£13.42
(VAT incl.)
125ml tins of metallic effect paints
For bike frame, model-making...
Here is a family of colours based on metallic pigments, among the other types of motorcycle paints, for which we offer a wide range of metallic motorcycle paints, including both the classic manufacturer colours of each brand and a wide choice of custom metallic paints (aluminium, gold, copper, « Liquid Metal ») from the Stardust range.
There are three main types of tints in the field of motorcycle paint: opaque, pearlescent and metallic. Let's take a look at the characteristics of each of these families of tints and the difference between a metallic motorcycle paint and an opaque red.
This will help us to better understand the method and the particularities of application during a repair, a touch-up or a complete paintwork.
Opaque colours are classic colours, without transparency and without shine because they are free of pigments such as pearl or others. We can take the example of a classic KAWA green or a Ducati red.
Metallic motorcycle paint : application and characteristics
Pearly shades are colours obtained with a portion of pearl pigments. This implies a certain transparency of the tint, without which the pearls would be « drowned » in an opaque paint, without the possibility of bouncing the light. The effect produced by this type of tint is a sparkling effect, created by the microscopic pigments on the surface of the paint.
A metallic motorcycle paint works on the same principle, with metal pigments mixed with transparent tints to reflect light and give metallic effects.
The difference in the recipes is the replacement of the pearls by aluminium pigments.
These colours have less opacity and therefore less covering power. Metallic motorcycle paints must therefore be applied over primed backgrounds of a single colour (you cannot easily cover different colours in the background) and often, it is a specific primer colour that must be respected:
Let's take the example of a red metallic motorcycle paint:
• on a black primer, the resulting colour will be a burgundy red
• on a white primer, the final colour will be a bright pinkish red.
The advantages of metallic paints over other types of tints
Modern colours are now almost all pearlescent or metallic, because the visual effect is much more attractive than the old opaque colours.
The use of aluminium pigments offers a clear advantage over the use of pearlescent pigments: these paints are easier to apply, provide better coverage and produce a more even finish. This results in a more economical application and less risk of marbling. Metallic motorcycle colours give a raw, aesthetic and effective character.
The disadvantages of metallic motorcycle paint
When using metal pigments to formulate paints, one quickly notices that some colours are difficult to obtain, such as « metal red », which always comes out burgundy or pinkish, or « metal gold » which comes out greenish, or « metal orange » which comes out coppery or brown. In truth, many metallic shades are simply impossible to achieve with aluminium pigments because of the grey tone they inherently possess.
