mixing pearls and candies

[Donald]

I am planning on painting my Venture Royale soon. I am an industrial painter and we have tons of polyurethane colored paints. I haven't done any custom painting but can handle a spray gun fairly well.
My question is, since I have clear poly paint, can I just mix in some color to act as a toner and expect to get that candy look. Also, do the pearl pigments they sell in art stores (Pearl-Ex) as good as the automotive grade pearls.
I am looking to mix something so the result would be a dark tangerine look, possibly with the top of the bike marbelized. If I can mix my own candys and pearls, any suggestions on what color base to use. Also how much pearl pigment per quat of mixed clear should I put and what color pearl to make it stand out. What amount of solid color per quart of mixed clear do you recommend. A lot of questions for a first timer. Thanks
Donald

 

[rmt1and1]

It's best to use the pearl in the basecoat rather than the clear. Or if you'd like, lay the base down first, then use something like HOK's intercoat clear mixed with some pearl and lay that down. The intercoat makes it a pearl paint with some staying power. You can also scuff it lightly for adhesion and do art work over it.
In reference to the clear, I believe HOK say's if using kandy concentrates, the mixing rate is 8 ounces for every gallon of clear. The more you lay it the darker it gets.
Hope that gives you something to think about. Call HOk if you have questions. They usually are pretty good about that sort of information.
mike

 

[rmt1and1]

Forgot one thing about the pearl. Usually the pearl should be used sparingly as is the kandy.
Rule of thumb is that if you use to much pearl, the pigments will get to close together and cause a congested finish. Another words, you'll actually lose the pearl affect. Try a small amount on a test panel and adjust accordingly. Any custom work, is generally done in the personal perference of the owner.
Mike

 

[rex]

You could do it in your polys but remember that stuff is a bit brittle and will get worse as it gets thicker.If you want a nice tangerine get some HOK pearl and mix it with your clear like they say and put it over a dark base like black or a dark red.You;ll have to spray a few test panels to see what you like.I'd shy away from candies but an orange candy over a high metalic gold would be a starting point.Making candies is kind of a guessing game,if it's a strong color it doesnt take as much as a poor hiding color.All you can do is put some color in clear and check it.For testing I cover the bottom of a pint can with the color I want and 1/2 fill with clear and go from there.When it gets looking good I keep a little for reference and spray the rest to check I can do what I need in about 3 coats.If I like it I slowly make enough to do the job compareing to the test batch and measuring to make a repeatable formula.As you're making it Use a metal measuring stick or a paint stick with someone's name imprinted on it.When you pull the stick out look at the color and at the markings on the stick through the candy.What you see for color will be a few coats reduced and sprayed and the stick markings should be seen easily.Too much color and the base gets drowned out unless you only use 2 coats and too little and it'll take too many coats to build up the color.Play some and you'll pick it right up.Of course doing it in BC/CC would be better but.

 

[Donald]

Thank's guys. That's pretty much the info I needed. The idea of using poly is because the paint job would cost me nothing, nada.
I did talk to my ppg rep. and doing it in bc/cc with pearl and candies would swing for close to $500.oo cdn in paint only, no provisions made for primer or adhesion promoter. I'll make the test panels first and if that dosen't give me what I want, i'll try the bc/cc way.
Don

 

[rex]

It'll work so don't throw in the towel too fast.Just remember to try to keep it thin so try to get your candy strong enough to do in 2 coats,same with the pearl but don't add too much pearl to make up for it.Instead pick a base color that will compliment the pearl for coverage.

 

[crazy larry]

Originally posted by Donald:
Also, do the pearl pigments they sell in art stores (Pearl-Ex) as good as the automotive grade pearls.

<font size="" face="">I am wondering the same as I do have several different jars that i have used in model painting but i do wonder about how it would look on a flame job on a tank or whatever. any one tried it?