Color Shifting/Chameleon Spraypaint?l

[ThisIsHuhWow404]

Anyone have any experience using this stuff? All pointers appreciated.

I’m trying to go for something similar to Ibanez’s "Blue Chameleon" finish or PRS’ "Nebula" finish. I have a can of the Rustoleum Blue Cosmos I want to use. I know the color shift paint needs to be applied over a black surface, so I also have Rustoleum’s 2X White Primer and 2X Ultra Matte Black to spray, let cure and level before applying the Color Shift Paint.

I’ve finished my own guitar before, but I’m not the most confident person in the world when it comes to spray painting and sanding properly. I always wind up with some kind of running or orange peeling, say "damn it" and needing to go fix something before moving to the next step, more times than what’s normal. I’ve also only ever used cheap acrylic clear coats out of a can, never did an actual poly finish.

From what I can tell, the color shifting effect actually comes out looking different depending upon how far away you’re spraying the can from the body. The directions say "10 to 16 inches" but even that’s a whole six inches.

Duse to the nature of how it works and refracts light, I’m not sure if you can sand and level the color shift paint with something 800-1500 grit to fix it if it runs or anything. I get the impression you really need to get it 100% right the first time. You have have one chance to get this right.

If I can pull this off, I might actually be confident enough to buy my first 2K Clearcoat can for this one. I don’t like super "mirror shine" gloss finish, but given the nature of the color shifting paint I don’t think I could use matte or satin. Does anyone manufacture a "2K Semi-Gloss" can? I know SprayMax is kind of the gold standard brand, but I only see "Clear Glamour," "Matte" and "Satin" from them.

 

[PFDarkside]

Ok, so I actually have experience with the paint you are talking about. Not on a guitar but on a pinewood derby car. Lol. It’s actually a decent product, however I strongly recommend you just get the whole system from here:

Kustom Canz Chromacoat

Welcome to Custom Paints inc, your Hernando county Automotive Paint Supplier, We're located in Spring Hill, Florida and a close drive from Brooksville, Florida and Weeki Wachee, Florida! We offer Automotive Car Manufacture factory match paints as well as Custom Colors and Effects paints! Stop in...

usa.specialistpaints.com

You can get primer, base, effect coat and clear from them and you know the whole system works well together. I’ve also used this system on a pinewood derby car and I’m planning to do either the Warmoth Strat body I have here or order a soloist to do it in Chromacoat Cyan. The paint flows much better with a much better pattern than the rustoleum. However they all work basically the same. Black base and then effect coat. Multiple, thinner coats gives better effect than one or two thick coats. Also, you can’t sand either the Rustoleum or Kustom Canz. It’s a micro flake suspended in paint so sanding will knock the edges off the paint and make the effect less apparent.

If you do rustoleum you’ll want the black to fully cure, then scuff to remove the gloss, then paint the effect coats. For thr other product you can lay them all down after each other after they flash. They have a finishing schedule on the website.

Also, 2K is awesome, satin and gloss would look great with the flip flop. Both Spraymax and Kustom Canz work well. Obviously use the PPE required. I used full 3M respirator appropriate, thick gloves and a full paint suit. I sprayed in a vented garage and got out as soon as I sprayed.

Good luck! I’ll grab some pics of the two finished products.