A novice guide to metalflake painting

[wack 63]

Having painted all my past scooters myself I have always doubted whether I could spray flake so when I did my Vega I decided to have a go.I went to a local vehicle refinishers who advised me as to use cellulose for a base,a carrier for the flake and 2k lacquer.I bought the flake from a seller on Ebay choosing a medium grade so as not have to buy a larger nozzle for my old Sharpes spray gun. Once the base was on I left it a day to dry then applied the flake which was mixed with the carrier which looks like watery milk giving it about an hour between coats.I settled on 3 coats which completely covered the base colour .Once the last coat had dried I was very pleased with the finish as the flake laid completely flat which does not happen if mixed with lacquer.The next day I applied the first few coats of lacquer ending up with 8 coats in total which after a week or two was machine polished to a glass finish.One other thing I would advise to anyone fancying a go is that I masked the areas where tight fitment of trim etc goes such as where the headlight rim fits on the headset before applying the flake. All in to do a complete scooter cost me less than £100 in materials,so why not give it a go?

[GBCS]

Hi Wack
What clear did you actually use as the carrier?, as getting the flake to lay flat is always a problem.
The best tip I was given with regards to flakes, is to keep a couple of marbles in the cup, to keep the flake agitated and in suspension when being applied.

[Hotspur]

Also use a gravity fed gun.


Pete

[wack 63]

I still have the carrier in the shed ,I'll have to look if it is labled.I used suction type gun and just kept shaking it between coats and it was fine.I tried a gravity gun but couldn't get on with it as well.

[GBCS]

I've never used flake in a gravity gun, I would have thought the flake settling into the bottom of the cup would have caused fun and games.

[lamblast]

i used a gravity gun with a fine flake in ,no problems at all just keep the flake suspended i used 2k lacquer to carry it

[sean brady scooters]

Having all the flakes lay flat sure makes laquering over easier and of course it takes less laquer to bury and coat them ,but in my oppinion it detracts a bit from the "sparkle" as it were.
i prefer to let them stay at all different angles and so reflect the light at all different angles..
I always use two pack laquer as the carrier medium and for clear coating/laquering which is of course so much thicker than celly laquer..

[sean brady scooters]

i too never use a gravity gun ,for a few reasons ...but if they work for you thats cool.

[stafford]

With you there SEAN if you leave the flake stood up it refracts the light better so looks good at all different angles ,heard of people building up the lacquer and then roller it down to save on time and materials,look at any of RAY KEMPS flake jobs they are the mutts nuts

[GBCS]

With you there SEAN if you leave the flake stood up it refracts the light better so looks good at all different angles ,heard of people building up the lacquer and then roller it down to save on time and materials,look at any of RAY KEMPS flake jobs they are the mutts nuts

I fully agree with the comments about Rays Metalflake jobs, I don't think I have ever seen it applied better.
I was in Ray's the other week, and there was a trail of yellow flake through the workshop ( he had just finished another cracker ).
The "fairy grotto" effect reminded me of my dads garage 25 years ago after I had finished with it