Nesines
Spraying flakes over a silver base coat can be a fun and creative way to add some flair to your car or motorcycle. While there is no right way to do it, there are some general tips and tricks that can help you achieve the look you want. Firstly, it's important to prepare your surface by cleaning it with a tack rag and ensuring you have a light silver basecoat. This will make your flakes pop even more. When mixing your flakes, use around 1-2 tablespoons of flakes for every quart of clear paint, adjusting the amount depending on whether you want a dense or scattered look. You can use any nozzle to spray .004 flakes, but larger nozzles will give you denser coverage, especially with bigger flake sizes. If you're using .008 flakes, it's a good idea to wet sand them before applying the clear coat to smooth them down. Finally, consider adding a touch of pearl over your flakes for an extra special effect!
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Preparation | Take a picture or print a black-and-white copy of the project to get a general idea of the design. |
| Base Coat | Mix half a pint of silver basecoat with a reducer in a 1:1 mixture. |
| Spray Gun | Ensure you have a neck filter in your gun and a high fluid flow. |
| Tacking | Use a brand-new tack rag, open it fully, then fold it to an eighth of its size. Lightly coat the surface without rubbing hard. |
| Painting Technique | Spray the edges first or last, depending on your preference. Ensure all edges are covered. |
| Drying | In cool weather, wait 45 minutes to an hour and a half before putting tape on the base coat. |
| Flake Type | Micro sequence metal flake is the finest type, followed by standard and jumbo metal flake. |
| Flake Application | Mix flakes into a clear coat and spray over the base colour. Alternatively, use an intercoat like DBC or DBU 500 by PPG. |
| Flake Amount | For a solid flake effect, use 1-2 tablespoons of flakes per quart of clear paint. For a scattered look, use less. |
| Nozzle Size | Larger nozzles provide denser flake coverage, especially for bigger flake sizes. |
| Smoothing | Wet sand larger flakes before applying the clear coat. Apply 2-3 coats of plain clear coat to bury large flakes. |
| Additional Effects | Add a touch of pearl over the flakes for a fantastic effect. |
What You'll Learn
Use an intercoat if you're a beginner
If you're a beginner, it's recommended to use an intercoat when spraying metal flakes over a silver base coat. An intercoat is like a clear base coat and gives you more room for error. It dries like a base coat but has the thickness and durability of a clear coat, providing complete control over the final look.
When spraying the base, you're looking for coverage, whereas with clear coats, you're looking for gloss. It's tougher to run a base coat than a clear coat. If you're not used to spraying and have problems with gun flow and distance, you run the risk of ruining your clear coat. If you make a mistake with the clear coat, you'll need to let it dry, sand your panels down, and start again.
Using an intercoat means that if you make a mistake, you just need to respray your base coat, coat it with your pearl intercoat, and finish with a few coats of clear.
Intercoats are ideal for flakes and custom artwork. You can mix the intercoat 1:1 with flakes. You can buy intercoat products like DBC or DBU 500 by PPG, or SG150 intercoat pearl and flake karrier by House of Kolor.
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Experiment with different colours of paint, flake sizes and number of coats
When it comes to customising your car, motorcycle, or any other project, there are endless possibilities for experimentation with different colours, flake sizes, and application techniques. Here are some tips to help you get started:
Paint Colours
The first step is to choose a base coat colour that complements the flake colour you have selected. While it is not mandatory, choosing a similar base coat colour can help achieve maximum coverage. For example, a black base coat can be an excellent choice for matching silver flakes, creating a sleek and elegant look. However, you can also experiment with contrasting colours to create unique effects.
Flake Sizes
Flakes come in various sizes, from micro or small flakes that are easy to spray and provide seamless coverage, to larger flakes that give a bold, eye-catching sparkle. The size you choose will depend on the look you want to achieve and the application method you prefer.
- Micro Flakes: These tiny flakes, usually around around .004" in size, are the easiest to work with and provide a seamless finish. They can be sprayed through most large-size tip airbrushes and HVLP spray guns with a 1.0 nozzle or larger.
- Mini Flakes: Slightly larger than micro flakes, mini flakes are typically around .008" in size and offer more sparkle. They can be sprayed with HVLP and conventional spray equipment with a minimum 1.5 nozzle setup.
- Bass Boat/Large Flakes: With a size of around .015", these flakes provide a bold, vintage '70s look. They require a larger setup, such as an HVLP or conventional spray gun with a minimum 1.8 nozzle.
- Extra Large Flakes: For an extreme sparkle, extra-large flakes, usually .025" or larger, can be used. These require an even bigger setup, with a minimum 2.2 nozzle for HVLP and conventional spray equipment.
Number of Coats
The number of coats you apply will depend on the desired effect and the specific products you are using. Here are some general guidelines:
- Base Coat: Apply 2-3 coats of your chosen base colour, allowing each coat to dry thoroughly before applying the next.
- Flake Application: Mix your chosen flakes into a clear base coat or lacquer, stirring well. Apply the flake mixture until you achieve the desired effect. Remember to test on a sample panel before spraying your project to ensure you are happy with the result.
- Clear Top Coat: Once you are satisfied with the flake application, apply a clear top coat to protect the flake layer and provide a glossy finish. Depending on the product and the desired finish, you may need to apply multiple coats of clear.
Remember, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to custom painting. The key is to experiment, test, and find the combination of colours, flake sizes, and application techniques that work best for your project and your unique style.
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Use a larger nozzle for denser flake coverage
When spraying flakes over a silver base coat, it is important to consider the size of the flakes you are using and adjust your nozzle size accordingly. If you are using larger flakes, a larger nozzle will give you denser flake coverage.
For instance, if you are spraying ".004" flakes, you can use any nozzle size. However, for larger flakes, a bigger nozzle is recommended. A 1.8 or bigger nozzle is suggested for spraying flakes, with one source recommending a 2.0 tip for solid flake pieces. The nozzle size should be adjusted according to the type of flake being used to ensure optimal coverage and application.
Additionally, it is important to note that the amount of flake you add to your clear coat will also affect the colour and turn your pearl coat darker. Thus, when spraying larger flakes, removing the gun neck filter is recommended to prevent clogging.
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Smooth flakes with wet sanding before applying a clear coat
Wet sanding is a great way to smooth out your flakes before applying a clear coat. It is important to note that you should not sand the base coat unless you plan on re-applying it. If you sand the base coat before clearing, you will see the sanding marks if you do not put more base coat on. The only time you need to wet sand between clear coats is if you wait longer than 24 hours. Ideally, you should re-coat as soon as the last coat has tacked.
If you want to smooth out your flakes, you should start by wet-sanding the clear coat with 400-grit sandpaper. This process will replace the orange peel with finer and finer scratches, which will eventually be filled in with polish. You should then move up to 800-grit sandpaper, then 1000-grit, and finally 1200-grit. The surface should look smooth, and you should see a crosshatch pattern in the sanding marks.
After you have finished wet-sanding, you should switch to a finer grit sandpaper and repeat the sanding process to remove the scratches made by the coarser grit sandpaper. When you are done, the surface should have a uniform, dull, and chalky appearance. Once you are happy with the smoothness of your flakes, you can move on to applying your clear coat.
It is important to note that you should not let the surface dry while you are sanding. Additionally, if you are not experienced with using an electric buffer, it is recommended that you use a wool or foam pad for polishing, as the heat generated by the buffer can damage the base coat if you are not careful.
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Add a touch of pearl over flakes for a fantastic paint effect
Adding a touch of pearl over flakes can create a fantastic paint effect.
The first step is to decide on the type of pearl you want to use. You can choose between powder pearls and liquid pearls. Powder pearls are easier to open and mix into your paints, while liquid pearls come in a sappy liquid that you scoop out and add to your clear coat. You can also get certain colours in liquid pearl that aren't available in powder form.
Next, you need to mix your pearl with your clear coat. There is no recommended amount, it is all user preference. However, a safe mixture would be about a teaspoon of pearl per quart of clear coat. The more coats you lay, the darker and more visible your pearl coat will become.
When it comes to spraying, you can use any nozzle size for small flakes, but larger nozzles will give you denser flake coverage, especially with bigger flake sizes. You can spray your flakes and then cover them with several coats of candy or clear, or you can wet sand them before adding the clear coat, especially if you're using larger flakes.
Finally, you can add a touch of pearl over your flakes to create a fantastic paint effect. This will give your paint job a unique and eye-catching look.
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Frequently asked questions
There is no right or wrong way to spray flakes over a silver base coat. However, here are some general steps to follow:
- Mix your flakes with a clear coat.
- Spray the silver base coat over the desired surface.
- Spray the flake and clear coat mixture over the silver base coat.
- Apply several coats of clear coat without flakes.
- Sand the surface with 800-grit paper.
- Apply several more coats of clear coat.
The amount of flakes to add depends on the desired density of the flake effect. A good starting point is to mix 1-2 tablespoons of flakes for every quart of clear paint. Make sure to mix thoroughly and ensure that all equipment is clean.
Use a spray gun with a high fluid flow. When spraying, focus on getting an even coat rather than full coverage. Go over the entire panel and then go back and spray the edges.
This depends on the temperature and humidity. In general, wait around 30 minutes to an hour. The surface should be dry to the touch before applying the flake and clear coat mixture.
The type of flakes depends on the desired effect. Larger flakes will be more visible and give a more glittery effect, while smaller flakes will be more subtle. It's important to note that larger flakes may be more difficult to work with, especially around edges and contours.
