We sell a blending solvent which really helps in obtaining a professional looking repair. Blending paint especially metallic paints, is crucial for achieving a much better looking repair. How do you blend paint? Follow the directions below.
Preparing for Blending
- Choose a Panel Edge: The best way to blend paint is to choose a boundary such as a panel edge.
- Complete repairing the damage on your vehicle. Now scuff the entire area by wetsanding with 600 grit to the edge where you wish to blend the paint.
- After properly preparing the area, completely cover the repaired area with paint.
- Application Technique:
- Gradually reduce the amount of paint sprayed as you move outward, finishing with a mist coat that extends to the panel edge. If you are unable to finish at an edge, paint at least one foot beyond the repaired area.
- The goal is to make the transition from the original paint to the repaired area imperceptible.
Blending Metallic Paint
- Challenges with Metallic Paint: Matching metallic paint is particularly difficult due to the nature of metallic flakes and varying application factors such as angle, pressure, temperature, and humidity. Often, professional body shops opt to repaint larger areas to ensure a match, especially with tricky colors like gold that can fade and change over time.
- You can make metallic paints appear lighter or darker depending on how you spray them. Spraying farther away generally makes it appear lighter, close makes it darker. The main tip is to keep the spray pattern moving otherwise you will end up with streaks in the metallic paint. This is something which takes practice so you should expect your very first paint job to look less than professional!
Clearcoat Application
- Clearcoat Over Blended Area: After the paint dries, apply clearcoat over the entire area, extending about a foot past the mist coat edge. Use full coats of clearcoat to the edges of the panel being repaired.
Using Clearcoat Blender
- Application: While the clearcoat is still wet, apply the clearcoat blender around the edges of the repair. This helps to melt the fresh clearcoat into the existing finish, eliminating visible edges.
- Finish: Once dry, polish the area with rubbing compound to enhance the appearance and smoothness of the finish.
Important Notes
- Paint Pens and Brushes: Blending is not feasible with paint pens or touch-up brushes as these tools cannot achieve the necessary feathering effect and often result in a darker appearance due to the accumulation of paint layers.
- Practice Required: Achieving a perfect blend requires practice. If new to blending, consider practicing on a spare piece of metal before attempting on your vehicle.