Metal flakes for paint

Where can I find metal flakes to add to paint? Also how would I mix it in?

Metal flakes are made by different automotive brands, such as HoK and PPG. Then get some PPG (or HoK) paint (depending on the flake) and mix the PPG (or HoK) flakes into the PPG (or HoK) paint. Just dont cross mix the paints.

Have you ever airbrushed automotive paints?

Don't quite have an airbrush yet. I'm going to wait to buy it until my dad comes back from his honeymoon.

Don't quite have an airbrush yet. I'm going to wait to buy it until my dad comes back from his honeymoon.

Flakes are tricky to spray, but not as tricky for small things. Make sure your airbrush is not for fine spraying otherwise the flakes will clog up. I suggest pearls for models as well, they look more like scale flakes. Flakes are huge on models and can make or break a model.

Thanks for all the help GTMike. Does this mean I can't mix the flakes with regular hobby paint?

Craft store chains Hobby Lobby and Michael's carry a line of pearl pigments that can be added to hobby paint for a pearl/metalflake appearance. These pigments are found in the rubber stamp dept. There are two sets of different colors. You mix the flakes (just a small amount) into premixed clear or translucent paint, it doesn't work well w/solid colors...you want pearl over a solid color, not in it. The two sets aren't cheap, but you can watch for sales. Black Gold also sells pearl pigments. If your airbrush will spray pearl or metallic paint, it will spray your homemade concoction just as easily. All you are doing is adding the pearl pigment yourself.

For best results, layer the pearl coat over the color coat, then cover the pearl coat w/clear. It's pretty simple w/an airbrush after just a bit of practice. Remember that a small amount of the pigment goes a LONG way-the little containers of pearl pigment will last you forever if you use it sparingly. For most bodies, you won't need much clear/pearl for the effect, I'd start w/no more than a grain of rice sized amount of pearl pigment added to the clear. Practice on something before attacking a prized project. :)

Thanks for all the help GTMike. Does this mean I can't mix the flakes with regular hobby paint?

No problem, ZoomZoom pretty much sumed it up. I wouldnt cross breed auto flakes/pearls with hobby stuff. I would cross breed anything, but thats just me.

If you go to the craft store, you can buy some acrylic paint and acrylic medium, if you add 3 parts of solid color paint, 2 parts of acrylic medium and 1,5 parts of pearl pigments (1,5 rice grain approximately), you will make yourself with a very realistic metallic paints, first of all you have to make the solid color, but keep in mind that the final color will be slightly clear than the one you are watching before spraying it.
The acrylic medium is used to make a translucent color from the solid color, but it makes slower the drying process.

There was an article in SAE some time ago about this, check it out. http://www.scaleautomag.com/sca/default.aspx?c=a&id=43
Niclas

pegusus hobbies makes metalflakes you can add to clear cote.

House of Kolors sells ultra mini flake that is a good scale match for models.

House of Kolors sells ultra mini flake that is a good scale match for models.


Sweet. So lets see if I got this down. I can't use metal flakes with hobby paint, only automotive paint. Am I right on this?

Sweet. So lets see if I got this down. I can't use metal flakes with hobby paint, only automotive paint. Am I right on this?
Doesn't really matter, they are dry flakes which can be added to tamiya or testors clear and airbrushed just as easily

Doesn't really matter, they are dry flakes which can be added to tamiya or testors clear and airbrushed just as easily

Nice. Should I use HoK flakes or Pegasus flakes?

Nice. Should I use HoK flakes or Pegasus flakes?

Probably pegasus. The flakes I use from HoK cost about $26.50USD, I dont use them to paint models either.

Probably pegasus. The flakes I use from HoK cost about $26.50USD, I dont use them to paint models either.


With that price, it's definetly Pegasus :iceslolan Thanks for all the help guys.

Probably pegasus. The flakes I use from HoK cost about $26.50USD, I dont use them to paint models either.'
One can get very small bottles for about $4 or $5 from black gold or coast air, enough to do multiple models

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One can get very small bottles for about $4 or $5 from black gold or coast air, enough to do multiple models

That may be why, I buy my stuff for automotive and use the extra on models. I buy enough flake to mix a couple quarts. Everybody is talking about these small bottles for models, I havent seen any, so I just use the extra.

What would be the best type of air brush for spraying things like metal flake? :confused:

That may be why, I buy my stuff for automotive and use the extra on models. I buy enough flake to mix a couple quarts. Everybody is talking about these small bottles for models, I havent seen any, so I just use the extra.
YEs I suppose it would be quite a bit more expensive in large qty.
Heres 2 good resources for the modeler

http://www.blackgoldweb.com/default.asp
http://www.coastairbrush.com/

What would be the best type of air brush for spraying things like metal flake? :confused:
the airbrush itself should not make alot of difference, you just need a spray nozzle that is large enough to let the flake pass through easily

That makes since. Thanks. :bigthumb: