Automotive Paint questions

[fiberglasscivic]

I had some questions for anyone who does their own automotive paint. What companies do you prefer to use for paint, primer, and clearcoat (ex. PPG, Dupont etc). I want to do a candy color and I know that the first coat of color has to be different from the primary color usually silver or gold. What else needs to be done for a candy color, and what are some techniques for laying the primer, paint, and clearcoat?

[mn80228]

As far as paint brands, it pretty much works out that you get what you pay for. House of Kolor is one of the more expensive paints, but probably one of the best companies out there.

I have really only used PPG products as they are really pretty good, and a bunch less expensive than HOK.

As far as Candy colors, they are basically transparent colors. You just layer them on until you get the color that you want. One point though. You don't have to put a candy color over silver or gold.

You can put any candy color over any base color. For an almost unlimited number of colors.
For instance, if you put candy red over silver, you will get a metallic candy red. Add more coats of candy and you will get a dark candy red.
Now try the same candy red over top of blue. You'll get a color anywhere from a blue-purple to a maroon color, again depending on the amount of candy, and the actual hue of the blue basecoat.

HoK's color chart has 16 ready mixed bases, and they show each of the candy colors over top of each of the bases.
You can also mix your own base color, and you can mix they candies together to get a completely custom color.

As far as actually spraying the colors, just make sure you have the manufacturer's tech sheets and follow that....

Good luck.

-matt

[mike@af]

I use PPG Acryl-Urethanes most of the time. In the Auto painting forum (The route is, Cars In General -> Car Detailing -> Auto Painting), I have posted up steps and pains for doing candy jobs, as well as a lot of different paint info. Its there if you search.