Thread: Painting Pearl, I'll word this a little different

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Excuse me, but I was wondering if you have yet to discover the formula (if you will) to the paint job in this thread. I really like that look!
If not. I would hate to loose out on the trick(s), so if it's not too much to ask I'd like to see you keep this thread open? Just in case you were thinking of closing it.

Thanks

Originally Posted by like2gofast

Excuse me, but I was wondering if you have yet to discover the formula (if you will) to the paint job in this thread. I really like that look!
If not. I would hate to loose out on the trick(s), so if it's not too much to ask I'd like to see you keep this thread open? Just in case you were thinking of closing it.

Thanks

There really is no set formula for this, what needs to take place is a series of spray out cards on the day of the actual shoot. Flattening agent will be mixed with the clear coat (not the base) proportionate to what the temperature of the day is (unless you have a proper temperature and humidity controlled paint booth), and humidity levels are. My suggestion is to start at a 4:1 mix of base:flattening agent and do a series of sprayout cards over your base coat to see which end result you like best. Once you have come up with the final product you think looks best, you can then use that formula to duplicate the results on a larger scale.


Bill S.

have you looked at Hot Rod Flatz paints? they have pearl and metalic flatz

I've had limited success with flattening clear. Most manufacturers will tell you NOT to do it. PPG for one. I did a bike awhile back, used a 4:1 mix and it didn't flatten hardly any (waiting 45 min between coats), used a 3:1 and it went somewhat, but not near enough, so I mixed a 2:1. Within about 5 minutes it was dead flat! Within 15 minutes, it was turning grey and cracking all over!!! Totally ruined the job and we had to take it all back down and start over $$$$$! AND, something about it, I'm guessing the parafins in it, makes it HORRIBLY hard to sand!!! Stuff is like a rock! Did a 32 couple a couple of weeks ago, started with a 3:1 mix and it didn't flatten enough, so being scared of what happened the last time, I did a 2-1/2:1 mix. Worked like a charm, but I ran out with just the rear quarter and deck lid left (2nd coat). Mixed another batch, 2-1/2:1 and sprayed it on the quarter and decklid and guess what, NO MATCH, didn't flatten enough... !!! . We sanded the whole car down the next day, went back to PPG (using all PPG products by the way) and bought their "Flex and Flat" clear set up. Its kind of expensive, but I will NEVER mix my own flat clear again!!!! The biggest problem seems to be inconsistancy of the flat. PLUS, if you ever have to go back and repair something, you probably WON'T get a match... Check out the Flex and Flat, or something pre-flattened, its a life saver!! Donny

Originally Posted by maxxmuscle

I've had limited success with flattening clear. Most manufacturers will tell you NOT to do it. PPG for one. I did a bike awhile back, used a 4:1 mix and it didn't flatten hardly any (waiting 45 min between coats), used a 3:1 and it went somewhat, but not near enough, so I mixed a 2:1. Within about 5 minutes it was dead flat! Within 15 minutes, it was turning grey and cracking all over!!! Totally ruined the job and we had to take it all back down and start over $$$$$! AND, something about it, I'm guessing the parafins in it, makes it HORRIBLY hard to sand!!! Stuff is like a rock! Did a 32 couple a couple of weeks ago, started with a 3:1 mix and it didn't flatten enough, so being scared of what happened the last time, I did a 2-1/2:1 mix. Worked like a charm, but I ran out with just the rear quarter and deck lid left (2nd coat). Mixed another batch, 2-1/2:1 and sprayed it on the quarter and decklid and guess what, NO MATCH, didn't flatten enough... !!! . We sanded the whole car down the next day, went back to PPG (using all PPG products by the way) and bought their "Flex and Flat" clear set up. Its kind of expensive, but I will NEVER mix my own flat clear again!!!! The biggest problem seems to be inconsistancy of the flat. PLUS, if you ever have to go back and repair something, you probably WON'T get a match... Check out the Flex and Flat, or something pre-flattened, its a life saver!! Donny

Donny,

What you have to realize is that when you spray anything with a flattening agent mixed in, it takes 2-4 hours for the car for the flattener to stop it's chemical reaction (even though the paint might be dry from baking it in the booth). I've had a bunch of customers try it on their own, not one of them was patient enough to spray it and walk away for the day. Each one of them ended up at my production paint shop......Patience in the key word here. 4:1 for a start, 3:1 next, 2:1 if you want it to look like colored primer, never 1:1, I REPEAT, NEVER 1:1!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Also, never mix one product line with another, no matter what your paint supply shop tells you. Stick with all Sherwin Williams (or PPG, Dupont, etc) products and use those spray out cards to experiment before you lay one gram of paint on the car/truck/bike/toaster you plan to paint.......


Bill S.

Understanding that it takes longer to flatten, what about the original "window" of the clear being used? On the 32 we did, we sprayed the 2nd coat and the next morning, it looked just like it did 20 minutes after spraying it... I use flattener in single stage at a 3:1 mix and never have a problem... Curious stuff! Now, anybody that is just starting to paint, stop reading right here!!! On the subject of mixing brands...Over the last 10 years, I have used several brands at once, mixing them here and there and have figured out within 99.9% what I can use with what else from another line. This is NOT saying something can't happen, because thru trial and error, stuff HAS happened, BAD stuff! But my experience has given me a chance to learn that some brands CAN work together in harmony. Doing CUSTOM paint, you find certain brands don't offer certain things or colors you might need, so what do you do? TRY IT! NOT on a customer job though. I've done sprayouts and baked them, put them in the sun, ran water on them and set them outside, for weeks at a time to test the results. Just cuz they look good today doesn't mean they will tomorrow!