How to match R258 color for cheap?

After doing quite a bit of research on the internet and forums, I concluded that I could not find answer to this question.

I'm trying to repaint the top fairing (between headlight and right turn signal). I have the 2005 Winning Red VFR (Color code R258). I have not been able to find a cheap alternative to colorite or such sites. I tried looking at Autozone, Pepboys, Walmart etc,. but could not find any can with the color code R258. Although, I found a whole lot of different red colors with different codes.

Does anyone here know what color from one of these stores would match the R258 color or be close enough not to notice the color difference. Colorite is selling the paint for 31$+shipping for 1 can that I can buy at walmart for less than $5. I found some good quality primer and clear coat for less than $10 that colorite was asking $40 for. Paint is the only thing that remains a problem.

 

You could try a local automotive paint supplier. I have a couple in town that I sometimes ask to mix touch up paint for me. Most often they can mix the color according to the factory paint code or sometimes they use a special camera that takes a photo of the surface in question and it tells them which toners to mix to get a match. The match may not be perfectly exact though as a perfect match with red is extremely difficult.

 

Cost is one issue. Automotive aftermarket paint must do the same duty as a paint applied with a factory process. So the cost is sky high. I will be curious what a minimum quantity will cost you.

The device referred to is a colorimeter or spectophotometer. It measures color and returns a spectral curve, perhaps generated with 16 points or 32 points. Then a color matching software engine returns the colorants and amounts. You should take a part of the bike with you, hopefully they will measure its color.

Yes the colorant is key. Each set of colorants can produce a different palette. Someone has to have appropriate colorants that can reproduce this red area of color space, and the automotive supplier is the best bet like Zoom-Zoom suggests.

Reds are difficult however using the correct process an experienced person can duplicate it. They would mix up a batch with 80% of the volume of the initial formula suggested. Apply the sample to a card and dry it, then measure the sample with the spectrophotometer. The computer will supply a corrective formula. Add formula, apply to card, re-measure. The software will provide them a "Δ E" (delta E or difference in color) between the batch and your bike. This numerical value will tell them if you can see a difference with your eye or not.

The experienced color matcher will know before they start how close they can come. The part timer they assigned to color matching who just started last week and was told how to push buttons will not know.

So if they mix the stock color, it is what it is, and the difference will reflect all kinds of things like the fading of your bike, variations in the batch of colorant, the calibration of the colorant dispenser, etc. If they go through the effort of a correction routine, they can probably get it dead on. Just ask them up front, tell them your concern and ask if they can get it dead on. If you tell them you are a VFR rider they should understand

 

Well, Z Man, this is another fine mess you've gotten us into.

 

If you have the time and patience, you can match it yourself.

Look into Auto-air-colors. It's an inexpensive water-born paint. Just buy the bottles you think would go into the mix and start mixing small quantities with an eyedropper. It's a guessing game. Once you start to get close, record the number of drops used and then when it comes time to mix up a full batch you'll know the percentages to use of each color. Use a graduated cylinder to get it precise. You'll need to put clear over your base coat.

I had no experience with matching paint but with 2 candys and 2 transparents and a secret ingredient, I came up with a very good match for Yamaha "Brandy Red Metallic".

 

Well Suraj asked for a possible alternative to getting a can of spray paint in the color he was looking for. Offering a huge amount of techno babble will likely do the OP no good or be of no real interest. He asked for an alternative and I merely offered a suggestion.

As far as Knights question about the smallest amount I have had mixed, it is enough for a 4oz bottle of touch up paint. I've had customers ask me about where to get touch up paint for their cars and having a paint supplier mix a custom bottle or can would be an alternative. It's more costly than buying an off the shelf can at a store, but it is an OPTION.

 

Suraj is not the only one that reads this forum.

It was on topic

 

All this withoot seeing the damage. I must be living near a source of Krypton and you dudes ain't.

Let us not forget buck a bottle red nail polish from a dollar store or on sale at WalMart.

 

Sometimes reading between the lines or an acquaintance with the English language just a RCH past the literal, might offer more insight into what the message really says. Then again, I could preface every post that approaches the fringes of same with the caveat to read Swift's "A Modest Proposal" a couple of times.

Same dude also wrote about some really little dudes I think.

If ya still ain't got it. let me know and we can give it another shot in a different direction.. while I brush up on my Canukastani Technodribble.

 

Finally a new topic aboot paint. It's aboot fucking time.

 

If you are trying to do this on the cheap, you might get fairly close but it will always be noticeable. Your hopes are to get it as close as possible at best. One alternative is to see what you can get in OTC automotive spray can paints. Not sure how big of an area you are trying to cover so unknown as to how much you can hide and try to blend in. You might try to take some piece of bike with you to store that carries these paints (like Rustoleum) and see how close you can match and if it would suffice. It will be difficult but maybe you can get close enough. I have touch-up paint pen from Honda that is even shade off of my red (R157) when I used it because primer underneath scratched off. Just to give you idea, here is idea of what you might find from Rustoleum.

http://www.rustoleum.com/product-ca...to-body-touch-up/automotive-touch-up-aerosols

 

You should find a place that mixes paints and puts them in spray cans. Some paints will have a smaller interior can inside that activates/hardens the paint like 2 stage. It has a button on the bottom that you hit to open internally. The two parts mix together and have to be used within a specific time to still be able to spray. The cost was about $30-40 bucks for a 10-12oz can. Or you can get just the single stage without the internal hardener.

There are several different systems, this is just one of them: http://www.66autocolor.com/SprayMax-Aerosol-Base-Coat-Automotive-Spray-Paint-p/spm1k-custompaint.htm

Check auto paint suppliers in your area. They have all factory colors and a spectrograph machine to analyze paint colors.

 

Thanks for all the valuable information guys.

Local Home Depot said that they can match the paint but then it would not be the spray can. I would need a spray gun and all the expensive equipment to spray the paint they give me. I'm going to try and go the rustoleum way for now and check which color matches the closest. Thank you GigemVFR. I did try a few rustoleum colors yesterday at the Home depot. They did not have more than 3 shades of Red, so I'd try Walmart today and see what closest match I can find.

I'll also get back with the pictures of the work that I am doing and how it turns out. For those asking what is the size of the area to be painted, it's the top fairing on the right hand side half only. I had cracked this part in an accident and have already fixed the crack with ABS cement. Now it's time for some paint. The paint on my bike is flawless so I'm not going to paint the entire bike.

 

Suraj, did you ever find a shade that is close? Would be interested in pics of the results and update on what you finally did.

 

It probably came out as expected, predictably awful. So much four the rest of the bikes flawless paint! I don't get the hesitation to use the right stuff. Colorrite stuff was $71 plus shipping. To each his own I guess,but if he ever sells the bike guess what's going to take $1000 off the asking price? Yeah the rustoleum painted fairing!