Question about HOK base and SPI clear

Dartguy

Promoted Users
I have a Harley-Davidson that I've been struggling with.
First off I have been painting for over 30 years and never shot HOK... That being said, I'm not impressed.
I am on attempt 3 with the base and clear. The first two time the HOK clear wrinkled the base coat and now I just feel SPI is going to work way better.
I typically use SPI Unversal Clear and love it. Will there be any issue over the HOK base and a Bedlam designs water transfer decal?
I've used 4 of 6 decals and REALLY don't want to have to use any more or order more. Took 10 weeks to get these.
 
Never used HOK, but here is an idea.
When I did my Harley last year, I shot SPI intercoat clear (which is base without pigment) over the base, then did the graphics, then the universal clear. Came out great.
20210325_144414.jpg
 
I didn't use the Koseal, but used HOK intercoat left it dry for a week, and scuffed it before I applied the decal.
Just worried that it's going wrinkle up again.
New dryer, filters, dedicated line, temp at 75.
Just curious if anyone has shot universal over HOK jet black base or in this case intercoat (non-activated)
 
This isn't as much about what brand of clear you use, as it is about what you are shooting it over.

What did you originally start with? Bare metal or OEM/Unknown finish? Strong possibility there was lacquer on there depending on the age of the bike. That could cause a host of issues. What did you do the first time it wrinkled? Did you then strip it? If not you are going to have to.
Give some detail about your process from the start to finish.
 
Bare metal, stripped back to primer both times. Used HOK KDS3000 mixed as a sealer. HOK base for the first color an second color, HOK intercoat, HOK Jet Black base. All mixed per their instructions with thier products. Cleared with HOK Cosmic clear waiting 30 minutes between coats. Third coat starts to wrinkle.
Will SPI UNIVERSAL CLEAR WORK OVER HOK BASE?
 
It has been a long while since I used HOK but I recall they are adamant you have to use their Koseal sealer. That stuff is not very forgiving if you deviate from their process.

Don
 
basecoat doesnt wrinkle. its either the primer underneath or the first coat of clear is kicking off so fast it gets in a sensitive period by the time you get around to coat 3 and the final coat wrinkles the first. i wouldnt trust that kd3000 primer over bare metal any more than i could throw it. if that has a weak bond then the primer could be wrinkling. i have used those types of primers before and the adhesion always sux compared to a true epoxy. i have used spi clear over waterslide decals before with no issues. spi clear also works really well over hok base. i have done that on a daily basis for years.

@dhutton01 just an fyi, hok koseal is basically the spi 2k primer/sealer. they are damn near identical.
 
I only used the kds3000 as a sealer over (polyester primer) the tanks were body worked with epoxy as my ground coat over the bare steel.
Thanks for the answer to the question.
 
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