Candy apple paint

[56nortondomy]

I've started building a strat and I'd like to use candy apple red to paint it. The process seems to be a bit more involved than I thought, I was just wondering if some one could explain how it's done, what base coats to use eg. I have googled it and have got some info, but I'd like to get some more detailed info. if I could. Thanks Wayne

[demonx]

It's really going to depend on what products you're using and if you want a trans finish or solid.

Candy Apple in some products is just a solid red.
Candy in automotive 2k terms is a transparent colour.

If I was to do what I'd call a "Candy Apple", I'd spray the guitar clear, sand, spray, sand, spray until the entire guitar is smooth. Then spray the candy colour (trans) and then spray clear coats again.

Doing it like this will give a depth in the finish that you simply won't get from one shot type finishes.

[simso]

I'll explain how I do my pearls, Candy apple is just a pearl paint.

Prep surface as per normal with a solid colour, the base colour (primer) is important,

Lay down a 3 coats of your colour, then your pearl coats which are clear coat with flecks of pearl mixed in, then final clear coats, they are known as a three layer paint jobs.

Steve

[56nortondomy]

Thanks Allan and Steve for the replies. I'm still a bit confused though. I have no idea what primer to use ( brand? colour? ) I've read white primer, then gold or silver metallic paint and then the candy.
Wayne

[simso]

You can use any type of primer, but a dark primer will deepen the base candy coat, a white primer will brighten it.

In the situation your referring to, the white primer under a base of gold will make it brighter than a grey primer or black primer

The gold is really your base colour, but as it's very light it can be influenced by the primer coat.

Steve

[56nortondomy]

Thanks Steve, it's starting to make sense to me now.
Wayne

[routout]

I believe they also ran yellow under gold ,Candy I read somewhere was a Silver ground and then the tinted clear coat .The Body shop here in Bayswater carry some nice German brand paints I'v used ,they do have the candy style stuff give em a ring you never know.

[56nortondomy]

Thanks John, what's the name of the shop? There's a couple of auto paint shops within a half hours drive from here, I might try them.
Wayne

[routout]

The Bodyshop paint supplies not to be mistaken for the soap supplies Bayswater,Dandy ,Thomastown and Seaford .I used Debeer paint mind you it was for a bike but their web site has good info ,there was some elastic in it 4 years and not a crack very thin fiberglass .I would do a lot of research as I do and then a cooling off period then what the hey and jump in.

[56nortondomy]

Ok thanks John.
Wayne

[old_picker]

I use Milsomes in ferntree gully - they carry a good range of wood lacquers as well as a comprehensive array of auto finishes and finishing accessories such as sealers, sand paper, spray guns, cutting compounds etc etc. - they'll mix you up a 500 mil tin of any colour you want including metalics and pearls.

I have used body shop also but usually tend to head back to milsomes

[56nortondomy]

Thanks Ray, i'll check them out.
Wayne

[56nortondomy]

I have another question, this time about the 2k lacquer I used. I haven't used it before so I was wondering if it has the same finish process as miritone. Does it get wet sanded back and polished? If so how long do I wait before I do it?
Thanks Wayne