Pearls for pearls please?

[TXATC]

Hello everybody!

I purchased some pearl pigment. I know you can mix it in with a base coat for some slight effect, and if i mix in alot it comes out more metallic. I really want the "pearl" look to shine, so I assume I need to use it in a clear to get the proper effect.

Now should I use it as an intercoat?
Should I just use it as a top before the final clear?
What is the best kind of clear to use for this?

I don't want to gunk up my brush or have to use anything stronger than windex to clean it out lol.

And finally, I did some wet sanding on a project, rubbing compound, then swirl remover, and wax. The shine came out incredible it worked great, but......I was looking for that really deep pool effect, and it didn't live up. It just looked really high gloss not deep.

How do I achieve that?
Is it just intercoats of clear sanded out?

Any pearls of wisdom would be appreciated Thanks Ya'll!

[ABD]

You can mix pearl with regular paint..Just remember the paint also coats the pearls and can really dull them depending on the paint used..

For a best effect I say put it in clear....Can be an intercoat clear or 2 part clear..Any clear will work...Just remember that once that step is done..You have to clear it again with just straight pure Clear, no pearls added.

You mention not using something that windex wont clean...Sorry I've never seen a clear coat that windex would touch..hahah!...need solvents to clean most clears..Unless you have a waterbase clear??

The "deepness" is a long process and probably gotten by more than one way..Stacking clear on top of clear wont help much though...It just looks shiny as you have found out.

The prep has lots to do with it...ANY imperfection from the primer all the way through layers will steal your "deep" illusion...That's why i like to wetsand my primer to get it perfectly flat...If my base is a solid color like black..I'll let that dray and sand that flat as well...having things perfectly flat really helps the illusion...Also Candy paints on top of perfectly prepped layers will really add to it...The candy allows you to see the base through it...Almost looks like you can reach in there..LOL

hope that helps a bit..If I didn't make sense in some spots feel free to holler at me..LOL

[Whit]

Best pearls I ever used were the "old school" laquer based
"Murano" pearls,, a paste,, not like the powders today,,
Murano pearl just floated in there,, total color change
when light hit it,, never been able to dupe it with powders !!!
Like Dell said,, trans layers are what builds the depth !!!

[TXATC]

So you lay down a base or primer and then wet sand it directly with no intercoat or anything?

Do you just have to have a thick layer and sand light?
Do you just use the paper(1500? 2000?)?
No rubbing compound right?

[Whit]

Not knowing your materials here,, as a general rule,,,
if it gets paint,, it needs a lil "tooth" to hold to,,
1500/2000 don't really give a tooth for paint to grab
and hold on to,, I'm thinkin you'd have better luck
with a 400/600 until you're ready to finish out !!!
I always used a surfacer primer,, wet/dry sand smooth,,
(320),, and build from there,, sanding periodiocly as needed,,
(400/600) and careful not to break color here,,, build your
candies to get the depth and final sand before the clearing,,
then the (1500/2000) and buff to finish to a gloss (compound)
Course everbody has their way of doing things,, so ,,,,,
Good Luck on it !!!

[TXATC]

Thanks Guys!

This helps alot. Any other tidbits anybody else has would be appreciated too.
Thanks for the expertise, I should have some pics posted in the next week or so (hopefully)

Thanks again!

[ABD]

So you lay down a base or primer and then wet sand it directly with no intercoat or anything?

Do you just have to have a thick layer and sand light?
Do you just use the paper(1500? 2000?)?
No rubbing compound right?

Yeah Whit covered it!!!

Yes you sand directly on the primer or base..(not all colors are wise to sand though)...When you spray there's a good chance it wont level out perfectly..have lil bumps commonly called "orange peel"...Cuz that's what it looks like, an orange peel..:).....By sanding, it knocks those bumps down and makes it perfectly flat...If you're eyes can't see texture it adds to the illusion of depth.

far as layers..I never do more than 4 coats without letting it cure and sanding...Hope that helps a bit:)

[Whit]

Good Call Dell,,,
just to show the difference,,, Laquer,,
used to walk around it 5/6 times,, sand 2 off,,,
another 5/6 times,, sand 2 off,, and so on,,,
was'nt uncommon to have 100 coats on there when
done,,, could almost reach to the other side and
open the car door it looked so deep,,, but,,,
That Was Laquer,,, not to be confused with
todays paint systems,, whole diff aminal !!!
Good Luck on it,,, Again !!!