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The Auto Painting Tips Newsletter
With Chris Curwen & Expert Auto Painter - Dave Gage (Car Cosmetics) October 31st, 2007 - Issue 27 In this issue:
Before we dive straight in, we covered Urethane Paint last week, if you missed that issue, now is your chance to catch up. OK, so onto this weeks topic which is of course those Special Effect Paint Additives known as 'Metallic' and 'Pearl'. Special Effect Paint Additives As we have discussed in previous issues there is such a large selection of auto paint colors to choose from that you can quite easily make your vehicle stand out from the crowd. You also have the option of using paint additives that you mix with the paint to provide special effects. The two most common paint additives are Metallic and Pearl. Of course working with paint additives such as metallic and pearl is not a difficult task however, we appreciate that to the first time auto painter, this adds a new variable into the mix. If this is your first experience with painting a vehicle, you may want to stick with a basic solid color. However, if you are repairing for example door damage, then you may have no choice but to include metallic or pearl to match the existing paint color. Metallic Paint If you take a look at most of the newer cars on the road today, they come with fantastic metallic paint finishes, despite the fact this is usually an optional extra. These newer paint jobs include tiny metallic flakes that are so small; you will have to look at the surface very closely to distinguish their presence. What is the benefit of using metallic paint? In conjunction with a fabulous color base, metallic particles offer extra shine and gloss to many paint schemes, adding an element of customization to vehicles. Where to start. Flakes are sold separately at most auto paint supply stores and come in small jars as a dry material in different sizes and colors. It is possible for you to add recommended amounts of metallic flakes to almost any paint color base, should you choose to customize a solid color. You would accomplish this by scooping out small amounts of flake material with a spoon. Then, according to mixing instructions, you would add ounces or fractions of ounces to the paint blend. A test panel will be a great help. A test panel is perfect for determining whether you have reached your desired effect. The rule of thumb here is to start off by adding just a small amount of metallic flakes to your paint. If the flakes when sprayed onto the test panel are too far apart, simply add a little more. It is simple to add more flakes, by adding too much it's impossible to go back. Measuring and recording the amount of flakes you added ensures that you can reproduce the effect easily once you find the right mix. Precautions you should consider. You may need a special spray gun to apply these tiny flakes. Select one that has a larger than normal orifice. This is to prevent the spray gun from getting clogged up with the flakes. This is a very important point to remember if you are planning on purchasing a new spray gun specifically for metallic paint spraying. Paint codes that auto body paint suppliers use include all the paint additives necessary to make new paint mixes match the original. These paint codes will therefore include metallic flakes. Before applying metallic paint, you will need to shake the paint container thoroughly before you fill your spray gun cup. This will ensure that the metallic particles are evenly distributed throughout the solution. This is very important, so make double sure that you indeed thoroughly shake the paint container before applying the paint mix. If you are concerned that you haven't shaken enough, you could always take your paint to an auto paint supply store and have them professionally shake your paint using their industrial paint mixing machines. You would also be very wise to shake your paint gun after you finish each pass with it. This helps to make sure that the particles are evenly dispersed and the finish has uniform metallic coverage. Pearlescent Car Paint Have you ever seen a custom car and thought it was white and then realized it was actually an entirely different color? There is a good chance that the particular vehicle has had a paint job that included a pearlescent car paint additive mixed in with the paint. The materials in question consist of tiny chips of synthetic inorganic crystalline substances that are painted on one side and left clear on the other side. You can purchase concentrates of pearl at any auto paint supply store. When viewed from different angles, light reflected off pearlescent car paint finishes causes painted surfaces to reflect different colors. The color presented is determined by the color of the pearl additive. You will have to check paint chips at your local auto paint supply store to select which combination of color paint base and pearlescent car paint additive to use for the color you desire. If however, your car was originally painted with a pearlescent car paint finish at the factory, an auto paint supply store should therefore automatically include the prescribed pearl dosage to your paint mixture. Confirm with the auto paint supply store member of staff who serves you at the time your place your order. When customizing a stock paint color by adding the pearl additive yourself, make certain that pearl is indeed compatible with the paint product you intend on using. For most of the time, pearl works well with just about any paint base. As we recommended earlier when dealing with metallic paint; it is recommended that you add less pearl than the prescribed amount listed on the information sheet or container label. As before, have a test panel on standby and use it to test your first spray, whilst visually inspecting your results. If you require more pearl, simply add a little more. This way you won't need to be so concerned about adding too much and therefore ruining your paint job. ******************************************************************************** That's all we have for you this week. Thank you very much for reading. We both hope this issue has been of valued interest to you. COMING IN OUR NEXT ISSUE: We discus Clear Coat and Multi-Stage Paint Systems (Base Coat/Clear Coat & Tristage.) Happy Painting! Chris Curwen & Dave Gage www.LearnAutoPainting.com © 2007
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