5 Best Clear Coat for Painted Metal [2022 Reviews]

When it comes to painted metal surfaces, you need to take some extra measures to keep them protected and extend their life span. That’s because most metals are vulnerable to tarnishing, rust, and corrosion. Using a clear coat is the easiest way to keep a metal surface shiny and protected.

The best clear coat for painted metal should enhance the beauty of the surface, protect the underlying paint, and prevent rust and corrosion. Moreover, a clear coat should resist UV rays, scratches, and fading. And finding all these attributes in one clear coat isn’t an easy task.

To assist you in picking the perfect clear coat for metal, here we have narrowed down some high-quality clear coats available on the market today. So without further ado, let’s dive deep.

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Everbrite Clear Coating
Everbrite Clear Coating
  • Tough, durable clear coating
  • Restores the color and luster of faded metals
  • Protects metals from tarnish, rust, corrosion, fading, chalking and UV rays
Rust-Oleum 327864 Ultra Cover 2X
Rust-Oleum 327864 Ultra Cover 2X
  • Ideal for interior/exterior use
  • Provides long-lasting protection
  • Any-angle spray comfort tip reduces finger fatigue
  • Dries to the touch in 20 min
  • Covers up to 12 sq. ft.
  • Superior durability with smooth, full coverage and vivid color
  • Glossy finish
KBS Coatings 8404 DiamondFinish Clear Coat
KBS Coatings 8404 DiamondFinish Clear Coat
  • Permanent high solids and low VOC’s
  • Incredibly tough and hard
  • Water clear high gloss clear coat
  • Withstands harsh chemicals
  • Graffiti resistant
  • Great for high-temperature automotive applications
Spraymax 2K High Gloss Clear Coat
Spraymax 2K High Gloss Clear Coat
  • Flows smooth
  • Easy to use aerosol
  • Dries to a high gloss finish
  • Excellent weather and chemical resistance
Our Top Pick
POR-15 Rust Preventive Coating
POR-15 Rust Preventive Coating
  • Protects surfaces from water, chemicals, salt, corrosive contaminants and everyday wear and tear
  • Cured by moisture
  • Forms an indestructible, hammer tough finish

5 Best Clear Coat for Painted Metal Reviews

best clear coat for painted metal

Nowadays, hundreds of clear coat brands are available on the marketplace. To pick up the best products, we went through the products from the top brands and judged the features of the coat. Check out the details of each coat and select one as per your needs.

1. Everbrite Clear Coating
1. Everbrite Clear Coating
1. Everbrite Clear Coating
Our Score

For your painted and anodized metal surfaces, the Everbrite Clear Coating provides the most durable impermeable finish. The coat will protect any architectural metal from all kinds of environmental damage.

With just a quart of this protective coating, you can cover around 250 sq ft of metal. The clear coat provides the painted metal with a freshly polished look and long-lasting protection. You’ll be able to bring back the shine of any oxidized metal surface or jewelry with this tough protective coat.

As the formula includes UV blockers, the coat will effectively resist the damaging sun rays. Hence, it’s an excellent choice for metal doors and exterior furniture. On top of that, the formula features self-bonding properties. This means you don’t have to use any primer or other base coat before applying the product.

Talking of applying the product, it’s important to mention that the coat is self-leveling and fast-drying. So, this will save a lot of hassle during the application process and take less time and effort. You can apply the product with a paint sprayer, foam roller, sponge brush, or applicator pad.

Thanks to the salt and chlorine-resistant formula, you can use this coat for your painted metals in the pool area. It’s a perfect solution for protecting the exterior metal surfaces in ocean environments.

Pros
  • Tough and long-lasting coat for all types of metal surfaces
  • Effectively prevents harmful UV rays, mildew, and acidic environments
  • Doesn’t require any priming or sanding before application
  • Easy to apply with a self-leveling formula
Cons
  • A bit pricey

Verdict

This coat is an excellent choice to protect exterior and interior metal surfaces and oxidized jewelry. It will effectively resist UV rays, scratches, peeling, fading, and other environmental damages.

2. Rust-Oleum 327864 Ultra Cover 2X
2. Rust-Oleum 327864 Ultra Cover 2X
2. Rust-Oleum 327864 Ultra Cover 2X
Our Score

When it comes to producing high-quality coats, paint, and primer, Rust-Oleum is one brand that never fails to impress. The Rust-Oleum Ultra Cover 2X provides double protection to painted metal and comes in a spray form for easy application.

Ideal for both interior and exterior uses, the coat is suitable for all types of surfaces, including painted metal, plastic, wicker, wood, plaster, and unglazed ceramic. The spray comes in a metal container with an ergonomic nozzle. Also, the specialized trigger allows you to spray from any angle you want.

To ensure a fatigue-free grip, the trigger features a comfortable-grip technology. Hence, you’ll be able to spray for a long time without stressing the muscles of your hand. The spraying is made even easier by using a one-step application process. Meaning no pre-mixing is required before applying the coat on the surface.

Since the coat comes in a spray form, you can easily apply it on any type of painted metal surface. Reaching the corners and coating the tricky-shaped objects will be much easier for you with the spray bottle. When you’re done, the coat will take only 20 minutes to dry.

With one spray container, you’ll be able to coat a 12 sq ft area. This glossy clear coat will protect your painted metal from fading, rust, peeling, oxidation, and moisture. As the coating is waterproof, it’s a good choice for outdoor metal projects. Once you apply the coat, the metal surface will have a strong, durable, and glossy finish.

Pros
  • Provides a glossy finish and double protection to all types of surfaces
  • Features an ergonomic trigger and nozzle for preventing hand fatigue
  • Dries within 20 minutes only
  • Prevents oxidation, rust, fading, and peeling
Cons
  • Contains some unhealthy chemicals

Verdict

If you want a premium quality alternative to brush-coating, this spray paint will be a great choice. Just put on a mask before applying the product, and it will provide the strongest protection to your painted metals.

3. KBS Coatings 8404 DiamondFinish Clear Coat
3. KBS Coatings 8404 DiamondFinish Clear Coat
3. KBS Coatings 8404 DiamondFinish Clear Coat
Our Score

Do you want a diamond-like pristine look for your painted metal? KBS Coatings offers you the shiniest and most resistant coat you’ll ever find.

Thanks to the Moisture Cured Urethane technology, the clear coat is highly durable, flexible, and resistant to chemicals. This water-clear coat is among the hardest coat out there, and it can effectively resist the harshest weather conditions. Therefore, you can use it for exterior metal surfaces.

As the application involves a single-step process, you don’t have to apply anything extra before applying this product on painted metal. This versatile product can be directly applied on a metal surface or over other coated layers.

Moreover, you can use this coat on ferrous metals like iron or non-ferrous metals such as zinc, copper, aluminum, and nickel. The coat can effectively resist the harshest chemicals like fuels, brake fluid, solvents, ethanol, battery acid, acetone, fertilizer, and hydrochloric acid.

So, this product is frequently used in automobile industries as a top or base coat. Impressively, the coat can withstand around 300° Fahrenheit without yellowing. Hence, it’s a great choice for high-temperature applications like engine blocks and cylinder heads.

Pros
  • Provides a hard coat that resists harsh chemicals and weathering
  • Can be directly applied to any painted metal surface
  • Suitable for both ferrous and non-ferrous metals
  • Resists yellowing for up to 300 degrees Fahrenheit
Cons
  • Requires different prepping processes for different substances

Verdict

Go for this coat to provide the hardest coating for your metal automobile parts. The versatile coat from KBS will work on bare surfaces as well as painted layers.

4. Spraymax 2K High Gloss Clear Coat
4. Spraymax 2K High Gloss Clear Coat
4. Spraymax 2K High Gloss Clear Coat
Our Score

An easily applicable clear coat with a high gloss finish, this 2-part Aerosol coat by Spray Max is an affordable and convenient option to protect your painted metal surfaces.

Thanks to the two-component aerosol formula, the coat is durable and highly protective. The formula provides a high gloss finish on a metal surface without damaging the underlying paint. Also, there will be no yellowing or fading even in the toughest weather conditions.

To ensure convenient application, Spray Max has infused two unique technologies with the product. The innovative nozzle technology provides an even spray pattern and ensures a comfortable spraying experience. On the other hand, a new propellant technology is also used to provide higher yield and faster spraying speed.

Both these technologies make it super-easy to apply the coat to a larger area. The nozzle releases just the right amount of product with each spray so that you don’t need to be concerned about over-spraying.

Once it is dried out, the coat will effectively protect the metal surface and underlying paint from damaging the sun rays, peeling, scratches, and rust. You can use this clear spray coat on metal, plastic, and wood.

Pros
  • The Urethane and Aerosol formula creates a highly durable protective layer
  • Prevents yellowing even in the harshest environments
  • A unique nozzle generates spray gun-like results to ensure maximum comfort
  • Provides a high gloss finish that shows resistance to UV rays, scratches, and rust
Cons
  • Setting up the nozzle can be difficult

Verdict

If you want to provide a high gloss finish and complete a project quickly, you can purchase the Spraymax clear coat for the best results.

5. POR-15 Rust Preventive Coating
5. POR-15 Rust Preventive Coating
5. POR-15 Rust Preventive Coating
Our Score

To wrap up our list, we have picked an absolute all-rounder for you. The Rust Preventive Coating from POR-15 is a perfect solution for rusty painted metals.

Equipped with an edged push-in cap, the container keeps the liquid protected from oxidation. The 12-inch container easily fits inside any standard garage shelf. Mostly, moisture and humidity cause rust and corrosion of a metal surface.

This clear coat protects all types of metals from environmental changes, salt, humidity, and other damaging elements to prevent structural deformation of the metal. Also, it can resist fuels, acids, alkalis, and engines oils.

When fully dried, the coat creates an impermeable protective layer around the painted metal and successfully prevents peeling, cracking, and chipping for decades. As the coat is lead-free and features a very low flash point, it possesses no health risk. So, you can use this coat for your interior metal surfaces.

However, the coat doesn’t provide any protection from UV rays. This means you’ll need to apply an extra topcoat to resist damaging sun rays.

Pros
  • Prevents salt, humidity, moisture, and other environmental factors
  • Provides long-lasting protection from rust and corrosion
  • Lead-free, completely safe to use indoors
  • Keeps off acids, fuels, and oils
Cons
  • Doesn’t resist UV rays

Verdict

POR-15 clear coat is an excellent choice for those who want an impermeable layer and solid protection for rusty metal surfaces.

Wrapping Up!

Now you know all the details about the finest clear coat for your metal surfaces. We have included different types of coats specialized to provide long-lasting protection to a particular surface.

While choosing the best clear coat for painted metal, you need to consider the features of the coat and the type of metal surface you’ll be coating. And the results will surely do wonders for you.