metallic or metalflake base

[OldSchool]

I am going to paint a new set of metal for my bike soon and I want to do a solid flame over a metallic or metalflake black base. What are the differences between these two bases? Is one easier than the other or do I need any kind of special gun to spray these? Also can you go over these bases with a solid color with no metallic or flake? I plan on using PPG primers, acrylic enamels, and clears. This will be my first paint job so any suggestions or recomendations are greatly appreciated. Also is the metalflake or metallic already in the paint or does it have to be mixed in?

 

[TAZ]

BH,
Welcome to the Flames Board,
A "metallic" type paint has very fine flakes incorporated within the paint mix. "Metalflake" are actual chunks of "glitter" that need to be mixed with some base color or base clear to be applied. They also take quite a bit of clear to level out the surface. There are extra steps in getting the surface flat. The easiest way to go would be to just choose a coarse metallic. This way, you do not really need the extra steps or extra clear, but yet you still get a nice sparkle.

I just finished a "metalflake" job. It is number 116 in the "Samples of Work section. Bright blue flake with candy violet over the flake and the outline. In person, a very neat job!!!! Can't take good pictures of a flake job.

If you decide to go with the metalflake, no special gun is required (make sure you have a bigger nozzle though). I also add a couple bolts to the bottom of the gun cup. Keep shaking the gun every once in a while to keep the metalflake suspended.
Good Luck to you!

 

[OldSchool]

Scott,
Thanks for the response. I will try the metallic since it is my first job, clearing sounds easier. These boards are rad. No need to bother the angry guy at the paint shop anymore. Later, Dan

 

[TAZ]

Just a suggestion...
Find a color you like in the color chip book. Ask your paint mixer to alter the paint mix. If the mix calls for different "metallic" tints, ask him to just add the "course" metallic in it's place.

In other words, most normal bc/cc metallic require 2 or 3 different sized flake metallic. Ask him just to replace these with the coarsest flake of the mixing system. This will probably throw off the exact color somewhat, but you will get a neat sparkle out of it. Plus you will get a color type you want.

Hey...give the guy a $5 bill before he starts mixing...you'll get all the course metallic you want