Touch up paint source

[Pete Van Seggern #30920]

Everybody seems to be selling interior spray dye. Who sells "dupli color" type touch up paint? (I need '63 silver blue.)

[Willard M.]

Re: Touch up paint source

I have had great service from Levine Paints in Ct. See archives or Google them.

Bill #2659

[Eugene B.]

Re: Touch up paint source

Pete,
Came across these folks at Carlisle last weekend. They have all the colors in small bottles for about $10 each.

Custom Car Colors: (248) 363-0288.

Good luck,
Gene

[Patrick H.]

Re: Touch up paint source

FWIW, I bought a bottle. I've already tried it and their Bridgehamton Blue is too dark, just like Mid America's. I suspect they are the same bottle/source, just relabeled.

I bought some from another under-the-grandstand source at Carlisle many years ago that was dead on. Unfortunately I bought his last bottle and he's now no longer there.

Patrick

[Don Becker #41636]

newbie question...

But did the paint colors always remain consistent? Could the paint supplier mix a little too much blue and change it a shade from time to time?

And if that's a no, isn't there a numbering system (PPG, etc. ) that specs the exact color? Is this different because of the age of the car?

Just trying to learn...

[Wayne K.]

Re: newbie question...

Don,

Mixing paint is like brewing beer or baking cookies, every batch turns out different but hopefully not enough different that anyone will notice. In working with stone and scratch repair it is tough to get a good match especially with metallics. The paint is being applied differently which creates problems with metallics and they usually turn out to look darker. I have used an airbrush with better results but depending on the paint match it is never like the original. If a person had their own paint tints you could probably adjust the paint to get a better result but the layman usually is without such resource.

Wayne

[Don Becker #41636]

Re: newbie question...

Thanks Wayne.

I know I might be talking about something a little different than car paint, but my brother is a graphic designer and when they spec. a logo for a company, each color has a distinct number to identify it. I was just thinking that they might have numbered it so it could be matched easier.

BTW, don't the paint shops have somekind of electronic matcher that can scan a chip and get the color match off of that?

...or maybe I've just had too many paint fumes...

[Patrick H.]

Re: newbie question...

I'd agree, but the two relatively new bottles I have a FAR darker than the paint on my car which, although repainted 20 years ago, also matches two other Bridgehampton Blue cars here in town. It looks like I have almost black freckles in the paint now. Thankfully I tested only small not easily seen areas.

Patrick

[Wayne K.]

Re: newbie question...

Patrick,

Outside of trying a different supplier you may want to take the paint to a shop that has a mixing system and find out what colors are in it and see if they can doctor it to get it closer or with the color code see if they can mix a better batch. If you have access to an airbrush thin or reduce ( depending on paint base ) with a fast flash thinner or reducer and see what the color looks like on a test card. I find this method best for metallic colors. I paper punch or cut a hole in a test card slightly larger than the chip. Holding the card about 1/8 inch above surface and the hole directly over the chip spray at hole allowing to flash between coats until you get the build you need to fill the chip. Dry with heat lamp or let dry overnight then wet sand away overspray with 2000 and polish. This is something that takes some practice and time but it can produce good results. With non-metallics I build paint in the chip until higher than the surrounding surface and once dry wet sand smooth with 2000 and polish. Clean the chip and surrounding area with a prep-sol type cleaner before doing any of the above.

Wayne

P.S. The proper metallic media and amount of metallic will also change the color appearance.

[Wayne K.]

Re: newbie question...

Don,

There are such scanners but the results are not always exact. I had this done before having a panel painted once and the painter said he had to add a lot of tint to get a good match. There are many variables that can determine the final outcome of painting. It is not an exact science.

Wayne

[Randy Adams]

Re: newbie question...

Try www.corvettepaintcodes.com. It also gives you other links.