My jobber said I should mix my metalic DBC on my wifes 02 Camry with 50% more reducer and mist it one final time after I am done with my build coats, anybody do this?

I don't know DBC well and some others will have some more hands on experiance. But, I don't like to venture away from the tech sheets (at least not far). If it says nothing of this on the tech sheets, I would be very hesitant. On the products I am familiar with, you would NOT do this.

If this is a first time using the DBC, I would highly recommend spraying a few practice panels. Go to a neighborhood body shop and ask for a few old fenders they pulled off. They will be happy to give them to you and you can practice. Follow the tech sheets FIRST, if you need to adjust you can experiment. These tests are a LOT cheaper than ruining the real thing.

Ive NEVER over reduced my DBC. Well I guess I have but NOT 50% thats a sh!tpot full of extra reducer.

Over-reducing can lighten the color because you are thinning the product out. I have and still do over reduce but very rarely, and when I do its like 10-15%. Thats just on a HIGH metallic color, not every metallic color would I do that.

A flat surface like a hood is where you going to have problems with the metallics not laying right. So what you can do is spray the first coat going length then spray the next coat width. Tat will help the hide any metallic problems.

Also on a color that am having problems with the metallics on the last coat Ill stand back a tad farther and spray in a X pattern, making sure that its a WET coat instead of a MIST coat.

I dont like mist coats, if you get them too dry it creates ornage peel and can make metallics look grainy or dry.

If you are having problems getting the color to blend into the old paint, you can do a few things. After you get cover coats on and ready for that last blend coat, take some DBC500 clear color blender and spray the entire panel. that DBC500 helps melt in the basecoat so a edge wont be visible. You can also add DBC500 in a 1:1 ratio with base that can help produce a invisible blend but only spray that on your blending area DONT spray the entire panel.

I use the first method of DBC500 on the entire panel then blending. Adding DBC500 with base is used on Heavy metallic colors or pearl coats as its softens the blended edge.

definately don't load up the final coat of color with extra reducer, it may lead to solvent popping in the clear later on and slow dry time. Instead buy a quart of DBC500 midcoat clear and mix that with your color 50/50 on the last coat. This will help you apply the color in smaller amounts to mist the car and even out the metalics. DBC is very user friendly and this should only be needed in rare occasions when a heavy heavy metalic color is used. Rock on graemlins/thumbsup.gif

Considering the colors available for an 02 Camry you shouldn't need to do anything special on the last coat. With these colors the metalics stabilize well. Shouldn't need the DBC500 at all.

I will try it on the test fenders without and get some 500 if need be, I thought that jobber tech was straying to far from the PPG sheet. I got a few test fenders off a Toyaota Carrola at a local body shop(They weren't even that dented), they said please come back and take more even if we are closed!