metal flake effect

[bosscav]

anyone know where to get metal flake stuff from or is it as simple as going to the paint suppliers?

cheers

[alistairk]

"Real" metal flake only really comes from Metalflake Inc. But its heavy old fashioned stuff. House of Kolor do a lighter version which is reckoned to be easier to apply. It still needs to be burried under 20 coats of lacquer though!

Rage Extreme do a flake product which doesn't need as much lacquer to cover it.

[bosscav]

cool cheers bud

[alistairk]

Got caught short there... I know a bloke via a forum and seeing the cars he's painted in mags, he has advised me on flake a couple of times (but I chickened out)

With "real" flakes like Metalflake or HOK you need to use an air drying clear lacquer - 1K is best as 2K flows out and sets up too quick meaning the flake hasn't had chance to settle. The flakes come in a variety of sizes, from somehting like 1/256" to 1/64" and the larger the flake the more agitation of the gun you need. The lacquer has to be really thin (like 150% slow thinners) and you go about 5 coats per day leaving 2 days between spraying sessions to avoid solvent entrappment.

This is why traditional flake jobs are expensive and not seen so often.

The Rage-Extreme flake can be covered with 5 coats of 2 pack clear. Again it has to be heavily reduced as 2 pack clear is designed to go to about 3 coats and it will crow-foot otherwise.

There is also a product done by Rage called "Spectraflash" which is a kind of fake flake paint which you apply over a coloured basecoat to give a flake effect.



Its more costly in material terms but covers in about 3 coats and can be topped with a straight 2 pack clear in 3 coats. Gives an interesting effect. check out http://www.rage-extreme.com/ for more.

[Mike007]

Metal flake also looks **** on anything but a lowrider imho (and maybe a jacked up mk1 Capri with chromed jag diff lmao ). Especially when it isn't done too well.

Mike

[BigbaRd]

yeh i cant stand full on metalflakce like that either!! ebay theirs usually loads on their really cheap, www.ebay.com no .co.uk

[alistairk]

theres been some on eBay UK recently, but "apparently" some of it was art shop glitter not proper flake! Proper flake is resistant to solvents, quality controlled to ensure correct size of flake, etc, etc.

its not that expensive. You only need like 3 or 4 ounces to do a full car anyway.

I would concur with Mike that its a look best left to retro vehciles or fairground rides!

Can be nice when used for a small detail area but you have the really want it for the hassle of applying it.

[Lowrider Dave]

It's also damned expensive to get done, my lowrider was gonna get 'flaked but at £3k I chickened out! Still thinking of a light dusting for the Omega though....

[D15RTY]

i had it done to my bmw you can buy the flake for £40 a tub but it doesnt take alot to cover a car i still have 2/3 a tub of silver flake left after doin my top half car . you mix it with the laquer put about 3 or 4 coats depending on how muh flake you want on flat that down then another couple of coats and there you have it.
does look crap on dark days but under light/sun and at night under petrol station and street lamps looks amazing

[alistairk]

Which type of flake did you use out of curiosity?

[bosscav]

was going to put it on a track preped nova that way when i'm not as fast as others then at least it will have a different paintwork