Expert: Octavio Torres - 1/10/2011

Question
what product would i use to put a clear coat on acrylic tail lights?

also, when i dissolved the acrylic lenses in methylene chloride and use the result to glue my lights together, the stuff dries with bubbles in it no matter what.  is there a way around this?

Answer
Hi John,I have never painted acrylic lenses but as with any other paintable polymer, you must degrease the surface in a solution of sodium carbonate at 40𣬠then apply a coat of adhesion promoter primer( transparent type)and of course an acrylic clear coat. Another trick to increase adhesion of a clear coat, is to treat the lens with a flame for a few seconds to polarize the surface.
Bubbles always appear in that acrylic "slurry". The thicker the substance the more bubbles you get.
there seems to  be more bubbles if you apply heat to accelerate drying...