Metallic paint matching problems.

[MalcolmB]

Wonder if anyone could share their thoughts on this.
I've had to paint various parts of my car over the years and I have welding to do now so obviously need to paint it again.
First up, I can only use rattle cans, I do not have the facilities or the money to go down the dangerous 2K route.

The problem I keep having is that I can easily get a spray can off Ebay or wherever and when you spray it the colour matches almost perfectly with the paint on the car. I mean in various lights I am sure there would be a stark contrast between the two but in general it's pretty damn close and close enough for me to be happy with. When I spray it on it almost has the illusion of looking like I am washing off the undercoat to reveal the original paint underneath.

The trouble is, as soon as I spray on the clear coat it darkens. Once all the work is done you can clearly see that the new paint is a lot darker than the original colour even the feathered bits.
I know the clear coat deepens the colour in some way but why should this be happening? Do the paint creators make the paint to match the finished clear-coated colour on a car rather than the actual original paint that was sprayed on the car under the clear-coat? Do they not expect you to clear coat it?

How can I make sure this doesn't happen and make the paint match better other than feathering it out even more.
Is there a way to get paint made that is slightly lighter to allow for this darkening?

 

[ajlelectronics]

How can I make sure this doesn't happen and make the paint match better other than feathering it out even more.
Is there a way to get paint made that is slightly lighter to allow for this darkening?

Visit a proper body shop supplier who can colour match and make up professional quality aerosols.

 

[steveo3002]

Visit a proper body shop supplier who can colour match and make up professional quality aerosols.

yeah this

only compare the colour with clearcoat added

 

[MalcolmB]

Ah I do not know where such places exist. I'll need to look into that. I assumed professional paint would be in tins to be used with spray guns and be 2 pack or something.
Yeah that's the thing, would they not just match the finished clear coat colour?

 

[pedrobedro]

Ah I do not know where such places exist. I'll need to look into that. I assumed professional paint would be in tins to be used with spray guns and be 2 pack or something.
Yeah that's the thing, would they not just match the finished clear coat colour?

Our local supplier will mix to manufacturer original shades and put your required quantity in aerosol cans.

 

[Misterg]

Do the paint creators make the paint to match the finished clear-coated colour on a car rather than the actual original paint that was sprayed on the car under the clear-coat?

If it's described as touch up paint (or similar) it may well be that^^^

 

[MalcolmB]

Well no. It claims to be professional quality paint. I bought the clear coat from the same seller.
The other one I bought was similar. I am sure it says to add a clear coat in the instructions but I guess that's just the base paint they use before mixing.
Yeah they might well just mix it up as a touch up paint but it's a big can.

 

[steveo3002]

solvent basecoat is same in rattle cans or for spray guns , its the clear that can have nasty stuff in it

find a decent place that will take a look at the car or a petrol flap etc and they ought to be able to find a suitable shade to match , even then its expecting alot to get a 10/10 match edge to edge , most of the time you need to blend into the other panels * or accept near enough is good enough lol

 

[bourbon]

Our local supplier will mix to manufacturer original shades and put your required quantity in aerosol cans.

If all they do is that, then that colour will be useless on a three year old car that has faded. Decent colour matchers will take fading into consideration

 

[MalcolmB]

Yeah and mine is quite a lot older than 3 years.
I don't mind a slight mismatch just not clearly darker. Just annoying how it's always so perfect before the clear coat is added.

 

[daedalusminos]

Thinner coats of metallic tend to result in a lighter finish as the flakes tend to lie flatter - try a number of lighter coats.

 

[MalcolmB]

I already do do thin coats but I could try doing them even thinner as perhaps I am not doing it as thin as I should be. After the first coat it gets a bit harder to know how heavy or light it's going on.
Thanks for the tip, I'll give it a test.
My mechanic friend said you should sand the last coat to get the flakes flat but I am sure that would look bad through the clear.

 

[steveo3002]

dont sand the basecoat , people on here will steer you right

you simply have the wrong shade , simple as that,

 

[MalcolmB]

If I do sand the basecoat (to remove imperfections and bugs that land on it) I always make sure not to sand the final one.

 

[ajlelectronics]

My mechanic friend said you should sand the last coat to get the flakes flat

Only if you don't want metallic paint! Last coat should be light and dry, to help the particles to stand up and be noticed. I call it a "fairy coat".

 

[MalcolmB]

Only if you don't want metallic paint! Last coat should be light and dry, to help the particles to stand up and be noticed. I call it a "fairy coat".

Yeah I like to hold the can a little further away on the last coat so as to sort of lightly dust the paint like sprinkling icing sugar. I think this helps feather it more into the surrounding paint too.