Automotive Paint Mixing Ratios Made Easy

Automotive paint mixing ratios are made easy in this short video that shows an easy way to "get it right" with just the use of a disposable paint stick.
/ @lakesideautobody

[@michaelovers688]

Things they don't teach you in school thanks for the vid

[@LakesideAutobody]

You're welcome

[@jubileecaprice]

Thank you so much love your guidance you made it so easy compared to all the other videos I watched ❤ 💗 😊

[@LakesideAutobody]

I appreciate that Anthony - have a great weekend :)

[@تابعناامرح]

I love it man its so practical. I love old school where people still use their prain

[@LakesideAutobody]

Glad you enjoyed it my friend - thanks for the support :)

[@jparson3309]

Great tip

[@tomballesteros4673]

Wow! So simple! Thank you so much!

[@LakesideAutobody]

You're welcome :)

[@nahar958]

I finally found this on youtube. Thanks!

[@LakesideAutobody]

You're welcome :)

[@Mrgoodguy865]

Yes boss I like simplicity

[@LakesideAutobody]

I appreciate that Mr B

[@ApexWoodworks]

Any reason you didn't just divide your desired stick height by 11? That way you simply pour your three parts into the cup until they reach their respective level: 8, 2 & 1.

[@LakesideAutobody]

I've been thinking hard on how to divide a distance in equal parts very easily w/o tools or math. Can't come up with an answer except for eyeing things in half - that would be hard to divide it in 11 parts by eye. If you come up with a way to lay a stick down and divide it up real quick into an odd number of parts let me know. I've been working on a paint mixing ratio tool that can be cleaned and reused with every different ratio. Jerry

[@ApexWoodworks]

@@LakesideAutobody that’s simple. Take a piece of paper and mark the distance you want your finish depth to be. Get yourself a metric ruler and place the 0 point at one of the bottom corners. Keeping the bottom of the ruler at the corner, pivot the ruler until an 12 or 24 or any other number divisible by 12 (1 more than the number you’re wanting to divide) crosses the line you drew on the paper. Then, put a tick at each of the 11 intervening points. They will each be exactly the same distance apart. Hope that’s clear enough

[@LakesideAutobody]

@@ApexWoodworks Would it sort of look like this or was I making it too hard in this video - kzbin.info/www/bejne/qYLanXmrjrWomrs Thanks for the reply back :)

[@rivermetal]

Do you let the paint mixture stand in the cup for a while before you spray? Or just stir it up and apply?

[@LakesideAutobody]

Stir it up and apply.

[@firstgenerationgarage2803]

Very cool idea you are the master Jerry..... I have a question if l wanted to make a primer a primer sealer can it be done by mixing 4:1:2

[@LakesideAutobody]

Yes. You can basically use primer for every step of the paint job. Mix thick for blocking. Mix thinner for finish sanding. Mix even thinner for a sort of pre paint sealer or to get it all one color before painting. Hope that answers your ? - have a great week Luis 😊

[@firstgenerationgarage2803]

@LakesideAutobody hello Jerry the reason I'm asking is I'm having problems the filler bleeding through the primer how can I stop this Jerry and I went to my body supply store they want over $200.00 for a sealer

[@LakesideAutobody]

@@firstgenerationgarage2803 What do you mean, it's bleeding through the primer? Do you mean that when you throw on a light coat, it sort of soaks into the filler? If that's the case and you have a lot of filler spots showing through the cure is to get it straight by block sanding, prime it again and then wet sand the whole car by hand so that you don't go through the primer. You do not have to use a block when wet sanding by hand - you can use your bare hand - don't let anyone tell you differently. I know that sounds like a lot of work but that's how we did it when I worked. Let me know what you're thinking - we'll figure out the best plan for your situation ✌

[@firstgenerationgarage2803]

Great video Jerry how about the cup size will this work on any size

[@LakesideAutobody]

Yes - any cup size. I gotta call you sometime soon - got that car!!!! 1968 AMC AMX 390 4 speed original posi rear end - crazy cool little beast :)

[@firstgenerationgarage2803]

@LakesideAutobody ok can't wait to hear about it send me photos

[@gfundaddy]

I’m painting a tailgate on an older pick up truck and I have some leftover metallic paint from last time but I don’t have any more reducer. I only need a little bit of basecoat. Is there a substitute for reducer?

[@LakesideAutobody]

You can try lacquer thinner if you have any (not paint thinner) - test it on an old coffee can or something first :)

[@Supanova70]

So help me out they want 4.1.2 on hb primer all the cups are 4.1.1. Now if i use the scale on the side of the cup it`s too much paint i need. Say i use 8oz of paint how would i calculate that using 4.1.2 ? 4 part paint 1 hardener and 2 reducer.

[@LakesideAutobody]

If the Ratio is 4:1:2 Paint/Hardener/Reducer - You'll want 8oz of paint 1oz of hardener and 2oz of reducer. You can add more reducer if needed w/o more hardener. In case the paint mixture is still too thick to spray nicely. Ask again if that didn't help :)

[@jusdoit7802]

nice, can you show how to spray with no orange peel sometime.

[@LakesideAutobody]

Sure, good suggestion

[@hunkydude322]

practice, practice, and more practice. you learn by trial and error.

[@2manycatsforadime]

yes this is all dependent on setting up the gun correctly then the amount of thinner added then the distance you hold the gun away from the work piece then air pressure and also a good gun that atomizes well. I am still trying to figure this out.

[@lonestar_events]

How i would of done is measure the rule to the paint cup for how much paint i wanted then from above dat mark a dot representing 1 increment in above dat one is another 2 increment above that representing my reducer in the dot representing the other ingredient would dat work

[@LakesideAutobody]

As long as you are marking off even increments and you have the right ratio - you're good. Hope that helps :)

[@user-rp8bj7fl2i]

Can you put up a video mixing a 8 1/2 4 nason

[@LakesideAutobody]

I'll do that - I'll mix a bunch of different ratios. Thanks for the suggestion :)

[@Okie-Tom]

Of course you would need a new marked paint stick for each quart of paint you need to make.

[@LakesideAutobody]

Yep - but they always give you a whole bunch of them when you buy paint - just don't forget to ask for sticks and strainers

[@hunkydude322]

or use making tape on it when done un tape it and there u go. case solved

[@2manycatsforadime]

@@LakesideAutobody cheaper than paint cups

[@hunkydude322]

those two with thumbs down maybe auto mechanics.

[@LakesideAutobody]

Thank you :)

[@protechautoservice4683]

Not this auto mechanic, Jerry knows his stuff!!

[@LakesideAutobody]

@@protechautoservice4683 Thanks that's nice of you to say - have a great 4th :)

[@protechautoservice4683]

@@LakesideAutobody Happy to say it 😊, I've been an auto tech for 30 years (mechanical, not body) and I've developed a pretty good sense of when someone is BS'ing...you don't. Thanks for doing these straightforward videos and all the little "need to know" tips, you've certainly helped my bodywork attempts. God bless and Happy 4TH, stay safe Jerry. ✌

[@rudyflores9395]

I thought 8 partes paint is #8 then 2 partes reducer then 1 part hardener so 8 plus 2 = 10 plus 1= 11 in total i think o well please let me know if i was close thanks

[@LakesideAutobody]

Yep - you're right - now if you can divide the distance on the stick into 11 equal parts - I just divide the stick the way I do because it's easy to do

[@2manycatsforadime]

@@LakesideAutobody Yes I thought the stick was very cool and easy. One thing that confuses me though. If you have a given volume of paint and add your hardener the total volume has changed. The next addition which is reducer then is based on the new volume or the original volume of paint?

[@LakesideAutobody]

@@2manycatsforadime The next addition is based on the original volume of paint. Think of "parts". If I say 1:1 that means 1 "amount" to another amount with the same volume as the "original" volume or 1 part to 1 part Let me know if that makes sense - Jerry

[@OldJoe212]

If you want to see the most complicated way, check out Trev's Blog. I guess he way is better if you're doing a Bentley. Anyway, I did understand it but my brain hurt for 3 days. This is easier. Thanks.

[@hunkydude322]

yeah some folks like to learn the hard way.

[@2manycatsforadime]

Link?

[@OldJoe212]

@@2manycatsforadime I think this is it. kzbin.info/www/bejne/pKqzanRjjNarq6M&ab_channel=Trev%27sBlog

[@Foche_T._Schitt]

What about 10-20%?

[@LakesideAutobody]

10% is like saying 100 parts to 10. 20% is 100 parts to 20. A different way to look at it is 100:10 or 10:1 & 100:20 or 10:2 - If that doesn't help ask a gain :)

[@Foche_T._Schitt]

@@LakesideAutobody I have mixing cups but the 4:1 doesn't have percents for that ratio. I guess I'll look at how many ounces it is after 4:1 and then add 10-20% to however many ounces total it is. If say it's 20 ounces add 3 more ounces for the 15%. It's optional for reducer so I might not even need it...

[@LakesideAutobody]

@@Foche_T._Schitt Good thinking FDS - let me know how it works out and if you have any more ?s 😊

[@2manycatsforadime]

hardner first then reducer?

[@LakesideAutobody]

Yes - but it really doesn't matter as long as you have the mix ration correct.

[@2manycatsforadime]

@@LakesideAutobody still trying to figure the mix ratios. Can says 20% hardener and 20% reducer. Pour an amount of paint lets say to the 8 mark. Then were do you go for 20%

[@ApexWoodworks]

@@2manycatsforadime using your example, you'll be using 6 parts of paint, 2 parts of hardener and 2 parts of reducer. Mark your stirring stick desired level into 10 equal parts. The bottom 6 will be for your paint, the next 2 for hardener and the last 2 for reducer. Hope this helps.

[@rudyflores9395]

wow sorry but nope didn't understand let me see it about 1000000000000000000 times and then I'll take it from there LOL

[@LakesideAutobody]

Here's even an easier way..... If your ratio is 4 to 1 to 1 just divide the stick into 6 equal parts - 4 notches will be paint + 1 notch will be reducer + 1 notch will be hardener = 6 total parts - hope that helps

[@rudyflores9395]

more less lol

[@2manycatsforadime]

@@LakesideAutobody however with the stick method 4 is paint then one notch is what percent of the 4? if I understand this it would represent 20% as it is now at 5 parts each part at 20% next addition at the 6 mark makes each mark approximately 17% of the total volume. Theoretically keep adding marks and the hardener and reducer gets to be less and less of the paint volume?

[@LakesideAutobody]

@@2manycatsforadime 1 notch would be 25% of the 4 parts but 20% of the 5 parts. I wouldn't think of it in percentages - just think parts. Divide a stick into 10 equal parts - some notches would represent paint, some would represent reducer and 1 or 1/2 of one would represent hardener - whatever the mix ratio on the can wants. Percentages can get confusing. Let me know if that makes sense if not I'll try again :)