PPG Omni help....

[bs46488]

I'm restoring a 1972 Challenger for my father-in-law. He bought the car new from the dealership and wants it back to its original as it left the showroom condition.

He is funding the project and I'm doing the work in my garage/driveway. So far the only tension we have run into is with the purchase of paint. As you all know paint pricing has gone up but in my father-in-laws eyes he remembers when you could buy a gallon of paint for $59. So he almost killed me when I gave him the invoice for the paint materials.

Anyways he ended up buying PPG Omni in the factory GY9 "Dark Gold Metallic" color. We are in San Diego so we have very few paint options around here.



PPG Omni has horrible coverage. My first test piece was on a gray primer and the output was horrible spotty coverage after 3 coats. I did some experimenting and found that if I paint over "red oxide" it almost matches the color exactly but it takes 4-6 coats of base to cover the red.

Should I just factor in using a ton more paint and extra coats to get coverage? I was wondering if I switched to a tinted sealer that was closer to the base color would that help save some frustration and coverage issues?

Thanks,
Brian

[232_ray]

You’re in San Diego correct? If so go over the border and get PPG deltron or Arizona or even Vegas. I just went to Vegas about a month ago and picked up RM Diamont to spray my ‘66 chevelle in original marina blue and it perfect I think.

[dhutton]

False economy when it takes so many coats to cover imo….

[Lonnies Performance]

I had a truck that I wanted to paint the underside to match the body.
I used Omni on the underside to save some money & the regular PPG on the top.

Omni paint was much cheaper but took twice the coats.
In the end the cost was offset by the additional material plus labor time for 6 vs. 3 coats
Also, the finished color was not as nice as the better PPG paint... it was the same color but had somewhat less depth/brilliance when comparing the 2 side by side in direct sunlight.

[thinkfastroth]

You may want too try a beige primer, as far on switching to ppg there are times when the paint formula can only be mixed in the omni the product line.

[KEGS73]

white base is usually pretty cheap and a lot easier to cover. spray a coat of white first and then go to your main color

[bs46488]

Thanks for the feedback. The more I read about Omni....the worse it gets.

I did have a lot of trouble finding a supplier that would mix the original paint code.

Not the best pics but I thought I'd share what I got.

The first time I sprayed over the gray it took close to 7 coats and I still had a lot of coverage issues. Also the color didn't match well.

Spraying over the "red oxide" (which was also hard to find) I found the color comes out correctly but still takes many coats to cover

I bought a cheap can of army drabe green and will experiment if I can get better color. Then I'll try to find some sealer that can be tinited.

Not sure if you can see but on pic of the cowl just to the right of the center (where the wiper motor would be) you cab still see the red primer that didn't get full coverage

[dhutton]

SPI has a red oxide epoxy that can be reduced and used as a great sealer. You can order it over the phone with free shipping. It’s good stuff. Their reducer is very good too. The slow and very slow are great for metallics orientation.

https://www.southernpolyurethanes.com/

Oops, you’re in California so no reducer for you!

Don

[bs46488]

Don

That was the only red oxide I could find. I've been reducing it about 10%+

SPI isn't allowed to ship to my County. They said it was something about "product labelling" but they recommended a nearby jobber that might be able to help me.

The jobber was great but I had jump through hoops to get it shipped to me.

I'll try to post a pic when I test the green tinted sealer idea.

Brian

[kush69]

Spies Hecker solvent has 5450 sealer where it can be made in any solid color not sure its avail by u but makes coverage much easier