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Old 02-06-2012 | 06:42 AM
  #45  
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SPLIT S
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From: Blandon, PA
Default RE: Firebird Paint

The pearl white is known as a tri-coat. A base of pure white followed by another layer of pearl then the clear coat. You can't mix pearl directly in with the white otherwise you would never see it. The pearl itself is a powder mixed with a clear basecoat product, in this case DBC500. My mixing is done on a scale so I can't give you actual volume amounts. Your local auto body paint store can hook you up. The pearl sitting on top is what gives it the shimmer. The key is applying enough pearl, in this case two coats, to give the shimmer effect but not too much that the white becomes muddy looking. Be careful with the application of the pearl, i.e. watch your overlap as you spray to keep the pearl look even. Not difficult to do if the gun is set up and working correctly.

The blue and red being candies are known as tri-coats as well. These colors I created myself at work but there are plenty to choose from stock color books. PPG has their Vibrance line as well as House of Kolor among others. Same rules apply, it is the combination of the groundcoat color and the candy layer that gives you the final color you see. Spraying pearl is a bit easier than the colored candy because any deviation in the application of the candy color will lead to an uneven or blotchy appearance. Again not too difficult to do. Practice, practice, practice using the gun to get perfect overlaps and you will be fine.

I mixed a pint of the base white and the pearl. The rest were all half pints. Once reduced the sprayable amounts are double that, basecoat goes a long way.

Dan