Is it necessary to put on a clear coat (over paint) before epoxying plugs? What is it called-is it clear laquer? How much "roughing-up" is needed? Will this clear coat prevent fish-eyes on flouresents? please help.

some people do use clear coats over their paint and scuff to different degrees. i put epoxy directly over all paints including metalics and flouresents and have good results.

Advantages doing it both ways. Direct method over the paint leaves one less step, and allows you to wire after epoxy without damaging the paint.

Scratch coat allows you to wire before epoxy which makes a better seal around the lip etc.

I saw your plugs at Plugfest. Whatever your doing now seems to work great! Why change?

What type of epoxy are you having trouble with?

I thought maybe the clearcoat with added scuff woulkd result in a more durable finish as end result. A few of my plugs had problem


My problem is not waiting long enough after painting (airbrushing)--I think I apply to much paint at once instead of spraying multiple coats. A few plugs split their epoxy (not the wood). E-tex applied at less than 70 degrees could be the problem too. Is there a better grade of paint I should be using? Should creatix also be applied at 70 degrees?

I don't know about being necessary but if you do a scratch coat, it certainly will help give the epoxy something to grab ahold of.