind dropped off today so I bit the bullet and did the clear coat.

I just washed the frame and then sprayed the 2K clear straight on the matte black base and it has turned out better that I could have hoped for. I used the whole 400ml can and I guess it has five or six coats of clear. I'm chuffed. I'll give it a week before I start any assembly.

[familyguy]

I'd give it even longer, if you can. I usually ignore any paint job I do for 4-6 weeks before I bolt anything on it. That said, I mostly use rattlecans with the occasional spray gun job, so hardening is a lot slower. Or hang it in the sun for a few hot days, almost as good as baking it.

Jim