Auto body painters rely on paint blending techniques to complete repairs because it’s expensive and time-consuming to repaint an entire car for a single repair. However, blending custom paint jobs requires greater attention to detail in matching bespoke colors, metallic flake, or pearlescent tones. The step-by-step guide below walks you through the process of seamlessly blending custom paint to make your repairs look like they never even happened.
The challenges of blending a custom paint job
Before we delve too deeply into the steps required to blend custom paint like a professional, let’s take a moment to understand the difficulty involved in blending custom paint jobs. The word “custom” describes much of the challenge, as bespoke paint typically requires a proprietary blend or some other painting technique that could be difficult to replicate. However, taking on the job of blending one-off paint jobs can help you set your painting services apart.
In reality, blending a custom paint job includes some of the same steps as blending factory paint, with more work required prior to laying down pigment in the paint booth. Documentation and experimentation streamline the process as you follow some of the same steps the custom painter did to achieve a desired look. If you can replicate the custom color on a test piece with satisfactory results, you’re in business.
Pre-paint preparation: Mixing and testing custom paint colors
Before laying down any color or spraying a single speck of primer, it’s best to determine if you can match the custom paint job color or effect as per your customer’s request. The time necessary to perfect the color will vary depending on the depth of customization in the paint and how much of your experience you can use to inform the process. Most automotive painters typically undergo several iterations when mixing up a test batch.
As you move closer and closer toward matching the existing custom paint, it’s important to keep detailed notes about all aspects of the process, from mixing ratios to cure times. The work you do to achieve a particular color also helps you learn ways to achieve a specific color or effect, informing future paint repairs as you refine your techniques. Once you know you can match the paint job you’re attempting to replicate, you can dive into the steps involved in seamlessly blending custom paint.
How to seamlessly blend custom paint: A step-by-step guide
Most custom paint job blends require a combination of base coat and clear coat blending to achieve a seamless finish. The idea here is to match not only the pigment (including pearl and metallic flake), but also the peel (the paint’s texture, typically ranging from smooth to significant orange peel). The guide below includes cues from both types of blending that you can apply as needed.
1. Clean and repair the damaged area
Clean and dry the area you’re going to paint, using degreaser to remove any impurities if necessary. Dry sand the damaged area with 80–120 grit sandpaper. If sanding removes the scratches or damage, you’re ready to move on, but if not, you’ll need to add filler and sand it to match the rest of the panel using 120-grit sandpaper.
As you work up to 240-grit and 400-grit sandpaper, begin moving away from the repair area to lay the groundwork for blending. You can also complete this process with a sanding sponge if you’re more comfortable. Beyond removing the panel damage, this step focuses on creating a texture that allows the primer to adhere when applied.
Mask the nearby areas you don’t want to paint, including any surrounding body panels, trim pieces, or wheel wells. Clean the area with wax and grease remover again to remove any remaining contamination. Once the repair area dries, you’re ready for primer.
2. Apply and sand primer
Apply several coats of primer in a high pile, starting with the repair area itself. Aim for coverage as you spray the primer, moving steadily outward with each subsequent coat. Again, this will help blend the repair work you’re doing with the existing paint.
Once the primer has dried, it’s time to sand it down with 400-grit sandpaper, followed by 600-grit and 800-grit sandpaper. Using progressively finer sandpaper grits enables you to remove sanding marks and ensure a smoother, glossier finish. This attention to detail is especially necessary for custom metallic or pearlescent paint jobs.
You can also use a guide coat to help ensure your sanding matches the contours of the vehicle. Next, use a scuff pad and scuffing paste to dull the panel, creating a textured finish that allows the paint to adhere. Clean the area with a degreaser, then wipe away lingering lint and dust with a tack cloth.
3. Lay down some pigment
If you’re concerned about blending your custom paint job repairs, you can start with what’s known as a “wet bed” technique, something many painters rely on with pearlescent and metallic paint jobs. Somewhat similar to a drop coat, a wet bed allows for a smooth transition between the existing and new paint.
To create a wet bed, simply spray a layer of clear base coat or blending clear over the blend area—the entire panel—before laying down pigment. The key here is to apply a light to medium coat with a fine, even spray pattern. When the wet coat is still tacky, lay down the first layer of the base coat.
When you begin painting the repair area, proper painting techniques apply. Aim for coverage over the primed sections, then move outward to blend into the panel further, avoiding the panel edges. Apply anywhere from three to four base coats of color.
4. Seal with clear coat
In most cases, two layers of clear coat should suffice to seal a custom paint job blend. However, you can add another layer to the mix if you plan on blending the clear coat, because you’ll need the extra material during cutting and compounding. You may also want to add a third layer if you’re attempting to replicate an existing clear coat with significant orange peel.
If the edges of your clear coat application look hazy, you may need to use a blending thinner to transition seamlessly from the existing paint and clear coat to the new layers you’ve added. Blending thinners “melt” the harsh edges and seams that often come with clear coat blending, so they’re a handy product to have on hand.
5. Complete the finishing touches
For the most part, you typically don’t need to cut and polish paint after blending the base coat. However, you can use that third coat of clear to wet sand, cut, and polish to a smooth, glossy finish without fear of cutting through those protective layers. Depending on the custom paint job and the paint correction products used, these final touches can also help enhance a paint’s depth, especially for pearl and metallic flake paints.
The role of superior materials in blending custom paint jobs
High-quality materials are a must-have when blending automotive paint, especially if you’re repairing custom paint jobs that demand a higher standard of excellence. It’s costly and time-consuming to have to retrace your steps, so it’s best to maintain quality from the start. When you can rely on the best auto body fillers, abrasives, primers, and clear coats, you’re bound to hit the mark every time.
Crush your next custom paint blend with Colors Edge
There’s no such thing as “good enough” when it comes to blending a custom paint job like a seasoned professional. Trust the automotive refinishing experts at Colors Edge to help you source the necessary materials to impress your customers and book future jobs. Contact us or call us at 336-378-7872 to order the superior products you need to achieve success.
