3 Common Pearl Painting Mistakes
As cars are lasting longer and drivers look to add new-car shine to their old rides, car painting has increased in popularity. No paint type is more popular in this regard than pearl paint – the shimmering, metallic glint that gives a car a celebratory sheen that many drivers desire.
As a material, pearl paint is not a whole lot different from normal car painting. There are some common mistakes however, that you should be aware of and aim to avoid as you enter car painting school, or look to get your car repainted.
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Follow these tips and become a pro painter in no time:
1. Know how the color you’re creating will reflect in the sunlight: Since pearl paint uniquely reflects light, you must be careful about what colors and amounts to select. When using white as a base coat for the pearl paint job, remember that any red-based paint will have a tendency to gleam pink in the sunlight. The best colors to stick to when going with a white base coat are blue, silver, gold, orange, and violet.
When using a black base coat, it’s very important to remember that if you use too much of the pearl paint, it will force the color to take on more of the pearl, and render the use of a black base pretty much useless. To achieve the right color, the ratio of the pearl should be one teaspoon per quart of base. Once the ratio is right, the paint job will take on a midnight, color-changing effect.
If the base coat that you are using is red, orange, or burgundy then the most recommended pearl coat is gold. Other options are red, blue, or violet pearls. When using a blue base, stick with gold, violet, or green pearl. A yellow base coat tends to look best with a green or gold pearl paint. Orange, red, and gold typically turn out great on a green base. A pink base will look very nice with silver or even red as the pearl paint. The purple base paint goes well with silver, green, or red pearl paint.
The final step, applied after the base and pearl coats is a clear coat. It is important to note that the clear coat should only be placed over custom paint and not over faux finish, gel coating, or powder coating.
2. Spray a test panel: It’s highly recommended when making your own color mixes, to ALWAYS test a panel before taking on the entire project. This is a pretty obvious step that can save a lot of time and wasted product. Although the color that you have mixed may look great, it is always safest to test it before jumping in and applying it to the entire car.
3. Keep track of what you’re doing: This is another step that must be stressed. Make sure to watch the distance that you are spraying, the speed and pressure you are spraying, the number of full coats that have been applied, etc. By keeping a careful eye on things and being mindful of what you are doing, you have a greater chance of a flawless outcome and a beautiful paint job. It is important to stay focused and to be aware of what you are doing during the painting process. Consistency is the key here.
A little knowledge can go a long way. Apply these tips to your next pearl paint job at your car painting school or for your auto clients and you’ll be amazed by the awesome finish. And as always, please do not hesitate to contact us at our Exton or Warminster campus with any questions or comments that you may have.
Ready to learn more about automotive peal paint? Click below to download our free guide, The Car Lover’s Guide To Automotive Pearl Paint.
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