color sample What the best way???(long read sorry)

[Steven R]

I am getting ready to decide on a color for my truck. 1971 gmc 3/4 ton Longhorn. Color code 582 White/Med Bronze/White.
I asked my local auto-body paint suppler to mix up a 1/2 pint to get a few sample sprayed out We came up with white being a GM code 521 and the bronze code a 522.

I will be using the Matrix Paint line of products. My goal is to get a very close match to the original but with a slightly larger speckle/flake in the bronze color. I also got some reducer with a 1/2 pint of the white as well. now he tell me that I will need to clear coat the color which I am fine with.

my questions is I want a color sample sprayed out so I can take it out side and in different places to see what it will look like and to insure I am getting what I am looking for with the flake/speckle look. I mix the small pint with a paint stick and then left it out to dry the color in nearly spot on but the flake is very hard to see, so I will have to get this changed to my liking or is this not the right way to do a frist impression (FYI I will have to pay a shop to spray and I dont have the skill or tool to paint so I don't want to waste money if my frist impression is right but I dont know if I am doing it wrong would clear coating make the sparkle that much more ?)
is it worth the time to prime paint and clear the sample peaces or should I just spray the color as per the suppliers suggestion. the sample peice I will have no use for other then to hang was wall art later.

Also why does he not want me to have the formula for the paint mix for my records so that this can be match in a later date heaven forbid needing to.

[Foot Stomper]

Absolutely, you need to have the sample clear coated to see how it looks. Base coat looks far different once you have clear coat on it. Pay the money to have a sample sprayed out with clear on it! I would even suggest having a crashed fender or other useless panel painted to really see the color if you're not convinced you like it. Nothing worse than having a vehicle custom painted a color you DON'T like!

The formula you ask for is useless so why do you need it? It is only good to make more of the same color from another Matrix dealer... no other paint company can use a Matrix formula... so again, why do you need the formula? If you buy a gallon of that color, you will (and should) get the formula to document in your records, otherwise, you don't need it unless you are going to take it to another Matrix distributor to price shop it. I can say this because I used to sell Matrix in western Canada (and other paint lines) to the paint jobber stores. Bruce at Paint FX was the only Matrix distributor then... I don't think there's another, or is there? Matrix MB has a great product so stick with it!

[Steven R]

Ok that makes sense to paint a crashed fender with the clear, happen to have one.

as for the formula I only want it for the purpose of if I get in to an accident down to road and need to color match for the repair. been down that road with my dad years ago and was a nightmare. I am fully aware of that this would only work with matrix paint line. I have no need to cost shopping the paint. I plan to get all my paint at " guy's " in MB he has a good rep from all the people I have spoke with. Just trying to keep a complete recorded of my build.

[Foot Stomper]

Originally Posted by Steven R

Color code 582 White/Med Bronze/White.
We came up with white being a GM code 521 and the bronze code a 522.

Upon rereading the thread this morning, I see you have posted the codes in the original post. That's all you need to make more in the future. Even another paint brand would be the same color if you were forced to go elsewhere. http://paintref.com/cgi-bin/colorcod...nuf=GM&rows=50

Because you may be adding more flake or a different flake, this will make your result a "custom". I recommend that you do not go this route for a couple reasons. 1) matching it in the future should you need to will be very difficult 2) just exactly how much was added to how much paint? a pinch? two pinches?
Normally, flake is added to the entire amount of paint needed, little by little to get the desired result (on a spray out card), then the vehicle is painted. If you run out of paint, making more with the exact same flake effect is very difficult but not impossible. (The tint base the store uses to make the stock color you choose has the flake in it already.)

You could pay for custom filled aerosols of your colors and a can of SprayMax clear coat and paint your own crash panel. This is what I did when finalizing my color choice.

And yes, Guy has a great reputation! Great guy to deal with!