Off whites - how close should colour mixing be?

[julianf]

The colour in question - ford frozen white.

I ordered from express paints a while back, got a tin, was exactly what I expected. Very cold white, almost a grey. No colour to it.
If you took the lid off the tin after it had been standing some time there would almost be a hint of a black "dust" risen to the surface.


Ordered another tin. Took the lid off, and, instantly, it looks green. I mean not green green but a hint of those vile mints.

Sprayed some as I had to get it done, and held up a part done with the old paint next to it -

The lighting etc makes both of these look coloured, and, in the photo, the one on the left is the new paint whilst the one on the right looks pink, but, again, in reality, the one on the right looks a cold white and the one on the left looks like a mint.

Regardless you can see that they're quite different tones. Same product ordered from same supplier, with same code.

Is this to be expected? I know off whites are the hardest to get right, bit I wasn't expecting as significant an issue as this (?)

Thank you.

 

[MattF]

Is this to be expected?

Yes. I also found out the hard way, years ago. If you want enough paint to finish a job, order it all at the same time.

 

[keithski122]

Back when I left school 34 years ago I did a bit of paint mixing for the bodyshop side of the business I worked for. I do remember there being about seven different shades for some colours, often quite a bit of difference in colour. The boss gave me a russet brown dolomite to practice painting on, ended up with lots of different russet brown patches all over it.

 

[the snooper]

It's the same with diamond white, there is more then one shade of the same paint code, also depends how good the guy mixing it is, that's why I always go to a local supplier, any problems can be sorted easily

 

[Brad93]

The colour in question - ford frozen white.

I ordered from express paints a while back, got a tin, was exactly what I expected. Very cold white, almost a grey. No colour to it.
If you took the lid off the tin after it had been standing some time there would almost be a hint of a black "dust" risen to the surface.


Ordered another tin. Took the lid off, and, instantly, it looks green. I mean not green green but a hint of those vile mints.

Sprayed some as I had to get it done, and held up a part done with the old paint next to it -

View attachment 349544

The lighting etc makes both of these look coloured, and, in the photo, the one on the left is the new paint whilst the one on the right looks pink, but, again, in reality, the one on the right looks a cold white and the one on the left looks like a mint.

Regardless you can see that they're quite different tones. Same product ordered from same supplier, with same code.

Is this to be expected? I know off whites are the hardest to get right, bit I wasn't expecting as significant an issue as this (?)

Thank you.

Ford white colours are notoriously difficult to match from the codes alone. Pal had a lovely arctic white ST, next to a diamond white one it was beige!

A Good paint shop should be able to colour match using a colour chart and tint the paint exactly.

 

[colnerov]

It's the same with diamond white, there is more then one shade of the same paint code, also depends how good the guy mixing it is, that's why I always go to a local supplier, any problems can be sorted easily

Absolutely, some times it's down to the guy on the scheme. A number of years ago our local paint factor had two guys on the scheme who took turns, one good and one not so much, most of the traders who wanted paint would ask who's turn it was. One had the nick name 'blind pugh', "Oh I'll come back tomorrow.

Colin

 

[500e]

Think I mentioned to you about Ford diamond White, would expect a touch off blue in mix, is it black or dark blue coming to surface.
Have you really stired the tin? If so take both tins back and ask them to give you your money back.
We bought paint schemes both Berger & A&W due to same problems, one drip too meay and it's off but that's a lot out

 

[AVI_8]

Guards red a Porsche colour is another one which is particularly difficult to colour match.
Most colours will require adjacent panels to be blended in to a resprayed panel for off the shelf paint, a professIonal painter with access to all the different tints will be able to get a closer match, even then it’s trial and error and doesn’t look easy.

 

[waddycall]

Going through the same thing myself with pre-mixed gel coat. Same RAL no. As my kayak but totally different. I’ve ordered some pigment to lighten it and match it myselF. Not so easy with paint though.

 

[Ruffian]

Problem with buying generic paints.

Unless they are mixed to shade then they will be off, if I remember rightly there is like 10 different shades of diamond white. And 7 of frozen.

Hence always getting paint from a local supplier.
Your best option is probably to mix both together, rescuff and blow the lot over again to blend.

 

[julianf]

Problem with buying generic paints.

Unless they are mixed to shade then they will be off, if I remember rightly there is like 10 different shades of diamond white. And 7 of frozen.

When you say "generic", what does that mean?

I'm using the lechler epoxy and buy the top in lechler also, as the solvents (or whatever) are compatible for wet on wet between the primer and top.

 

[julianf]

Think I mentioned to you about Ford diamond White, would expect a touch off blue in mix, is it black or dark blue coming to surface.

The old tin is a white with a tinge of grey if anything. If it's been sat for ages and I take the lid off without stirring, there's almost like black dust risen to the surface. (Not dust at all, but paint - I'm just trying to be descriptive!)

The new tin just seems completely different. No black dust and an overall green tint. I literally took the lid off and thought "this isn't right".

But, who knows, it may be spot on and the first tin was wrong.

I was wanting a cold white. I think in emulsions they talk about "dove white" etc. I wasn't really expecting any colour. I mean possibly a tiny bit of blue but certainly not a green.

The landrover is some yellowish white, and I want to move away from that, not just swap it for a greenish white.

 

[julianf]

These are the two tins. Again it's an unrealistic photo as the lighting and one has nothing more than a thin layer in the bottom, but, like I say, the old tin tends to sepperate grey / black on the surface, whilst the new is just a greenish off white.

 

[steveo3002]

doesnt surprise me

first thing ..the guy mixing most likley doesnt give a monkeys

second , i dont know the formula to that mix but often say if theres a gram or less of some tinters in it , then you can easily go over or under enough to effect it ...you know instead of getting exactly 1gram you could be at 1.09 and 9% over before the scale clicks onto 1.1

 

[mike os]

There can be a shading across the body of a car on some colours,,,, white is always fun.

Last white I messed with could have been one of 3 variants depending on where you matched on the car … all too subtle to notice until you used the wrong “white”

Only way is a sample compared to colour swatch with all the variants

Even then it can be iffy

 

[ajlelectronics]

As has been pointed out, there are multiple shades of each white. The original vehicle's paint code is all that you can use to differentiate them. I found out the hard way too, with Diamond White.

 

[julianf]

My invoice shows the colour code that i ordered (both times) -

Lechsys 29140 2K Polyurethane
(Make: ford, Code: 7vtawwa, Colour: frozen white, Select amount: 1.0L)

Can i be more specific than "7vtawwa" ?

 

[Ruffian]

When you say "generic", what does that mean?

I'm using the lechler epoxy and buy the top in lechler also, as the solvents (or whatever) are compatible for wet on wet between the primer and top.

Generic as in standard shade.
Your trying to get someone the other end of a computer to guess what shade it is, especially if it's been painted before etc.
Small chance of getting a match without blending or painting everything.

Hence going to someone with a panel and getting it matched to shade.

At times its not even the same paint!
Painted a triumph red motorcycle in a Toyota red because it was a closer match before.

 

[Kayos]

Ford diamond White doesn't have blue in it, it has greens and yellows

Next to a vauxhall glacier white car, that has blue and black In it, ford looks like old English white

 

[julianf]

Ford diamond White doesn't have blue in it, it has greens and yellows

Next to a vauxhall glacier white car, that has blue and black In it, ford looks like old English white

Its not diamond white that im using.