pearl paint job

[getusummm]

Guys, I am considering a new paint job on my wife's mustang. Right now it is silver with purple flames, but she wants it to be pearl white with ghost flames. I am new to pearls, but not painting and graphics in general. I just want to make sure I am on the right track on products, steps, and quantities.
I will be using HOK for the entire system.
Step one: sand existing clear with 400-600, fix and prime and dings.
Step two: apply white KO sealII (approx 2 qts?)
Step three: apply PBC44 snow white pearl (6 qts?)
Step four: apply 1-2 med coats of sg100 intercoat clear(1 qt?)
Step five: tape out and spray ghost flames using sg150 pearl carrier with dry pearl mixed in or a PBC pearl
Step six: remove tape, clean and spray clear UCF35

Will it really take 6 quarts(4 qts PBC44 and 2 QTS reducer) to get good coverage with the PBC?
Thanks in advance for any and all help.

 

[TAZ]

Really some different ways you could do this. Here is just a suggestion...
Most white pearls are tri-stage paints meaning you spray a solid white base, then the pearl coat, then the clear. The PBC Shimrin is a bc/cc type paint, but this will be easier and faster for you anyway.

Looks like you also won't need as much paint/materials as you mentioned.
This really depends on what year she has. Big difference between a '71, a '88, and a 04

Anyway this is what I would do

1) Prep the car make sure all is perfect.
2) Spray your sealer (1 quart mixed should do this. This should make up almost 2 quarts)
3) Spray your Shimrin color (I would say 2 quarts, possibly 3 quarts unreduced should do this.
4) Clear your car...yes, go ahead and clear the car complete. This should take probably 3-4 quarts uncatalyzed and unreduced. You should keep one quart on hand for later. Maybe spray an extra coat on the panels that do NOT get flames (see below why)
5) Let dry for a couple days.
6) Mask off all the panels you do not want the flames
7) Prep these panels (either 1000 grit wet or 800DA, then wetsand with 1000).
8) Layout your flames, and paint
9) Reclear the panels you just did the flames on.

You should be done!

Doing it this way will save you ALOT of headaches, especially if you didn't have any clear over the pearl, and you paint the flames and happen to get some 'blow-through' onto the white (flame paint color onto the white pearl).
If you try to westand this off and go through the white pearl & the intercoats, it will be a real pain to spot in and get right.
If you do the above steps and you get blow-through, just use reducer and wipe it off with reducer.

Plus you will have a nice smooth surface to lay your flames on!

Plus you won't feel rushed to get some clear over the basecoat during the time you are doing the flames. Most paint systems will allow you about 24-48 hours before you MAY have a delamination problem between the clear and the basecoat. This way, it's already clearcoated. So you could let it sit for 2 months before doing the flames if you wanted to.
If you let it sit this long though, I would suggest wetsanding and buffing the panels that DO NOT have the flames. If you wait until it's rock hard, it's going to be very hard to buff! Be sure and wash the car off very good if you do the wetsanding/buffiing, then do the flames on the rest of the panels


Good Luck!

:bigokay:

 

[getusummm]

Taz, thanks for the help. The car is on 01 Mustang. I now have a new question. My wife and I went to a local paint store to look at color chips. She now has her heart set on a Dupont pearl tri system rather than the HOK. It has more of a yellowish/off white color. Is there anyway to tint the PBC44 so that it is not so "brite white", or am I better off just going with the Dupont system?
Thanks for the help.

 

[88GT]

Taz gave good advice. If you use a white sealer it wont take nearly the base you mentioned. 3 coats max for good coverage