Mixing & Using Our Custom Paint & Pearls

 

Do not attempt to mix paint without the correct breathing apparatus. A simple mask is not enough, it must be a respirator capable of stopping vapours as well as particles as small as 5 microns. If you don’t have one then please DO NOT attempt this procedure.

Mixing Our Pearls into custom paint:

Loading Levels

  1. You’ll need a paint carrier. We prefer clear basecoat binder (available here) as it’s more forgiving than clear lacquer. Binder has less tendency to run, dries satin, is easier to correct, and is much less expensive.
  2. You can either work out how many pearls are required for amount of paint you want to produce (you’ll need very accurate scales) OR work out how much paint you can make with the amount of pearls you have. The latter is easier as we sell our pearls In carefully weighed amounts.
  3. Check on the www.coolcustomz.co.uk website in the ‘Dry Pearls’ section to see the ‘loading levels’ for the particular pearl or flake that you’ve just bought.
  4. Megashift pearls are loaded at 7g per sprayable litre.
    • 1g samples will make up 140ml of paint.
    • Our 7g pots will make up 1 litre of paint.
  5. Colourshift pearls are loaded at 15g per sprayable litre.
    • Our 5g samples will make 333ml of paint.
    • Our 15g pots will make 1 litre of paint.
    • Our 30g pots will make 2 litres of paint.
  6. Holographic Pearls are loaded at 2.5g per sprayable litre.
    • 1g will make 400ml of paint.
    • 5g will make 2 litres of paint.
  7. Metal Flake we find gives good results from loading at 25g per sprayable litre. We don’t recommend you spray at any more than 75g per sprayable litre.
  8. For example, say you’ve bought a 1g sample of Megashift Pearl and the loading level for this you’ve checked from the website is 7g per litre. You need to calculate how much paint you can make.  Use the sum below. A 1g sample will make 1g / 7g X 1000ml = 143ml. On the other hand we list how much paint each amount of pearl will make. (e.g. 14g makes 2 litres) 
  9. When making our own paint we mix our pearls into automotive binder as we find this a more forgiving medium than clear topcoat. 

Mixing the pigments into binder (e.g. making 500ml of Purple Haze Megashift)

  1. Place the empty mixing container onto your scales. Zero the scales and add the correct weight of pigments (flake/pearl) up to the correct weight calculated from above. (In our example we’re making 500ml of Purple Haze Megashift, then you need 3.5g of pearl)
  2. Add the correct amount of reducer/thinners and mix well. (e.g. if you’re using our basecoat binder which is mixed at 1:1 ratio then if your making a total of 500ml then pour in 250ml of reducer)
  3. Next add the correct amount of neat basecoat binder to the correct level is achieved. (in our example you’ll add 250ml of neat basecoat binder to top up the mixture to a total of 500ml)
  4. Mix well, and remember to strain it before pouring it into the gun.

Using our custom paint:

  1. All of our supplied paint is sold as ready for use (with the exception of our clear basecoat binder and jet black base which can be purchased as neat paint and is mixed 1:1 with reducer/thinners.)
  2. Strain the paint through a filter into your gun (we use a 190 micron filter)
  3. Most pearls are sprayed over a matt or satin black base. A gloss base will just not provide enough adhesion.
  4. For the ‘white based’ pearls you can create an iridescent look over a white base. Really subtle and classy.
  5. Over that base, spray 2 to 3 coats of pearl coat. Build up slowly, and if you’re using any ‘white based’ pearls be careful as they will take on a silvery appearance if sprayed too heavily. For these, certainly less is more. Remember that you are relying on the top coat for that glossy finish and NOT these colour intercoats.
  6. Spray at a very slightly further distance than you would using solid colours to help the pearls disperse evenly and use a 50% overlapping technique. Lighter, but more, coats will give a better, more even finish. The loading levels above will provide you with the flexibility to do so.
  7. Finish with a 2k clear as this provides the best UV protection and longevity against damage.
  8. We highly recommend that you test your technique before scaling up to a full size project.
  9. I’m sure that you’ll have other questions to ask so please feel free to ask us any questions by using the form at the bottom of this page or join or COOL CUSTOMZ COMMUNITY and ask the many ‘pros’ there.
  10. Remember to have fun and you’ll easily develop your skills. You might even find painting with pearls much easier than expected.