Color Blending

[Len]

I received a question in an email from Stan and I thought it would be helpful to others if I posted it.

Len,


For the RX350 blend coat that we have spoke about last week, does 50% reduce means adding half amount of total mixed paint?


The dupont paint is 2:1 ration, and it makes total 3 after mixed. When I over-reduce it 50%, do I add 1.5 extra reducer into the mixed 3?


Thanks for the info.



Stan

Stan
You need to be using a base coat product that takes nothing but color and reducer, if it takes a hardener you can't over-reduce it or it may introduce variables that are undesirable.

If it's just color and reducer you want to thin it enough AFTER covering the initial spot that the extended color coats become translucent. With the products I'm accustom to using I take the already sprayed mix and double it with reducer then extend the painted area about another 3 to 6 inches depending the the size of the area I have to work with. I spray the original spot and extend it with the over-reduced color. After extending the area allow the paint to flash until dull and do the same thing again only I extend the spot another 3 to 6 inches. If the paint is translucent enough this should finish the color spraying but IF the paint still covers too well I may reduce it more and apply a third extension of the color. If the spotting and blending is the size of about half a 4 door car door or smaller I recommend using a spotting gun for greater control and try to tilt the gun slightly as you spray so that the overspray blows back over the fresh paint and not out over the panel.

Prior to spraying I prep the entire panel then spray my color and blend then clear the panel.

You've got to be careful when spraying your first coat of clear because if you try to make it too smooth it will tend to run on the surface that has no new color. The clear has nothing to grab and it tends to slide down the vertical surface so apply your first coat sparingly, allow it to flash WELL then apply two more coats more heavily to achieve enough film build so that you can sand and polish.

The DuPont base that I've sprayed doesn't cover well so it lends itself to blending but make sure you apply enough color over your repair so that you can't see through it when it's moved into the sunlight. This is critical to a good DuPont (or any) base coat application.

If you have further questions let me know. I'm going to put your question and my answer on the forum so others may use the information.

Below is a picture that may help someone understand the concept. Start by achieving full coverage then blend each over-reduced coat out then clear the entire panel.

[Compuzen]

Thanks for sharing your knowledge Len! I finally got to order your DVD tonight and can't wait to learn from it and start painting.

[gtome]

Good info. I dont really do much blending, but I would have fanned it outward to "haze it away" Glad i read this!

[stanclub]

Thank you, Len, for all your help!!!