OK so I've read numerous threads on Ruby red. What does it mean tinted clear? I thought it was a tri stage pearl? Etc etc...

I recently painted Ruby Red on a 2015 Lincoln mkz. I took pics, so I'll basically explain the process as efficiently as I can.

First off we use PPG envirobase paint at my shop. This is the only paint line that I know of that uses the exact same process as factory.

I used Axalta(formerly DuPont) products recently, and they use the traditional 3 stage process. Utilizing a red metallic ground coat, and a transparent "candy" style base coat over that, then clear. They even have a standard 2 stage version. Neither of which matched that well in my opinion.


OK here we go.

Seal the body work or panel with a dark grey sealer seen here...

Of course your typical flash off time(i won't get into that) Then apply the metallic red ground coat... This is my first coat



Here it is, after 3 coats and a control coat all blended out. The trunk lid was New, so that's why you see color up there for blend.




Now the fun part. I mixed up clear coat with the vivid Ruby tint. And did a spray out card. 1,2,3,and 4 coats of tinted clear

Card where I masked it off, you can see the transparent red at the bottom




Held this card so you can see the multiple coats, 4 coats on the left, then 3,2,1, to the right.






Got lucky, 1 coat of tinted clear was a perfect match

Look closely, you can see I only cleared the panel partially. I needed to blend that further into the panel without putting too much on the existing paint. As that will darken the existing paint.





And then the recommended coat of regular untinted clear over the whole entire panel.





Couple more pics of the tinted clear. Once it hardened, I broke it out of the cup.






This matched so well, I wouldn't hesitate to panel match a bumper or something in the future.


Hope this helps people understand what tinted clear is, and why it costs a little extra.

 

Excellent info.

I found out all about tri-coat when I had the tailgate repaired on my 2010 Red Candy Metallic, a $250 option back then.

A good body shop is a must, I can't tell the tailgate was painted.

 

$395.00 option now.

 

Yes, U6? That's a traditional tri stage red. Where both the ground coat and the mid coat are base coat, where Ruby Red has a catalyzed clear coat for the mid coat. On the factory level they clear the whole vehicle with that and leave it. That's why when you buff or sand the clear, the buffer/dust will be pink.

 

Can't wait to see how my emblems come out.

 

i did this in a pinch one time even though our paint system doesnt reccomend it it was the only way to make it perfect. god damn RR lol it was a rush job sold vehicle that was damaged on the way back from new car detail.