Changing the color of paint.

[Blue Chips]

I have some very high quality 3400 series Rustoleum Alkyd enamel battleship gray paint that I would really like to use on my tubular airframe, that said, not a real fan of gray frames but do like gun metal gray.

What's the chance of altering this paint to change it from the battleship gray color to gun metal gray with some lite metallic added?

Any one with paint mixing experiencing here.

It's not about the cost of the paint but would really like to use what I have available, kill two birds with one stone, make use it and also get rid of it.

Thanks
Ken

[martymayes]

mix it and shoot a test piece

[Blue Chips]

Wish it was that easy Marty, paint mixing is not particularly straight forward with regards to color outcome.

May not be a bad idea to call Rustoleum and see what they think.

Thanks for the reply.


Ken

[Aaron Novak]

Wish it was that easy Marty, paint mixing is not particularly straight forward with regards to color outcome.

May not be a bad idea to call Rustoleum and see what they think.

Thanks for the reply.


Ken

Ken,
Honestly I doubt rustoleum is going to be much help. I custom blend synthetic enamel frequently, if you can send a picture of the color you want.
-Aaron

p.s. what covering system are you using? Thinking adhesive incompatibility here.

[Blue Chips]

That is my thinking as well Aaron, just a shot in the dark really, I emailed them.

It will be put on a open tubular helicopter frame so not adhesive issues.

Here is a link to something similar.
https://www.google.com/search?q=gunmetal+gray+metallic+color&client=firefox-a&hs=xdI&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&channel=rcs&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=1pJzU-eSN6vJsQSKlYCICw&ved=0CAgQ_AUoAQ&biw=880&bih=564#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=-bTNYOlaCLzUMM%253A%3BXKlJylqsH_RROM%3Bhttp%253A%25 2F%252Fwww.trgcoating.com%252Fimages%252Fsamples%2 52Fgunmetal_gray_metallic.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252 Fwww.hdforums.com%252Fforum%252Fsoftail-models%252F17577-what-color-to-powdercoat-my-new-thunderstar-wheels.html%3B600%3B445



Thanks

[Aaron Novak]

That is my thinking as well Aaron, just a shot in the dark really, I emailed them.

It will be put on a open tubular helicopter frame so not adhesive issues.

Here is a link to something similar.
https://www.google.com/search?q=gunmetal+gray+metallic+color&client=firefox-a&hs=xdI&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&channel=rcs&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=1pJzU-eSN6vJsQSKlYCICw&ved=0CAgQ_AUoAQ&biw=880&bih=564#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=-bTNYOlaCLzUMM%253A%3BXKlJylqsH_RROM%3Bhttp%253A%25 2F%252Fwww.trgcoating.com%252Fimages%252Fsamples%2 52Fgunmetal_gray_metallic.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252 Fwww.hdforums.com%252Fforum%252Fsoftail-models%252F17577-what-color-to-powdercoat-my-new-thunderstar-wheels.html%3B600%3B445



Thanks

Ken,
You are going to need a lot of black to get that, and the flake size of your regular "silver" enamel is going to be too small. You can add a typical "mini" flake that comes in a dry form though. I would say to start with, 60% battleship gray, 30% black, 10% clear, and just enough silver mini flake to get the look you want. That being said, it will probably end up costing more than a quart of custom mixed acrylic enamel or SS urethane from the local paint shop.

[Blue Chips]

Aaron,
Thanks a bunch, I'll check into it and weight the results on cost.


Ken

[Aaron Novak]

Aaron,
Thanks a bunch, I'll check into it and weight the results on cost.


Ken


Ken,
As for cost, a quart kit (inc hardener and reducer) is about $50 plus shipping from TCP global for either AE or AU single stage.

[Blue Chips]

Yeah, for no more then that I'll save the Gray for later, not worth the hassle and then hoping for the best.
Tubing is a paint waster but I think a quart will do it.

Aaron, thank you for the valuable input, at least I know it can likely be done.

Ken