To start with, there's really no right or wrong way to spray metalflake. Ask 10 painters how they do it and you'll probably get at least eight different answers. It's all about experimentation, experience, and sometimes just dumb luck. But we spent a day with Mark Oja at Custom Rod Garage in Huntington Beach, California, to see how he applies metalflake to automotive flanks, and it doesn't seem all that difficult, at least not on the small panels we used as examples. Painting a complete car is certainly a whole 'nother ball of wax, but here we captured the basics.
Metalflake is available from a variety of sources. For this story, Mark Oja used Old School Flake in red and two sizes of silver. You can get 'flake in a variety of colors and sizes-the bigger the pieces the more noticeable (or obnoxious) the end result. Think fine metallic versus a bass boat. Some painters mix 'flake colors and sizes for different effects.
In this example, the metal flakes were mixed into a clearcoat and sprayed on the car over a color basecoat, followed by several coats of nonflaked clear, plenty of color-sanding, and then even more clear. Oja says, "Everything with 'flake gets cleared at least twice, color-sanded with 800-grit, then cleared again." The multiple coats of clear and color-sanding are the secrets to getting the maximum pop out of the metalflake and color. Plus, the more clear you lay down over the 'flake, the deeper it gets.
As with any paintjob, the color of the basecoat will affect the end result. As you'd expect, a dark basecoat will result in a darker final color, while a white, silver, or gold base will often make the final color brighter. Some painters also like to spray several coats of clear over the basecoat and leave it a little wet before spraying the metalflake, allowing the flake to sink into the clear and make for a deeper, thicker look. Kandies can also be mixed with flake. Again, experimentation is the key.
A pro always makes painting look easier than it is, so we'd strongly suggest you practice with some scrap metal panels before tackling a complete car or even your buddy's helmet. Feel free to experiment with colors of paint, colors and sizes of flake, number of coats, and whatever else to get a feel for it.
Finally, here are some examples of metalflake colors and designs to inspire you. The possibilities are unlimited.
Examples of color and 'flake combinations
(none wAS color-sanded)
