The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Metalic paint again

I got a gallon of that star fire paint, metalic. But I think I messed up, I have always wet sanded and rubbed out my mess ups and or dog hairs and bugs. But I read today that you cant rub out metalic paints, wont work and will not look right. Is that right? If so I need to get a straight collor, thanks.

I'm not sure about modern metallics but in my day it depended on how the paint was applied. If it was done right, sanding would change the color because the metallic would settle under the pigment - paint has three components: vehicle, binder and pigment. Metallics add microscopic pieces of bright flakes of metal or something else. Sanding would thin out the pigment layer and consequently the microscopic specs of metallic would appear lighter.

We always put a lot of clear over metallics and just wet sanded and buffed that. It's okay to scuff the surface, but avoid deep sanding.

At least that's my experience.

The amount of thinner used can change the color of a metallic paint as well. Use your metallic if you wish but put a couple of coats of clear over it if you want to sand & buff it.