two tone how 2?
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Hi all thanks for the help with last topic.
i will be attempting my first two tone car next week, i am new to paint and have only painted in water based and solvent based on a few occasions. i was wondering the best approach when carrying out two tone paint work.
Would it be best to paint the lighter shade first to a pre determined masked line, then apply the darker shade to the remarked line (when dry)?
or as it is a car the size of a big beer fridge should i get the base whit all over?
Also i have heard people using an inner coat clear when using a base coat/clear coat system. (is it worth it)
ANY WAY, how do you guys achieve it?
You should check the tech sheet for the base you are using. Some waterborne basecoats do not two tone well and you may be better off basing and clearing the first colour bofore moving to the 2nd…others two tone really well and just need some extended flash time.
Another key is using the right tape for the edge…again, some of the adhesive on some tapes do not react well to waterborne tape, and the base can creep under the edge. 3M has some good fine line tapes specifically for waterborne paint.
As far as what colour gets painted first depends. Some people prefer to paint the lower colour, then the upper or vise versa others may base that decision on the colours. Are you referring to spraying the blue/white colour scheme from your other post? If so, I would probably spray the white first, then mask off the top of the car and spray the blue. Both colours are going to be transparent, so no matter what, you will be applying several coats. I am sure others may have a different opinion than me, though
You do not have to spray the entire car the first colour…however, since both colours are transparent and the car is so small, it may not be a bad idea in this case. That way the 2nd colour has a consistently coloured ground coat and you will have a nice smooth uniform surface to paint over.
Intercoat clear, sounds like clear base coat. There are several names for this and it is basically used when blending. I think it was mentioned to you for a two tone in case you don;t spray the entire car with the fist colour. THe idea is to spray the fisrt colour past the point where you will be dividing the colours, then continue on with the clear base to ensure there is no dry spray (dry edge) from the first colour which may show through. And the dry edge can lead to poor adhesion in some cases. Does that make sense? This is something I have never done with a 2-tone, FYI
Lastly, when I two tone, with my products, I have the entire vehicle ready to go, spray the 1st colour past where the separation will be…let it flash as long as necessary (miniumum 1/2 hour with good heat and ample air flow, usually ,longer). After it is dry enough, I will gently tack the entire surface. Figure out where the line will be and mask just a hair above it/below it (depending on whether I am doing the upper or lower colour first) ensuring the masking is sealed well. Then I do the fine line last (if posible). Spay the 2nd colour as normal. Then remove the fine line tape while the base is still somewhat wet. Let it flash, the remove the remaining making. Give it a good visual inspection, tack it and clear it.
Is there a definite seam or line to work to on the body, or is it a case of making your own line where the two colours meet?
If there’s a seam I’d be tempted to do the roof first in high solids (2K / single stage) first, then do the bottom. That’s how I do “classic” mini’s
If you’re having to make your own line then I’d do as Ben has outlined in his last paragraph, but with the top half being white I’d probably base the the whole of such a small car. Reason being you’ll need several coats of white to cover, and that much dry overspray landing on the lower half may give you too rough a texture to base over with your blue. No need for full coverage of white on the bottom, just enough paint to stop the possible dry overspray problem, so maybe do alternate coats, one on just the top, one all over. It may not be necessary, but I’d rather not take the risk for a few quids worth of extra base.
As Ben says, let that dry really well before you go near it with tape, and leave the tape on there for as short a time as possible so it doesn’t mark the white. An intercoat clear could be used over the white to protect it from the masking, but since it is a solid colour you’d get away with some minor fine sanding if the worst does happen and you get a small tape mark.
Good luck! 🙂
Thanks guys for taking the time too respond, It has really helped me to get to grips with how I will do it.
I like the advice about taping the fine line last, it makes so much send for when I de-mask at the end.I’m thinking of using a direct gloss for the white, as i feel it would handle a bit more abuse with the tape.
Because its a small car and after your sound advise, I think I will apply the white all over, then once the blue is on, I’m hoping to clear the whole car. I believe I’ll have to scratch up where the blue is being applied for good adhesion.
Thanks again
Merry Xmas
Rob
Yes you will have to scratch it up. If your doing the whole car white I’d da it all (or scotch it if the finish is flat enough) mask a few millimeters away from where you want you line then do the fine lining last so that you can get it off first, de-mask, tac and then clear the whole thing. As already said its important to get the fine line tape off at the right time so maybe test it first just to get a feel for it.
Cheers
a tip when aplying the second colour ,to avoid creep under first spray some clear binder over the taped edge ,this should create a good seal and any creep under will be from the clear base not your colour so wont matter
Paul
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