Walk through any large parking lot today, and you’re bound to find at least a handful of cars with 3-stage paint—all factory-sprayed. However, this type of paint job is also common in the custom paint job scene, where automotive painters flex their skills to create unique pieces of eye candy. Although these paint jobs have become more common, they’re still just as impressive.
As the name suggests, 3-stage paint jobs incorporate three separate stages, or distinctive layers of paint. Yet, they’re much more than just the extra step beyond your average two-stage paint job. Use the guide below to learn more about 3-stage paint jobs, including when you should use them and why they’re important.
Why are 3-stage paint jobs important?
As an automotive painter, you’re bound to encounter 3-stage paint jobs at one or more points in your career, including factory paint jobs and custom colors. Single-stage paint is popular among DIYers and restoration projects, and most other paint jobs replicate the tried-and-true base coat plus clear coat combination. However, this type of paint job allows you to integrate depth and achieve a unique visual effect that’s much different than what you would get if you compressed the process into two stages only.
Candy and pearl are the two most common types of 3-stage paint, also known as tri-coat, tricolor, or tri-stage paint. Metallic flakes make a tricolor candy paint sparkle in the sun, while pearl paints use mica to achieve that signature shimmery effect. These elements, along with the extra step requiring additional labor and materials and painting skill, contribute to the increased cost of tri-coat paint jobs.
How to achieve a 3-stage paint job
Whether you’re repairing damage to a car or laying down color yourself, achieving a 3-stage paint job is relatively simple in terms of technique. However, it’s definitely worth experimenting first to either replicate the existing color or achieve the look you’re going for. Below are the basic steps involved in a tri-stage paint job.
Stage one: Base coat
In the paint booth, the process and techniques used to lay down the base coat for a 3-stage paint job don’t look much different from those of a 2-stage paint job. However, the choice of color plays a significant role in the paint’s final effect. Let’s break it down further.
If your concept for the paint’s final look resembles that of a disco ball on wheels, a white or silver base coat helps the pearl mid coat gather more light to reflect. In contrast, if you want to achieve a certain depth, black or darker hues draw the eye in while grounding larger metallic flakes. These aren’t the only effects you can achieve with a base coat and mid coat combination, but they demonstrate how important it is to choose your base coat color wisely.
Stage two: Mid coat
Once you’ve laid down your base color, it’s time to create your desired effect, whether it’s replicating factory paint or a custom 3-stage paint job. When you’re conceptualizing the color effect you want to achieve, it may be helpful to start with the mid coat. This intermediate coat allows you to transform a simple base color into something more with elements like metallic flakes, mica, and pearl dust.
When you lay down your mid coat, remember that you typically don’t want to exceed four coats. Two coats should give you adequate coverage, but three may be necessary for fuller coverage if you’re going with pearl dust or mica.
Stage three: Clear coat
Clear coating the mid coat is just as important as clearing the base coat. In most cases, your clear coat technique doesn’t change for a tricolor paint. However, you might consider adding another layer and taking the extra steps to make the clear really pop, especially if you’re painting a show car.
When to use 3-stage paint jobs
Car manufacturers use tri-stage paint to make specific models, trim levels, or custom colors more desirable. You can tap into this same mentality if you want to add 3-stage painting to your skill set. After all, career growth is all about diversifying and experimenting with available techniques to attract more customers.
We’ve established so far that tri-coat paint jobs are necessary for repairing factory paint and custom paint jobs. However, they’re also used to set show cars apart from your average vehicle. Often, the best palettes for this type of paint job are vehicles that have wide panels, lots of curves and dynamic lines, and plenty of integral design elements that keep your eyes busy for hours.
Ultimately, 3-stage paint jobs are used to create a luxurious or high-end look. It’s the type of paint job that makes you stop and stare, especially during the summer months when the sun is at its brightest. The cost of this type of paint job also reflects its premium appearance.
At the same time, tri-stage paint jobs don’t have to be overly complicated or show-stopping. Instead, they can elevate a simple base color to make it more visually appealing without going over the top. Sometimes, these understated paint jobs make more of a lasting impression.
It’s also worth mentioning that there are certain cases when you shouldn’t use this type of paint job. They’re not exactly the most budget-friendly, require significant time to achieve, and are not suitable for vehicles that tend to see a lot of wear and tear. In short, the value of the 3-stage paint job shouldn’t exceed that of the car—unless it’s a passion project.
Repairing 3-stage paint jobs
When you’re repairing a tricolor paint job, it’s important to recognize that you’re dealing with an extra layer of paint between the base coat and the clear coat. Matching the mid coat is the hardest part, because you’re attempting to achieve the same effect. Even a small imperfection can require a significant blend beyond what’s required for your average automotive paint job.
Any damage to the paint will extend first into the clear coat, then the mid coat, and then the base coat, if it makes it that far. Chances are, you’ll have to match the mid coat only, or the base coat and mid coat.
If you’re repairing the paint on a vehicle that comes from the factory with a 3-stage color, it’s all about matching the existing wear on the car to blend your work. However, with a custom color, you’re going to have to do more legwork. Some automotive painters opt to repaint an entire panel, while others may go much further.
Once you’ve repainted the vehicle, maintaining it looks no different than it would for any other automotive paint. Keeping a coat of wax on it throughout the year will repel most contaminants. Paint correction will help resolve any scratches or other imperfections.
Take your painting skills to the next level with Colors Edge
Once you’ve mastered the basics of automotive painting, challenge yourself by taking on your first 3-stage paint job. Practice makes perfect, so stock up on superior products from Colors Edge to ensure you’ve got the materials you need to make it happen. Contact us with any questions you have about achieving a one-of-a-kind, stunning tri-stage paint job.
