Part 3 - Flake Choice...
There are 3 main different applications of flake;
- 1. SPINDRIFT - which is a light dusting of flake, and unless you
are good with a spray gun, can be difficult to get uniform.
- 2. ECONOMIC - this is when a base coat is applied that is the same
kolor as the flake. Normally only 3 coats of flake are applied from
6 to 8 inches in a 75% overlap.
- 3. FULL FLAKE - the most striking of the finishes, it is exactly
as it sounds. Ignoring which kolor base has been applied, the aim
here is to totally cover the panels with flake. It is applied in
exactly the same manner as the last style, but will require 7 coats.
Your next choice is size of flake.
HOUSE OF KOLOR RANGE:-
1/500th Ultra Mini Flake, which is available in 3 different kolors; Gold,
Silver and Rainbow.
There is also available a 1/256th Rainbow flake.
Next you have 1/128th Mini Flake, which you have Gold, Silver, plus 10
different Kameleon kolors to choose from.
Finally there is the more popular size 1/64th Flake, which comes in 12
normal kolors and 9 Kameleon kolors.
METALFLAKE RANGE:-
There is also a good selection of 20 kolors in the 1/64th range, including
Black and Bronze. There are 9 kolors in the huge flakes of the Glowble
range, Microglow - which is the same as 'HOUSE OF KOLOR' Mini Flakes, is
available in Gold and Silver. Mirra is only in Silver, and the effective
Spindrift which has 5 different kolors.
The most obvious difference in use between the 2 different manufactuers
is the METALFLAKE range are heavier flakes, and require alot more
agitating, even during spraying, because they start to sink almost
instantly. Therefore my advise is if you are trying flake for the first
time, use a flake from the HOUSE OF KOLOR range, as they stay suspended in
the lacquer much better when spraying.
The coverage styles listed earlier can be achieved with any size flake,
and there is also an unlimited range of kolors possible when you spray a
Kandy Kolor over the flake. So your options are endless!
Flake must be applied and buried in Acrylic or Cellulose lacquer. 2
pack lacquer does not have a long enough window to allow for multiple
lacquer stages, and is only designed to be used in 2-3 coats, which is way
too few to bury the flake effectively, and if used to high build, may
suffer from line checking and crows feet. Also, because 2 pack is stickier
than air dry paint, it prevents the flake from flowing into the lacquer
and laying flat.
Cellulose lacquer is an economical choice price wise, but it has a natural
yellow tint to it. My first choice is always to use HOUSE OF KOLOR acrylic
lacquer, which is crystal clear and has a deeper shine when finished.
Part 4 flake Application |