metal flake

[Randy R.]

I have read numerous posts that state that the metal flake commonly used in paint today is too large. To those of you who have painted your cars recently, I have a question:
Where did you obtain the correct flake or something close? Do you have a description? My car is a 67 and the color is Marina Blue.

Thank you

Randy

[Joseph M.]

Re: metal flake

I used Hibernia for my lacquer in Marina Blue. I just had the car judged on Sun. and the judges liked the paint, but felt the color was a shade light. The car is also Bloomington Gold and at that event there was no questioining of the color. Maybe it was the difference between being judged inside vs outside. I think it's hard to evaluate paint w/o having a true original paint sample to compare against the paint being viewed.

[Jean C.]

Re: metal flake

Randy,
I don't know about the metallic flakes being too large these days, but I understand that the shape of today's flakes is surely different.

Back in the day, the flakes were square cut and provided more flash, whereas, today the flakes are elliptical therfore not giving the same reflective properties.
Best regards,

[Rich P.]

Re: metal flake

Randy,

the large flake issiue from my experiance has been assosiated with base coat mixes not as much with lacquer. I have had base coats mixed with fine flakes and they came out looking like he originals.

Rich

[Roy B.]

Re: metal flake

The flake determines the color tint

[Rich P.]

Re: metal flake

The flake determines the color tint

Roy is 100% correct I had 69 Lemans Blue mixed with small flakes and had to lighten the paint as it was way dark with the small flakes.

Rich

[Pat M.]

Re: metal flake

My 70 was painted in modern Marlboro Maroon PPG lacquer, and I was never told that the flakes were incorrect, only that my color was "off a few shades". I only lost a few points total for paint (9 I think) at the 08 National.

[Roy B.]

Re: metal flake

That is the main reason paints using flak in them change tint, that's WHY if you set 10 Corvette side by side of the same color most will be different from each other in tint or shade or what ever you wont to call it. It takes a dam good painter to know that plus air pressure , mix, spraying distance and so on! So a good piece of advice is to not have your Corvette sit next to a Corvette of the same color because one of the two might lose points.

[Randy R.]

Re: metal flake

Gentlemen,

Thank you for the posts. I think I will be going with a one step or base coat clear coat. The brand will probably be PPG since this is the only brand available at the local paint store. I do know a body shop that uses Sikkens. I think they would mix some paint for me but they only do collision work, not restorations. What I would like to know is what to ask for at the paint supply store. Does the flake have a description, stock number, code. etc?

Thank you,

Randy

[Dick W.]

Re: metal flake

I think that the flake issue could best be answered by Paul Schuster, Tom Ames, or John Ballard. There is another paint rep who posts on here, but alas, I cannot remember his name

[Terry M.]

Re: metal flake

Add Steve Stephenson to the above list.

[Bill C.]

Re: metal flake

I still so far am able to purchase PPG Lacquer in every color I have needed for restoration paint and prefer its use when its a metalflake color as it still has the correct size/appearance as original. I have not seen a newer paint type with metalflake I liked yet. Just looks "off". Just my two cents.

[Pat M.]

Re: metal flake

If I recall correctly, before the 08 National I asked John Ballard about the flake issue and his response was something like, look, work on not overrestoring it, particularly the jambs, hood drip rails, valences, etc., because that's where most people were getting into trouble. I took his advice, and even though my paint wasn't a perfect match, it still judged very well.

Hopefully he'll chime in to make a comment.

[Joel F.]

Re: metal flake

Gentlemen,

Thank you for the posts. I think I will be going with a one step or base coat clear coat. The brand will probably be PPG since this is the only brand available at the local paint store. I do know a body shop that uses Sikkens. I think they would mix some paint for me but they only do collision work, not restorations. What I would like to know is what to ask for at the paint supply store. Does the flake have a description, stock number, code. etc?

Thank you,

Randy

Randy,

Metallic paints are usually done in BC/CC. Single stage paints are typically only used on solid colors. There may be single stage metallic paints available, but your painter needs to be pretty good to use them.

[Jack H.]

Re: metal flake

Our new standard deduction guideline puts the issue of metal flake size + density into the category of paint Color. We changed our judging rules on exterior paint a few years back to intentionally divorce the Color aspect from the paint's basic composition and application.

So, it appeared to me, that this was a giant step backwards for NCRS. But we 'salute the uniform' and go forward.

My question is: does a colorimeter actually see a significant difference in actual color temperature based on minor differences in metal flake composition (aluminum vs. lead + flake particle size/shape)? We already had a standard deduction guideline for 'hue'...

The reason for asking is it seems to me like the reflectivity aspect of the paint (sparkle and gloss factor) should NOT be associated with the Color axis of paint and should be a paint composition issue falling under the Paint axis of our judging.

So, if a colorimeter (which we don't use on the judging field) doesn't record a significant change in actual color temperature based on minor deviations in metal flake composition, aren't be better served by putting that issue in the Paint vs. Color line item of Flight Judging?