Pearl Question

[Buds Dad]

I really dont mess alot with pearls so I have a question.Whats the best way to use it,add it to the base color or the clear.Im gonna use HOK blue pearl powder on white on my daughters truck and this will be the first time I will be using this stuff on a complete paint job.

[Impala126]

HOK says to use SG150 it is a carrier for the flake or pearls. Iv never used it. But in my research I have found that to be the way to applay it. The u put on the clear coat. http://www.houseofkolor.com/hok/PDF/...PP_KDP_KOP.pdf
This is the link from HOK for the tech sheet for there dry pearls. Hope this helps.

[Harry Phinney]

Adding pearl to an opaque base coat paint will result in a rather muted pearl effect. With enough pearl added to such a paint you will see a pearl effect, but it will not be as dramatic an effect as if the pearl is applied in a layer of clear on top of the opaque paint. When applying a pearl in clear, the concentration of pearl in the clear and/or the number of pearl-ladened clear coats needs to be adjusted to suit the underlying base color and achieve the overall desired effect. Light base colors such as white require more pearl over them than do dark base colors to get the same sort of pearl look. You will need to do some test panels to determine how much pearl to put in the clear, and how many coats of the pearled clear to spray. It's easiest to get an even, non-blotchy, non-streaky layer of pearl using an "intercoat" clear such as the HoK SG-150 or SG-100, or PPG's DBC500 rather than using a urethane topcoat clear when applying the pearl. When applying pearl to a car it's necessary to walk the length of the car with each pass, as stopping and starting the paint stroke will leave visible banding in the pearl. On a truck you might be able to paint the length of the fender and cab, and then paint the length of the bed separately.

Harry Phinney

[Buds Dad]

I read about the HOK SG150 but didnt know about the PPG.Is there any other companies that have the clear I would need? I think we have a PPG dealer here in town and the only place we have that sells HOK is very limited.

[joedirt216]

PPG does carry a type of intercoat clear for pearls, I'm not sure what ###, but I have used it. Your local jobber should know what you need.

[Harry Phinney]

I read about the HOK SG150 but didnt know about the PPG.Is there any other companies that have the clear I would need? I think we have a PPG dealer here in town and the only place we have that sells HOK is very limited.

I've used HoK's SG products, PPG's DBC500, and Sem's "Mix Clear". Although they are each slightly different, they all work fine. Also note that HoK's and Sem's products are widely available via mail/phone/internet vendors.

Harry Phinney

[Serge]

Just put your pearl in SG100 diluted 1 to 1 with reducer. Add the pearl to the mixed clear a tea spoon at a time for a sprayable quart...then put in a metal mixing stick and stirr...

Take the stick out of the mixture at an angle with the light to see the pearl concentration in the mix (you'll see it on the mix stick as the clear slips off it...). You'll have to gauge how much to put in...but one to 3 teaspoons in a quart should be a good starting point over a white...

You are better week than strong in the mix of pearls as you can always give it another coat, but you can difficultly remove one...Also, giving it 3 coats to achieve the effect you want will yeald a more even pearl distribution. The three coats will even out...relying on 1 coat is too risky as if you spray it unevenly you won't have another 2 coats to help you even it out...

You need to experiment with a rounded object before commiting to the car...you can get your mixture ready with the pearl and the sg100 at the time you are experimenting as sg100 is not activated so it won't harden...

Like Harry mentionned, you will have to walk the vehicle. You are better to reduce the material output of the gun and use more overlap...

hope this helps...