Metal flake

[gggavo]

Hi all.
Im about to paint my motorbike and gonna metal flake it with the Roth 'lil range using a gravity fed devilbiss with a 1.8 fluid tip. Never flaked anything before so was wondering how much to add to 1 liter of activated clearcoat? Also was thinking is it best having the clearcoat thin so the coats will dry quicker? Im a bit concerned if its thin the flakes will quickly fall to the bottom and clog the gun, but thicker clear will have too much film build up and take forever in between coats!
Just a thought, but to speed things up has anyone ever tried using the flakes in a 1k clear such as acrylic then sealing it all in with a 2k clear?
thanks guys hope to hear from you soon.

 

[TAZ]

What I would suggest is spraying a black base. Then spraying a mix of about 80% flake and 20% BASE clear (not topcoat clear). Then once you get that sprayed and covered. Spray topcoat clear (about 4-5 coats). Then resand, and reclear again.

 

[gggavo]

Thanks for the reply Taz.
Dont think iv used this base clear before. Unless its the cloudy stuff that can be added to a pearl to get a more even coverage on 3 stage colours? Any suggestions of a name of one and il do a bit of online hunting?! And youd really have 80% flake to 20% clear? Id have thought the other way around but that will just be my unexperience at painting flakes!
Cheers, Gav

 

[TAZ]

I know the base clear you are talking about, but the one we normally use is House of Kolor SG-100. This is a "clear" base clear.
You also want to get that flake covered as quick as possible. If you went the other way around, it would take about 30 coats to get the flake to cover.
It will be VERY rough even after the topcoat clear, but once you sand it flat and reclear, it will be fine.
I've probably done about 40 flake jobs.

 

[gggavo]

Right, iv found some sg100 and read up on it, but what concerns me a bit is it says 'use only when topcoating a urethane enamel'. I thought a standard 2k topcoat clear was acrylic? Iv worked with polyurethene topcoats before and they have a thicker, more commercial finish that is pretty tough to coloursand and buff up.
After reading up a little on this forum it makes me realise how unadventurous us British are when it comes to custom paint. 3 stage pearls and chromaflair paints are as radical as it gets on cars. Metalflake is never seen and the only airbrushed artwork or flames is on the odd bike but you can go a lifetime without seeing it!

 

[TAZ]

you will be fine topcoating with pretty much any clear. I think HOK only uses the urethane enamel clears which is why that's mentioned.
Don't forget to topcoat, resand, then reclear again.