How to Make Metallic Paint

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Things You'll Need

  • 1 gallon of paint

  • 4 oz. metallic mineral powder

  • Mixing stick

  • 1 cup water

Basic paints come from natural minerals found within the earth. These minerals are crushed and pulverized to a fine powder than mixed with water or oils to produce a paint. The addition of metallic minerals to paint can produce a metallic shine or appearance to most paints. Typically, a silver sparkle powder or a pearlescent material is added to many paints to produce this metallic sheen desired by many painters, especially within the automotive or model making industries. Basic knowledge of paint bases such as water, acrylic or oil paints is necessary to achieve the optimum luster of a metallic paint.

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Step 1

Determine the color of metallic paint that you're trying to achieve, then purchase a metallic powder such as silver sparkle or aluminum oxide. Note that other metallic colors such as gold, copper or bronze will patina, or change to a greenish color from exposure to oxygen, if not treated with an anti-oxidizing mineral.

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Step 2

To make one gallon of metallic paint, add four ounces of the metallic mineral powder that you've chosen to one gallon of paint. Mix in thoroughly with a stick or mixing tool.

Step 3

Add 1 cup of water to the mixture to ensure that the metallic powder does not clump or clot up. Mix thoroughly again for about 5 minutes.

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Step 4

Shake the sealed paint container vigorously for about one to two minutes and allow it to settle for another 20 minutes. Check the paint for consistency, and add more mineral powder and repeat the mixing process if the desired metallic affect is not achieved.

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