Matte Colour Paint for signage

[david moore]

I'm ready to paint new unit and div signs on my jeep and truck using peelable stencils from Axholme Signs in the UK. I need matte red, yellow, blue. Anyone know where in Ontario I can get these as small sprays or small cans of liquid paint? I've looked at all our Cdn Tires, Home Depots etc and no luck. Would modeler's paint be OK for outdoor use?

[Jordan Baker]

I just used the regular Tremclad stuff. I mixed up a small amount and sprayed it on. It dried glossy but I then used a spray can of semi-clear. Just give it a few light coats and you should end up with a mattish finish. It also helps to take the vehicle for a bit of a drive in dusty conditions while the paint/clear is still ever soooo tacky.

[Stewart Loy]

David,

I had the same problem this past winter. I was attempting to 'freshen up' the Carrier and needed matte paint. I was able to get into TSC (selected stores) and get flat tremclad in brown, white, and black.

I could not find yellow in matte so I was standing at a Home Hardware when the paint guy tried to help me. He listened to my story and asked if the work was inside where I could get to it with a hair dryer. I must have given him the "... and what freakin' difference would that make" look as he explained that if you spary the semi gloss paint products then get the hair dryer on them before the stuff dries it makes them quite a bit less glossy. Maybe the gloss is related to the VOCs in the paint that the warm air flashes off...??

I tried it and it worked well enough for me - especially since I have only found flat yellow in the 1/10 oz. sizes at the plastic model shops.

Good luck.


Stewart

[cletrac (RIP)]

You can make any paint into a matte colour by mixing some talcum powder into it and spraying it on. The talcum breaks up the smooth finish.

[Keith Orpin]

David,
Over here in the UK, myself and others I know use the small tins of modellers paint. Humbrol do all of the colours you are looking for. I never spray the paint on when marking up a vehicle, the best way of applying it is to use a peice of sponge and stipple it on, when it is almost dry. This paint does stand the test of time
Regards
Keith

[chris vickery]

It's way simpler fellas.

If you use laquer thinner, toluene , naptha or plain old gasoline in your gloss paint you will lose the shine when it dries. The quicker the solvent flashes off from the paint the duller the finish. Trust me, this works and is far easier than trying to source flat enamel paints.