Gel Coat Color Match

[unbusted67]

Has anyone used a company like Spectrum Color, Mini Craft or Fibre Glast to color match gel coat for them? Non of the above companies nor any I have searched seem to have CAL boats in their database for color matching.

Mini Craft offers a color matching service where you mail a sample of chipped gel coat to them and they run it through their computer and send you the prematched gel coat. Has anyone used this service or one like it? Is it accurate at all?

[fkittson]

We have company in Toronto that does colour matching with a computer colour scanner. You have to buy a minimum quantity of gel coat due to the small quantity of pigment colours. Approximately 2-4 Pounds. They were able to match 33 year old faded gel coat that was wet sanded and polished. It cost about $200 CAD for the first batch with the computer fee, after that you just pay for the gel coat

[minaret]

Machines can't match like a person. Sometimes on very difficult colors with large batches we pay for a machine to get it close and then dial it in perfect. But for shades of white most people can match better if taught the right tricks. We use GCP when we go that route, but of course they're only two blocks away.
Neither a chip nor a database will allow a proper match. You must match on the surface in question, and a little square footage is required.

[unbusted67]

Originally Posted by minaret

Machines can't match like a person. Sometimes on very difficult colors with large batches we pay for a machine to get it close and then dial it in perfect. But for shades of white most people can match better if taught the right tricks. We use GCP when we go that route, but of course they're only two blocks away.
Neither a chip nor a database will allow a proper match. You must match on the surface in question, and a little square footage is required.

What is GCP? Would you recommend using the computer method as a base and then adjusting with pigment as you go?

[unbusted67]

Originally Posted by fkittson

We have company in Toronto that does colour matching with a computer colour scanner. You have to buy a minimum quantity of gel coat due to the small quantity of pigment colours. Approximately 2-4 Pounds. They were able to match 33 year old faded gel coat that was wet sanded and polished. It cost about $200 CAD for the first batch with the computer fee, after that you just pay for the gel coat

What is the name of the Company?

[minaret]

Originally Posted by unbusted67

What is GCP? Would you recommend using the computer method as a base and then adjusting with pigment as you go?

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[minaret]

Originally Posted by unbusted67

What is GCP? Would you recommend using the computer method as a base and then adjusting with pigment as you go?

Maybe for a non white color and an inexperienced matcher. You may be able to pay a local craftsman for a dead match. If its a shade of white and you're not color blind, do it yourself.

[colemj]

Add a small amount of coloring to the gelcoat base - don't add the catalyst yet! Put some of it on the gelcoat nearby to check for color match. Wipe off. Add colorant as needed and check against existing gelcoat again - this is where experience helps in understanding how colors are used to get to an endpoint.

Add the catalyst only after the color is perfect.

Nobody is going to be able to just provide you a "Cal 35" color, because your boat has changed color significantly since new. A spectrum analysis and mix will get very close, but cost a lot if you are only doing a small repair.

Mark

[unbusted67]

Originally Posted by colemj

Add a small amount of coloring to the gelcoat base - don't add the catalyst yet! Put some of it on the gelcoat nearby to check for color match. Wipe off. Add colorant as needed and check against existing gelcoat again - this is where experience helps in understanding how colors are used to get to an endpoint.

Add the catalyst only after the color is perfect.

Nobody is going to be able to just provide you a "Cal 35" color, because your boat has changed color significantly since new. A spectrum analysis and mix will get very close, but cost a lot if you are only doing a small repair.

Mark

Unfortunately a pretty big section of the boat needs to be repaired so I really want to get the color right. It is at the point where I am on the fence about just scrapping the gel coat and awl gripping the thing. I want it to look mint when I am done.

[colemj]

If it is a really large repair, just gelcoat the whole boat. I would probably paint, though.

Mark

[minaret]

Originally Posted by unbusted67

Unfortunately a pretty big section of the boat needs to be repaired so I really want to get the color right. It is at the point where I am on the fence about just scrapping the gel coat and awl gripping the thing. I want it to look mint when I am done.

This is totally doable, I do it all the time. No reason to paint the whole boat, easy repairs are the whole point of gelcoat. I can talk you through how to do this right no problem if you are interested, with pics if needed. I've done thousands of color matches, it's a specialty. I can guarantee you 100% success if you follow my instructions to the letter. Only takes time and a little bit of materials.

[unbusted67]

Originally Posted by minaret

This is totally doable, I do it all the time. No reason to paint the whole boat, easy repairs are the whole point of gelcoat. I can talk you through how to do this right no problem if you are interested, with pics if needed. I've done thousands of color matches, it's a specialty. I can guarantee you 100% success if you follow my instructions to the letter. Only takes time and a little bit of materials.

Well go right ahead don't let me stop you!

[Jd1]

Originally Posted by minaret

This is totally doable, I do it all the time. No reason to paint the whole boat, easy repairs are the whole point of gelcoat. I can talk you through how to do this right no problem if you are interested, with pics if needed. I've done thousands of color matches, it's a specialty. I can guarantee you 100% success if you follow my instructions to the letter. Only takes time and a little bit of materials.

I would be VERY interested in learning how to color match !

[LeaseOnLife]

Originally Posted by Jd1

I would be VERY interested in learning how to color match !

Add me to the list

Dirk

[Saltyhog]

I'd definitely sign up for that course.