Steps to Using Candy paints
As stated earlier, Candy paints are tinted transparent coatings applied over a base coat and finishing with a clear coat. Here are some extra tips to ensure you get a nice, desired finish. If a paint booth is available to you this will minimize debris from getting into the paint job. Other steps are highlighted below.
·Vehicle Preparation
A nice paint job is only as good as the preparation. Wiping down your project with Wax/Grease remover before beginning should be your first step. Once you begin sanding, any contaminants left on the panel may go into your work with the possibility of having a reaction later. Proceed with the appropriate grits for the task at hand. Some projects just need to be sanded for repainting; others need completely stripped. This determination will be on a case-to-case basis.
·Base Coat Application
Once your project is ready for paint, having masked it off, recleaned, and tack ragged, you can start with an appropriate sealer followed by the basecoat of your choosing depending on the end result you are wanting to achieve. Once you are happy with the ground coat results and it has flashed it’s time for Candy.
·Candy Coat Application
A bigger nozzle/needle combo is generally used for this application in comparison to a basecoat. Most Candy colors are sprayed similar to clear coats. A wet-on-wet method with flash times in between spraying how you want the clear to look. Some articles even refer to Candys as a tinted clear.
·Clear Coat Application
Due to the nature of a tri-stage paint job, there is more material on the panel than in the average project. These usually require more coats of clear since the Candy can absorb a good amount of the first layer. Adding just one more layer than the average 2-3 can provide a higher shine and more depth to the final result.
·Sanding and Buffing
Once your project has cured you may want to sand and buff it to remove any imperfections that might have landed on your panel. This is also a good step used to make a smooth glass-like layer for your final finish. This will get out any “orange peel” sags or runs you might have in your work. One more option for Custom painters is sanding it down again just enough to reclear. If you have a lot of graphics, hard lines or edges. This is often done to achieve more depth and a smoother finish.
