How to estimate amount of paint needed

[gtc73]

1st, I know this question gets asked all the time. I used the search but apparently either I'm using the search wrong, or I can't search for phrases like "how much paint"

that said....as I am preparing to purchase my base coats for my bike, I'm thinking I would need enough to finish the job and have a little as possible left over. Certainly don't want to run out during the process. And shoot that stuff can be expensive to be sitting in the can rotting.

Any secret? for example...say 1 tack coat, then 2 good cover coats? I'm thinking 16oz pr sprayable paint (8oz unreduced) is enough?

thoughts....suggestions welcome. is there a rule of thumb? or a reasonably accurate way to estimate how much paint to purchase. thanks!

 

[hoss]

i always just get a quart and have plenty left over. if you prep well and have a color that will cover well, a pint would cover two small fenders and a tank.

when i say prep i mean...if you are shooting a black basecoat then get a black tintable primer to shoot as your primer, or even us a tintable sealer for your first layer. this will insure good coverage for your basecoat w/ 2-3 coats.

 

[gtc73]

Thanks Hoss....whats your experience with ebay in terms of paint. for example I searched for ppg dbc and came up with a bunch of options....I mean larger qty's for short money. I know about the "you never know whatcha gonna get" factor ....thoughts, experience ?

 

[hoss]

never bought paint there before. is it new paint or premixed? how old is the paint? what 's the reason for the cheaper prices? those are questions i'd ask, but you never know for sure till you buy it and try it.

after "YOU" buy it, let us know how it looks, he he.

i just get my stuff from www.hokpaint.com

 

[gtc73]

ya HOKpaint I'm sure is sweet paint. Just too rich for my blood.

 

[TAZ]

Quite a few factors in deciding on what and how much materials you will need...

What type bike are you painting?
How many pieces?
What color(s).
What brand paint or does it matter?

Let us know, we may be able to help you out.

 

[araig82]

Depends on what your doing, how many different pieces. A quart sprayable should be enough. Also depends on the color your using and how well it covers. Some colors can cover in 1-2 coats and others can be 5-6. I would say average is about 3 coats. The primer you use can also help you. If your painting the bike white, find white or a light gray primer, Black use black primer...etc.. I never bought paint online, if it comes with the reducer and hardener separate I would think it should be fine. good luck,

 

[gtc73]

well to answer a couple questons and provide a little more info.

- I'm painting a yamaha road star warrior. front/rear fenders, tank and 2 small side panels...possible the rear fender stays.

My goal is to get a deep blood red marbelized look dominated by black.
- my thinking was to base everything in white, then over reduce some black and spray it on wet. Then lay on the saran wrap and remove for a marbelized type look. My hope is to get the white to show through enough so I could then lay on some red candy giving the white marble the red hue along with the overall tins that same red hue.

- next I was going to mid coat clear in preparation for some custom tribal flames and some additional art work.

- final clear.
The suggestion I got from a local paint supplier in Worcester Ma. (central paint supply) was in order to save some $$ I could go with a less expensive paint bases, a 1/2 decent kandy, and spend my savings on a GOOD clear.

So I started looking around ebay and found things like
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230388133483&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT

or
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230388134077&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

so thats my plan so far....waiting to hear from the local paint supplier what his prices are on the ppg basic colore without getting super $$$$

thoughts suggestions welcome....on any part of this plan....thanks all!

 

[araig82]

the white that will show through, wont that look pinkish with you putting a red kandy coat?

 

[gtc73]

good question?, wont know til I get a test panel going. my other consideration was rather than kandy over, do the red base rather than the white, then the black over that ....would you think that would be a more accurate process to get the blood red marbeling.......I would prefer it to look mostly black with the red marbeling popping here and there.....

 

[araig82]

i think you would be better off using a red base. put 2-3 medium wet coats of the black (as long as it covers) saran wrap, put down your mid coat (kandy) until you like the look. 2-3 coats of clear, wet sand put your other touches to it, and then reclear with another 2 coats..

 

[TAZ]

Here is my opinion....if you use white as a base with candy red, you will just end up with a bright red, not a blood red. So if this is the effect you would like, then just do a solid red base like araig82 said and just save yourself the money and hassle. You don't even have to apply ANY candy since the job will mainly show black with a little bit of red showing though.

If you are looking for more of a 'blood red color', use a silver metallic rather than the white. Then do the black process you mentioned. THEN coat with candy. This will give you more of a blood color rather than a bright color. This will also give you more depth.

Before applying any graphics or artwork, I would suggest spraying a couple coats of topcoat clear, then resanding.

Be sure and do a test panel no matter which way you go just to make sure you get the effect you want.

Normally a pint of PPG is about = to a quart of House of Kolors.
So if you go with the silver/black/candy route, I would suggest the following
1 quart HOK silver metallic
1 quart HOK candy red
1 quart black (BC25 will work)
One gallon UC 35
One quart KU100
One quart KU150
One gallon RU reducer
One quart black sealer (you should really get white to so you can mix the white and black to get a gray. This would be if you went silver metallic base)
1 quart of SG100
All your tribal colors.
600 DA and 1000 wetsand
----------------------------

From what I figure the above, you'll have about $650-$800 in materials.
if you go with bright red instead of candy, of course this will be less.
Even a pint of good paint (I like using PPG Global) runs about $100.

Of course if you go with 'cheap' paint, you'll save even more, but you'll probably run into more problem with as many steps as you plan on doing.

:luck:

 

[TAZ]

You also might want to look into getting the HOK marbliezer clear in which you would put the black into that. The special clear leaves the black suspended and 'wet' longer than normal so you can do the saran effect.
I think you will also need the adhesion promoter for this as anything with the marble clear does not have the best of adhesion properties.
I forget the HOK numbers for both, but I'm sure you can find out numbers and prices online or other members can help

 

[gtc73]

Time to simplify! and change my tactics;

1. base in black.
2. using true fire colors, apply small red fx all over the tins. then apply the kandy reds or orange colors to give the look I'm going for.
3. mid-coat clear, then apply the tribal flames etc.
4. final clear

appreciate your thoughts on the revised plans.

thanks all

 

[gtc73]

Man...I tell ya. Making up my mind in terms of what I want to do....i keep seeing bikes and other ideas, but told myself...."Self...settle down on one theme and go for it...so this is where I am at. Thanks for the input. Super tips and ideas. I'll be taking it to the test panels soon and will post some test results for conversation and opinions. Lookin forward to the challange!!!
g

 

[gtc73]

Thanks Taz! I appreciate all the info. Notes taken!!!! super help for my plan!

You also might want to look into getting the HOK marbliezer clear in which you would put the black into that. The special clear leaves the black suspended and 'wet' longer than normal so you can do the saran effect.
I think you will also need the adhesion promoter for this as anything with the marble clear does not have the best of adhesion properties.
I forget the HOK numbers for both, but I'm sure you can find out numbers and prices online or other members can help

 

[gtc73]

here's what I ended up with. Right now everything is sitting in DBC 500 mid-coat clear. I'm having a blast so far. No issues (hope I didn't just jinks myself!) I believe I am ready for final clear at this point. regarding the amount of paint I was conserned about.....ended up purchasing and using every drop of 8oz. of base black, reduced 1-1 = 16oz sprayable paint. Also purchased 1 qt. of dbc 500 mid coat clear to cover my butt between coats. seems to be working out nicely so far...but I am still learning.

before;

after 3 coats of the Deltron 9300 black base


decided to go with a vietnamese tiger camo from Anh Pham


then added my own twist including smoking in the stripes outer edges all around using Kustom Shop tripple black.

lastly put several coats of Kustom Shop fire orange kandy to darken it all in.