metallic touch up paint - why not glossy?

[troypiggo (Troy)]

Been meaning to post this for a few weeks. While it was cloudy and I had some spare time, I got this bright idea to spray paint my little short tube 80 guide scope. I went to SuperCheap Auto and picked up a tin of metallic spray touchup paint that looked like it closely matched the colour of some of my other gear and thought that'd look nice.

Took the scope apart so just had the OTA and hood metal parts, sanded them back, applied masking tape for overspray, and off I went spraying. I know enough to apply even coats, no dripping, and go with several coats. But no matter what I did, the paint finish is not glossy as I was expecting. It's kind of matt.

I would expect car touchup paint to be glossy, no? Is there something wrong perhaps with the batch I used? Or is it possible that you can do something wrong in the application and it doesn't gloss up?

[ZeroID (Brent)]

I think most car metallics have a clear varnish overspray to finish the job and make them shiny.

[omegacrux (David)]

Hi Troy
Sounds like you put it on too thin
Get a test sheet of metal and practice on that slow down a bit
See how that goes but it should come out of the can glossy
Unless you got matt paint ! That stuff is popping up on cars and bikes lately
Hope this helps a bit

David

[troypiggo (Troy)]

Thanks guys. There is a chance I put it on too thin, as I was paranoid about going too thick and dripping. It looks shiny when wet, obviously, but when it dried it went matty.

[GeoffW1 (Geoff)]

Hi,

Spray it with a clear coat (from the same display stand). This is very common now on cars.

Cheers

[Poita (Peter)]

All metallic spray paints require a few coats of clear coat over the top to get a smooth glossy finish. A few coats of that and it should look the business.