The real cost of a Kandy paint job

[theoriginator]

I have read many articles and posts about real house of kolor kandy paint jobs costing 5 figures and that very, very few painters are capable of spraying a complete car in kandy. I'm a full time shop painter and I'm thinking about experimenting with the kandy on a couple old panels, then a complete car. I know it's probably not easy, but being a full time painter I don't see what the big deal is, pearls and metallics are easy for me. What are some of your experiences and prices you have paid for kandy paint?

[nbecker]

Alot of people have a hard time spraying solid colors so to them candies are out of the question,also you have to start with a PERFECTLY preped car since candy will show more flaws than black paint.
You have experince so i dont think it will be to hard. You need to study the body and plan how you are going to spray it so you wont have dark spots. perfect over lap is the key since the candy is so transparent. So pay attention to the body and map it out first.
The urethane enamals are alot easier than the old laquers
Play around on the panels with different bases and number of coats to get the color your after also they will look alittle different with clear on them.

[danbob67]

candy is bit challenging I have painted some street bikes with it with no issues getting the right gun is important Ive watched a few of the HOK videos with jon kosmoski {sp?} spray some all overs and he makes it look real easy I know from experience if the car has any thing on it take it off like mouldings and such the candy does not like to flow around them seen a cadillac sprayed at my work and they left the body side mouldings on it and when it was done they were still silver around them. going with like a darker base would be a better choice for a first timer going over like orion silver with orange or blue you probally will streek it up.

[aggressive male]

If after your paint job you accidentally scratch, peel off, or some rust comes back then it must be real difficult to fix just that area and still have it match the car right?

[danbob67]

If after your paint job you accidentally scratch, peel off, or some rust comes back then it must be real difficult to fix just that area and still have it match the car right?

Yes very difficult, I did fix a bikes lower fairing that was a brandywine candy over silver it blended but I had plenty of edges and curves to blend the silver in so the candy overlap was not that noticable. on a side of a car though I would even want to try it. just a candy paint job alone adds a lot of paint thickness I wouldnt want to try to go over one with more base and candy and clear it would not work in the long run probally crack and peel.

[hotrdblder]

candy is very translucent and does not add anywhere near the thickness of a normal base coat, most candys are 2-3 coats over whatever ground coat you choose.
with the car together its not bad at all, i spay it the same as i spray any color. however a high quality gun like an iwata 300 will help.

[Gordz32]

For the chevelle I did several let down panels comparing different numbers of mid ( Kandy) coats over the same base coat. I didn't have any problems with it but like mentioned above, Be sure to use a quality gun. I use a satajet3000 hvlp. Of course overlap is critical but I didn't find it any different than spraying pearls. I used ppg product and a pint of the midcoat and a pint of base was around $250. It'll be pricey but dang is that color awsome. Unfortunate but true, I'll be laying down 3 coats of base and 7 coats of candy to get the color right so materials are going to run roughly $5k. Also be sure to take not of gun pressure, humidity, temp, overlap, and what reducer your using. This way the color will be consistant if repairs are needed

[danbob67]

candy is very translucent and does not add anywhere near the thickness of a normal base coat, most candys are 2-3 coats over whatever ground coat you choose.
with the car together its not bad at all, i spay it the same as i spray any color. however a high quality gun like an iwata 300 will help.

I havent seen a house of kolor kandy paint job that wasnt "thick" when it was all said and done clear coat is also translucent but it is a very high build product, unless all your doing is a candy over a base that is near the same color as the candy maybe then the end finish might not be as thick. but most of the jobs I have seen done around here they are putting 6-8 coats of candy at least sometimes more depending on the base. I havnt done any cars all over just bikes so I might be wrong.

[J2speedandcustom]

All House of Kolor candies require 5 coats of candy. And yes by the time you have the sealer, base, candy and clear it's thick and just like a fat ladies leg!

[newbaa]

I use a satajet3000 hvlp.

Me too! Awesome gun. Gotta love it.

[Posi12Bolt]

Kandy is for show cars... if you wanna drive it... there are plenty of 3 stage paints that look nearly the same

[deuce_454]

Kandy is for show cars... if you wanna drive it... there are plenty of 3 stage paints that look nearly the same

amen... with that said, candy isnt that difficult... i have done it, and im an engineer ... but what killed me was all that friggin colorsanding, i wet sanded the sealer, the base (after applying 3 coats.. (not using toned sealer)) then 6 coats of clear with candy (sanding between every 2) and finally clear... then sand and buff! looked great, but definately not worth the hastle

[hotrdblder]

i never said anything about clear not being thick i said the mid coat or candy coat.
think about it, what are you adding to the process?your adding some light coats of a mid coat, 2-5 or however many candy coats you want for the desired look, i use 3-5 generally, and 3-5 coats of candy is not thick, well at least spraying it properly, you do not put the candy on like normal base, much lighter, unless you want it to be a mess
good luck either way

[danbob67]

i never said anything about clear not being thick i said the mid coat or candy coat.
think about it, what are you adding to the process?your adding some light coats of a mid coat, 2-5 or however many candy coats you want for the desired look, i use 3-5 generally, and 3-5 coats of candy is not thick, well at least spraying it properly, you do not put the candy on like normal base, much lighter, unless you want it to be a mess
good luck either way

Are you talking about a house of kolor candy or like say dupont tint coat for a factory paint color? I know on a factory color "tint coat" paint job yeah it really doesnt add a whole extra lot of mils to the end job but that HOK does build up I would like to see a brandy wine over silver with just 3-5 coats sprayed lightly It would turn out Pink.

[hotrdblder]

lol, yeah i am talking non hok, my bad, use some hok, but i use the candy concentrates mixed with my standox colorless basecoat and it works awesome

[theoriginator]

Thanks for the info on the kandy. But what is the average price of a complete kandy job with house of kolor on a average size car?

[newby]

HOK is going to be big bucks.

i've seen some great jobs at some local shows using duPont Nason line as a base and Hot Hues candy clears over the top. hot hues recommends 3 coats then top but 2 keeps more of the base shinning through (good for a little more metallic if that is what you like).

I priced my camaro at the local paint supply. enough etching primer, high build sandable, silver base, hot hues blue topped with 3-4 coats of clear (cut and buff) for the whole car and i'm looking at less the $400. cant beat that with a stick. especially if you are just 'practicing' or like me, anticipate screwing up a bit along the way.

[el-camino]

hmmm, i bought from HOK the candy concentrate.
is better to mix the concentrate with the base coat or with the clear coat ?

[firebob]

newby. $400 for all that! Are you serious? It cost me close to $100 for a quart of clear and that only got me another two coats on the bird over the two I already had on there. What are you shooting a trash can lid?

Robert

[Happyfunballs]

Newby might be sparkin a bit too much ganja.
-Gal etch prime $80
-Gal 2k primer $65
-Gal silver BC/CC $150
-Gal clear and hardner(cheap stuff: "Western" for example)$100
-Never bought Hot Hues, but it's gotta be at least $40qt

$450 MAYBE, and that's for the cheap stuff. That also isn't counting the sand paper, tape, paper, etc.