Tinting or smoking topcoat

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#1

I tried searching with no results and figured since I have a few theories on this approach I thought I would ask.

I have a part that I’m looking to do a “smoked” or tinted clear coat on and I’m wondering what the best approach will be. Here are what I’m thinking could work. Keep in mind when I say dye I have some tube of black pigmented dye that can be added to resins I think also I will be wet sanding and buffing afterwards.

Option 1: mix duratec sunshield topcoat with a little bit of black gel coat and spray

Option 2: mix duratec sunshield topcoat and black pigment and spray

Option 3: mix automotive clear coat and black pigment and spray

Does anyone have experience with this?

#2

I think the pigment I have is this by ever coat.

http://www.explosivepowersports.com/evercoat-coloring-agent-black-1-oz-100508/?gclid=CLzat93uyssCFQkyaQodtikPoQ

#3

I’ve tried pigment in Duratec before, it doesnt accept it well at all. Just doesn’t take the colour on, you need to use heaps of pigment and then it doesn’t spray any more.

#4

I use black polyurethane in polyurethane clear coat.

#5

Interesting. Well I’m glad I didn’t try the pigment!

Maybe I’ll try a test piece with duratec and black gel coat since I have it around. I’m trying to stay away from automotive clear coats but will do it last resort.

#6

I have done several tail light tint jobs with just adding 10% by volume of black urethane paint to urethane clear. I know its not carbon parts but the same process. If you part is sanded to promote mechanical bond youll be okay. Now 10% is a starting point. You can add more black if its to light, or spray more coats to get it darker. This is basically making a black candy paint that the more you add the darker it gets. I also them shoot non tinted clear over that to seal it in not knowing if the clear/paint mix is totally UV protected.

#7

100% option 3.

No problem at all tinting your 2k clear and doing it this way takes out all the unknown problems etc , very straight forward and perfect result with a low failure rate. , plenty of different tints to choose from and if you look at a few colour tint charts you will find the one you want to get the exact colour you need.
“House of kolor” would be a good place to start. I’m sure they have some candys or pigments that might help. The colour you want is kind of like what they paint over rust and bare pannels to get the old school rat rod look. Bare metal re -spray

Tim

#8

Man I was hoping for someone to say option 1!