Do it yourself – Auto-moto painting!

Do it yourself – Auto-moto painting!

Do you want to give a new look to your old motorcycle paint ?
Do you want to create yourself a custom paint on your scooter?
Or repaint yourself a wing on your car?

It is of course possible! And this without using the services of a professional (car body painter), effective in most cases, but not everyone could afford it!

There are two options:
Use a spray gun, like a pro, or
An aerosol. It is more difficult, imprecise and less economical, but you can achieve a good job if you do it carefully. Of course, the aerosol version should be considered only for small surfaces, never for a car

Products:

Stardust Colors offers complete kits for many of its effects paints, greatly simplifying the selection of products. The instructions are provided and various “How to make it” tips and videos are available on the product pages.

For example, the Do It youself series include
for scooters: the Scooter Candy paint kit and the Crystalizer effect kit
For motorcycles: The Chameleon, Candy, Chrome paint, Pearl, Metallic, Fluorescent paint kits…
For cars: The same kits, but bigger.
For manufacturer’s colour tone, there are paint kits + clear coat and accessories (degreaser, abrasive sponge and degreaser)

For Phosphorescent and fluorescent effects, by mixing epoxy resins and pigments, you will find complete kits at our site.

The “Chrome at home” chroming kits are quite exceptional since they give the opportunity to anyone to create real chrome effect on any substrate, in any colour.

Key tools for a painter!

Whether you apply car paint on a car body or a piece of furniture, it is pretty much the same…

For the preparation phase:
You need sandpapers
primer
duster buffer

For the painting and topcoating phases
a small compressor
a spray gun (a large choice of economic spray guns is available on Stardust Colors Webshop)

What to do when you have dust in your clear coat, since you are working without a paint booth?
>> Discover the polished-gloss technique (article on our blog)

Do it yourself!!

Do it yourself, for fun, but also to be successful and proud of yourself!
For this, all you need is to train a bit and follow carefully the instructions.
Choose a clean, dry, dust-free and properly ventilated area that you will use as a workshop.
Do not hesitate to ask for advice from our Stardust technical service
(replies seven days a week: info@stardustcolors.com )

Paint a table that changes colour with temperature

Its possible and rather easy to create a surface that changes its appearance to the touch, or to the contact of an object.

Imagine a perfectly normal table, black and shiny, which turns pink, or green, or which reveals patterns, when you lay your hands, a dish, or a glass onto it.
This can be achieved of course with any object or surface: for example, a tray.

It is simply by changing the surface temperature that the colour change is observed.

To make this table that changes colour when touched, you need the following:

Two-coloured change:

– A table
– Some primer or background paint
– Some thermochromic paint
– Some clear coat

1 – Prepare the surface, in this case wood: fine sand, then dust. A filling primer for wood should ideally be applied to create a waterproof and perfectly smooth surface.
https://www.stardustcolors.co.uk/98-primer-adhesion-promoter

2 – Apply the first pass of colour: choose a light tint, such as white, beige, grey, apple green or yellow… You can draw patterns if you wish.
This first coat will be the hidden coat, that is the coat that will appear.

3 – Apply the thermochromic paint: This paint is available in black, blue or red and in different temperature values.

Two tips about how this paint is working: It becomes transparent when its heated beyond a certain temperature, for example 260C: The change in the appearance of the paint is not introduced abruptly, but in a gradual manner.
If a bright yellow background is applied, and green leaves have been designed on top, all this becomes visible when the thermochromic paint disappears.

4 – The topcoating process provides a beautiful gloss, or a satin effect, and protects the paints.

Multicoloured change:

The steps remain the same, but it is necessary to use a special thermochromic paint, that will show several colours. This paint called PULSAR is unique. It cannot be rendered opaque or transparent, but it changes colour when between 29 and 40C.
https://www.stardustcolors.co.uk/thermochromic-paint/249-thermochromic-dyes.html

Marbled effect with oakum

We will show you how to get a very impressive yet easy to achieve marbled effect.

To obtain the marble effect with oakum, you need:
– An aluminum type metallic base
– A black base*
– Concentrated candy
– Clear coat
– Some oakum*

Base*: this means a matt base for topcoating
Oakum**: often made of horsehair. Material used in masonry, at a low cost, in the form of fiber pack.

The marble effect with oakum can be performed on small or large surfaces.
It consists of a monochrome effect producing a maximum contrast between two colours: aluminum grey and black. The whole is tinted in the final phase, producing a bright, deep colour with an illusion of relief due to the oakum.

Steps:
1 – Apply the Bright or Coarse (large grain size) aluminum base over the car body.
It is recommended to add 2 to 5% of hardener to solidify that base.
Allow to dry completely and sand with a green or grey abrasive sponge

2 – Untangle the oakum, unpack it and put it over the grey base: The oakum is used as a stencil; spray some black coats over the oakum, and when everything is removed, the negative image of the yarns is obtained. Continue being sure to vary the patterns to achieve a natural look. This requires to unravel the oakum and stretch it to obtain new shapes and patterns.

3 – Apply the candy (by mixing the concentrated candy in the transparent base binder to topcoat or in the clear coat).

And there you have it!

Shielding home from radio waves

How to protect your home against WiFi and mobile phone waves?

Do you live near a relay antenna?
In this case, the consequences on the health of people living nearby are real. The inhabitants concerned are living and sleeping in environments exposed to recorded high waves levels (above 2V/m).

Unfortunately, the danger is real: The WHO has classified mobile phone and WiFi waves as “possibly carcinogenic” (Group “2B”),
considered to be hazardous products like Bisphenol A, gasoline fumes…

The symptoms of damaging effects of radio waves on people are:
– Headache
– Insomnia and sleep disorders
– During the day, difficulty concentrating
– Fatigue
– Ringing in the ears

> You may ask, via a Cerfa form, the intervention of a government agency for monitoring health, to measure the levels of microwaves in the house. This intervention is free and takes about 1 hour.

There is no doubt that the graphite paint can help reduce significantly the problem of pollution from electromagnetic waves in your house.
The paint contains almost 10% of micrometric pure graphite; this product is one of the most effective material against radio waves. The graphite and the water-based paint do not contain harmful components, they do not have any risk for health and are completely neutral.

Can the waves-blocking paint be also used as WiFi anti-spy screen*? In these cases it will take practice

There are other solutions than painting, such as adhesives and metal curtains, which are also highly effective.

https://www.stardustcolors.co.uk/rust-effect/1098-anti-wavelength-hz-screen-paint.html

METHOD FOR POLISHED-GLOSS FINISH (CORRECTION OF PAINT DEFECTS)

The polished-gloss technique was used originally in the premium automotive industry (LAMBORGHINI, FERRARI, PORSCHE…) to correct paint film defects. This technique is also used in luxury markets (luxury shop signs, yacht interior trim, making of string instruments, wood etc.). Paint application processes in factories are performed by robots. The result is a perfect finish, however there are still tiny surface defects that are visible to the naked eye (orange peel). The polished-gloss technique is not used in the automotive industry for series production, it is reserved for high-end cars and motorcycles. If one wishes to get a polished-gloss paint finish for a car, motorcycle or others, this method can make it possible.

METHOD

Materials needed: orbital sander, polisher, chamois or microfibre cloth, 2000 or 3000 sandpaper used with water, 1500 sandpaper used dry, natural sponge, sprayer, lustre cream, polishing cotton cloth, masking tape.

Sanding:

– Start by cleaning the surface to polish using a sprayer filled with clear water and a natural sponge. It’s very important to work on a surface free of dust; dry with a chamois or microfibre cloth. Protect areas that will not be polished with masking tape: seals, door handles, side sills or accessories. Protect also fragile areas subject to paint stripping, edges and sharp angles. Start with the orbital sander using 1500 sandpaper dry, and sand until obtaining a completely matte surface. Blow the surface regularly to avoid dust accumulation on the polishing area if you are equipped with a compressor or use a wipe pad.

– Use the sprayer to wet the mat surface and sand with 2000 sandpaper throughout the area, wiping regularly with a chamois to recover the white paste that forms when sanding, re-wet after wiping, never sand dry at this stage.

– Continue the process of correcting defects with 3000 sandpaper (same method than with 2000 sandpaper). Finally, dry with a slightly damp chamois which is more efficient to capture the clear coat dust residues.

Polishing:

– Apply moderately abrasive lustre cream over the area corrected beforehand, adjust the speed of the polisher to minimum speed (high speed can damage the paint). A good polishing is a low speed buffing without projection and without heating the substrate. Work slowly and steadily, then wipe with the polishing cotton cloth.

 

 

 

 

 

 

– Continue polishing with a slightly abrasive cream, apply the same method than previously with the mild abrasive polish, wipe with polishing cotton cloth, the final result begins to appear. If there are still scratches, repeat all steps from the 2000 sanding paper. Finally, use an anti-hologram finish lustre cream with polishing cotton cloth. Mirror effect guaranteed!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Note:

-the correction must be performed over a paint film that had been dry for a minimum 1 week for HS or UHS clear coats, for three weeks for MS topcoats and about 10 days for 2K finish-type polyurethane lacquers.

-the moderately abrasive polishing must performed over a small area of 30cm2 MAXIMUM, the cream may dry (do not polish in the sun). Larger areas can be polished (maximum 50cm2) with slightly abrasive cream, it is possible for example to polish a large area at once with an anti hologram polishing liquid: (hood, roof, etc.)

Special clearcoats, rare and innovative

Stardust Colors, the French company well known for its effect paints,
is again in the news further to the introduction of a range of special effect topcoats,
promising innovations in car body, design, and industry areas.
Listed below are16 special clearcoats, rare and innovative:

Anti-scratch topcoat
High gloss clearcoat with increased resistance to scratching and abrasion

Topcoat for tarpaulins and plastics
Robust 2c clearcoat, glossy and especially ultra flexible (it can bend at an angle of 1800)

Soft touch topcoat
A clearcoat with amazing tactile properties to test it yourself to believe it: the surface is as soft as velvet and it creates a true peach skin effect, with a completely matt appearance.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Coloured topcoat for Celiron metals
Anti corrosion adhesion clearcoat, tinted while remaining perfectly translucent

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Crystal interference topcoat
Produces a glossy surface, hard and resistant, with stunning effect of iridescence, in many colours.

 

 

 

 

Anti-UV topcoat
A true UV light-blocking clearcoat without yellowing effect

Ceramic topcoat
The famous ultra hard clearcoat. Its secret? It holds micro glass beads in his core.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Coloured candy topcoat
Creates translucent colourings with vivid and bright colours

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1c and 2c water-based gloss topcoats
Clearcoats with high hardness and gloss levels, comparable to the best car topcoats
Their advantage? They are water-based and contain almost no solvent

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gum effect topcoat
Not to be confused with the soft effect. This tactile effect clearcoat offers a satin like appearance and gives the sensation to touch real rubber

 

 

 

 

 

 

Topcoat for leather
Clearcoat for decorators and bag, shoe designers. Protects the leather and gives shine

Intumescent topcoat
Clearcoat tested to withstand flames for 30min without igniting

Aerosol topcoat
Its not just a simple spray clearcoat! Its a professional two-component aerosol topcoat, divided into two compartments

Matt or satin clearcoat
2 matifying levels: Satin or ultra matt (0% brightness)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photoluminescent topcoat
A colourless, semi transparent clearcoat, which glows in the dark

 

Invisible fluorescent topcoat for floors
Ultra hard clearcoat, which becomes luminous when exposed to black light

Silvering recipe for sale – The spraychrome technic

StardustColors is a recognized manufacturer of Spraychrome system, and Chemical concentrate products to achieve the famous hydro chrome effect.

This stunning technic is based on a quite simple chemical reaction.
Originally it was inspired from the mirror silvering industry, which since hundreds of years, use the reduction of Silver metal over glass, to create perfectly reflective mirrors.

Silvering – Chrome spray paint

Nowadays, there are quite a lot of companies using this process to imitate chrome plated surfaces : They basically use a chrome machine made of stainless tanks, hoses and sprayguns, to spray the waterbased solutions over a substrates (usually a glossy basecoat).
The thin silver film obtained (a few nanometers thick !) looks quite really like real hard chrome (normally obtained with chrome bath – the technic is very efficient, but unfortunately quite expensive and polluant / toxic).

So we can says that the technic is quite interesting, as it give a chrome effect, very easily, without any very toxic and dangerous process, and above all, at a very low cost (less than 40 euros per squaremeters)

More details : Chrome spray paint

 

How it works ?

Basically it is the reduction of silver nitrate (with a reductor), over a substrate activated with Tin chlorid.
The overall is coated with a blue violet varnish to counter the natural yellowing optical effect of the wet silver.

Chrome recipe :

What we offer is the chemical reaction recipe.
Our offer is reserved to our overseas applicators who own our spraychrome machines, and have difficulties to import our products, due to the Air freight hazards regulations.
This includes all the components to prepare the products, and the exact mixing process.
This is not simply a recipe, this is a result of years of hard work and hundreds of tests, in order to get the best silvering reaction.

2 differents formulas

– with toxic reductor (that is the most common recipe used by most of the famous spraychrome companies )
– without toxic reductor (that is the recipe we use, it is as eficient as the first one. its only disadvantage is the reaction slowness when temperature is under 10-15 °C)
Our activator, Silver and reductor recipe is for “concentrates” . The mixings instructions are simple.
We also can give information about wetting agent and how to tint the clearcoat in order to achieve a perfectly clear chrome.

Of course all these informations are confidential, and have a price.
The raw components of the recipes are quite cheap (except the silver nitrate), they can be found easily on the market.
The owner who has invested in such a recipe is able to work and save a lot of money, and as well, is able to make significant benefits by preparing and selling the products.

To get a price offer for one or both of the silvering recipe, contact us at info@stardustcolors.co.uk

How to create a car body paint with matt or satin finish?

1/ What is the difference between a glossy, satin or matt finish?

Well, this is the degree of specular glossiness observed with a 600 angle expressed on a scale of 100%

The glossy topcoats have a wet and very smooth effect, so that they reflect the light.
The satin paints are semi-gloss or semi-matt
while the matt clearcoats must completely absorb the light.

Stardust Colors has designed an ultra matte topcoat, approaching a gloss level close to 0%

 

2/ Paint a car body with matt paint

There are two ways to achieve this:

 

– Use a paint with a matt finish:

It saves time and is convenient as it avoids the need for two paint passes (basic and topcoat)
The disadvantage is that the choice of colours is limited.
StardustColors offers a white and a black ultra matt product with peach skin effect.

 

 

– Or choose the option of matt topcoat:
The great advantage is that it can be applied over any colour, to give it a matt effect.

Among these matt clearcoats, are included satin lacquer (semi-matt) such as BS820, which are very easy to use, and give very elegant and original effects.

3/ Application instructions

Whether working with BS820 satin topcoat or MAT Extrem topcoat, it is important to respect the recommended dosages of mixtures:
BS820: 100 parts + 33 parts hardener / no thinning
MAT EXTREM: 100 parts + 20 parts hardener / thinning at 15%

One or more passes can be applied.
In all cases, it is only after total evaporation of the solvents that the matifying is obtained.

4/ Tips!

Avoid scratches on matt clearcoats, which are more sensitive to scratches.
Except for the Mat Extrem topcoat which is particularly resistant.
A good reference for quality: It is used to paint the handles of Tefal pans.

Over pearl or metallic car body paints, one should only use glossy or satin topcoats.
Do not use Mat Extrem clearcoat.

Is there a phosphorescent paint for textiles?

It is possible to create for example a custom T-shirt with a phosphorescent pattern which appears only in darkness!
Provided to choose the right product:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Among our different ranges of phosphorescent paints or inks,

some are ideal because they are indeed made with water-based resins used in printing of textiles;
these are our water-based paints
– Aero1K
– Moonglo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Aero1K is a high quality water-based paint, very flexible, waterproof, with a low viscosity. It is very liquid and should be sprayed.

The Moonglo paint is an ink for textile screen printing, for printing on fabric by hand. It is thick and is ideal for
spreading over the screen with a squeegee, then pushed through the mesh of the screen over which you have set up first the stencilling project.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aerosols are also suitable
as they create a film with good flexibility, and provide good durability during machine wash

Moreover, we can manufacture ultra flexible (at 1800) and ultra resistant (Cel-Glow two-component paint) paints
This paint is produced only on special order with a minimum of 1.3kg

Both inks/paints are colourless. They give a phosphorescent effect only over a light background. Over a red or black background for example, the effect will be close to zero.
We propose 8 various phosphorescent colours on the webshop phosphorescent.fr

 

 

 

 

 

Phosphorescent paints require a certain number of passes or a certain thickness to give good gloss; indeed, the thicker the dry film is, the more the phosphorescent paint will glow brightly and for a long time.
Note: if the film is too thick, it has a stiffening effect.

Are the colours resistant to the washing machine?

Everything depends on the number of cycles, the washing temperature and the detergents used.
Here is what we can estimate:
Moonglo: 10/20 cycles with baking
Aero1k: 25 cycles
Aerosol: 25 cycles
Cel-Glow: 100 cycles

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Find more photoluminescent products and more information on our website: https://www.phosphorescentpaint.co.uk/

How to topcoat or paint chrome or metal

Discover our special clearcoat for metals !

This topcoat serves as a adhesion primer and corrosion protection.
Its the only clearcoat that can be applied directly over all metals (silver, zinc, aluminum, steel, galvanized..)
This clearcoat allows to achieve very interesting effects for colouring metals, still keeping the aspect and the grain of the metal, but adding gloss and a colourful depth.

The Celiron topcoat (that’s his name) comes in 14 translucent colours, and also in others

*One can even apply topcoat over chrome and give it colour: To achieve this, read our paragraph below

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Painting on metal when its bare, yes, it may seem easy!
but the question we should ask is: Will the paint adhere?

The answer is no, because metals are not a substrate that allows the penetration of paints or clearcoats; there is no adherence.
In addition, the ferrous metals inevitably become rusty by oxidation.

For these two reasons, it is necessary to use an anti-rust adhesion primer.
These products contain silanes or phosphating agents (these are known as very effective “Wash Primer”) that interact with the metal surface,
by chemically transforming it (interatomic bonds), and create the adhesion strength.

Such problems do not occur over a painted metal : in this case, you only have to slightly deglaze then paint directly!

Some chrome paints are specially made to cover directly the metals and play their anti corrosion role.

Identify the type of metal!
It is very difficult to create adherence on-ferrous metals:
alloys, zinc, aluminum, and especially chromium

How to paint over chrome?

This question is regularly put to us.
“Hard chrome” is an extremely tough and impenetrable surface. Needless to say it is very difficult to guarantee an adhesion on this type of surface.
However, Stardust Colors proposes a solution which consists of two processing steps:
– use Derinoxalu, an acidic product that will prepare the substrate, by “opening” it (apply, let stand, rinse and dry)
– apply a high performance primer such as our 714 or 294 zinc-chrome-alu primer
These two special products are available in various packagings here.

https://www.stardustcolors.co.uk/primer-for-car/1068-pickling-for-non-ferrous-metal-500ml.html

https://www.stardustcolors.co.uk/primer-for-car/120-primer-for-aluminium.html