Glitter / Sparkle finish

[monchavo]

I am going to finish a strat body with a DIY glitter finish using multiple colours of glitter, mixed into a shaker which I will "dust" over a base coat. I will test this extensively to ensure I have the right mix of glitter colours by premixing and dusting over card of the same colour as my eventual body (either black or white).

I was inspired to do this by the one-off that Warmoth posted on twitter a year or so back and someone snapped up before I could get wifeauth.

The look will be very different from the warmoth concept but I am keen to achieve something quite eyepopping.

The approach I was intending to take:

Primer
Base coat
Base coat
Glitter
Clear lacquer as required

Regardless of your opinon on the aesthetic, I'd appreciate your commentary on technique.

NB: I am not interested in using premix sprays with glitter in them


cheers

 

[AirCap]

YUMMY! Me want!

 

[dmraco]

Yes.  Take it from someone who has done a lot of flake.  BASE-COLOR-FLAKE-CLEAR is the way to go.

I wanted to point out by looking at you post, you have different colors and SIZES of flake.  A shaker sprayer may not be able to pass the flake.  I would suggest a HVLP sprayer if you have access.  Even then As you go UP in size of the flake, you will need a bigger nozzle or it will clog.  I usually spray .004 and .008.  They also work very well when layering too.  Moving to .015 or larger present greater challenges.

The more flake (and larger flake) will need more clear to bury the flake for a smooth finish.  I recommend sanding with some 400 after a few application of clear are done.

IF you have done this before or are well versed in flake, my apologies for “dumbing it down.”  I would go small with .004 flake in the shaker, and make sure it works before investing a bunch of money in flake.

GOOD LUCK

 

[pabloman]

It is so much easier to spray your flake in an intermediate coat rather than doing a dry dusting. Check out the flake from Painthuffer Metalflake. They are good people and have some cool stuff going on. A little closer to home for me is a company called Paint With Pearl. Also very cool stuff. Watch some videos of the different techniques. Spraying really seems the way to go. Good look. Post lots of pics! ccasion14:

 

[dmraco]

Just to clarify I spray my flake.  I took the term "dusting" as spraying very light coats.

 

[Cagey]

He mentioned "dusting" with a shaker - I assume like a salt shaker or something along those lines - rather than spraying. I don't do metal flake, so I don't know, but it seems like a risky way to apply the stuff if you wanted an even application. Plus, I can't imagine lacquer staying tacky long enough for anything to stick to it. Seems like as soon as you started shooting clear coats over the flake you'd blow most of it away. But, what do I know?

I do know one thing: getting random glitter on anything like your clothes/shoes/hair so it got tracked into the house proper would make me want to slit my wrists :laughing7:

 

[bagman67]

There's an admin over at TDPRI name of Buckocaster who does a dry glitter-over-color-coat approach to glitter you may find edifying.  Here's one thread.

http://www.tdpri.com/threads/the-emeraldcaster-project-aka-son-of-meloncaster.86203/

 

[Cagey]

Hmm... only 346 pages long. Thought I was on TGP for a second there... :icon_biggrin:

 

[dmraco]

More than one way to skin a cat!

 

[TBurst Std]

Hmm... only 346 pages long. Thought I was on TGP for a second there... :icon_biggrin:

I don’t care who you are,,,
That was funny

 

[bagman67]

Hmm... only 346 pages long. Thought I was on TGP for a second there... :icon_biggrin:

Well, TDPRI does run on some extreeeeeemely long threads, and in that one in particular, it kinda seems to have become the home of the OP's series of glittery builds over many years.

But yeah, I get the joke. 

 

[monchavo]

Chaps I must say I am edified by your kindness in response. Thanks.  Some clarity:

- I would be grinding all glitter down to the same or similar size, and using a shaker to ensure that max size of flake is no larger than the largest hole (ooer) in the shaker.

- I am not interested in spraying it. I think that's a route to pain, I have none of the infrastructure.

I will keep you updated. Doing a graffiti yellow rattlecan first.