Mirocat 3220 - Tinting and/or Topcoating

[017]

Hi ANZLF,

Long story short, I recently prep'd a body with 3220 Mirocat, sealing it and building up a more-or-less level(ish) base that I was planning on painting in full-gloss opaque black:



I dropped into my local Mirotone supplier today to get them to mix me up said black, but was told Mirocat can not be tinted. I was always under the assumption 3220 could be tinted (since Mirolac can), and also because tinted Mirostain can be added to 3220 (up to 10%). After hearing this, I asked whether Mirolac 3150 (which can be tinted) can go over the top of 3220, but was told it can't.

So, it seems I've painted myself into a corner. What are my options?

Thanks

[rocket]

I've been been tinting Mirrocat 3220 with colortone pigments for quite a while now, got good results,
Rod.

[017]

Unfortunately I can't get my hands on Colortone pigments, due to their inability to ship them outside the USA. I believe Mixol is an alternative, but I don't think I can get them locally.

I forgot to mention that I did walk out with some black Mirostain to test, but adding the maximum 10%, it makes a translucent black, with an unfortunate purple tinge. I guess black isn't black! I know if left long enough, the pigment settles at the bottom of the can. Maybe I'll try more of the pigment concentrate in a few days...

I might give Mirotone a call Monday to see if I can go "old school" and just overcoat 3220 with 3150, and whether my supplier can tint 3220 for me. I've heard the catalyst in 3220 is extremely mild, so I can't see why 3150 can't go over successfully. I also prefer to not mix my own colour up, because I've never done it before (I'd rate the above test as an F). I'd prefer to buy it already mixed/tinted.

Thanks again for the reply, and for confirming my suspicion 3220 can successfully be tinted.

[Bob Connor]

Stewmac ship Colortone pigments to Australia.

I got some in a shipment recently.

http://www.stewmac.com/Materials_and_Su ... tains.html

I have also tinted 3220 with Feast Watson stains. No problems at all.

Regards

[rocket]

Same as Bob , i got my colortone pigments from Stumc as well, Durobond, [Sydney] also supply nitro and i have used some of their pigments with mirrotone in the past, imho, very compatible.
Rod.

[rocket]

While on the subject of tinting Mirrocat 3220, has anybody had any experience of Mirrotone in a solid colour? i've had a few requests to paint some instruments in solid colours but haven't got around to making the enquiries yet!!
Rod.

[017]

Thanks guys, but Colortone pigment does not ship outside the USA. Maybe it once did, but I've noticed it being blacklisted for a while: http://www.stewmac.com/Materials_and_Su ... cquer.html

Dyes appear to certainly be shippable, but I was under the impression that to do a solid/opaque colour, you'd need to use a pigment and not a dye? I guess that's why my Mirostain test didn't work out. In addition, the cost of the pigment, shipping, plus the unavoidable credit card fees work out more expensive than a pre-tinted litre of Mirolac 3150.

As mentioned, I'll call Mirotone next week to see if 3150 can go over the top of 3220, or even if they'll "authorise" my supplier to tint 3220 for me. I can't really see any potential issues. The only reason I can think of why I was told they wouldn't/couldn't tint 3220, is because it's the only (as far as I know) clear NC they offer. Why tint a clear, when they've got a white base tint NC for solid/opaque colours (3150)? Who knows. All will hopefully be revealed next week. I'll report back and let everyone know the outcome.

Thanks again.

[rocket]

Yep i was talking about the DYES that i use, why don't you contact Durobond and see if they can help!
Rod.

[garryalb]

The Feast Watson stain work really well and gives a true black (many pigments I have tried are slightly grey)

Garry.

[jeffhigh]

The stewmac pigment is mixed in nitrocellulose lacquer base unlike the stain, which is why they can't ship it.
Stain is a translucent dye which is not going to give a solid colour.
Perhaps the powdered pigment used for colouring cement would work, I have some that I use for colouring epoxy but have not tried it in lacquer.

[scuffle]

i have sprayed mirotone 3220 in solid colour no problems. I went to my local paint specialist store and asked for industrial colour pigment. Its the same sort of stuff that is used in epoxy for concrete floors etc. but it has worked a treat in the 3220. im not sure of the brand because the gent behind the counter just squirted some in a bottle for me for free

[simso]

While on the subject of tinting Mirrocat 3220, has anybody had any experience of Mirrotone in a solid colour? i've had a few requests to paint some instruments in solid colours but haven't got around to making the enquiries yet!!
Rod.

Ive had solids mixed before in mirotone from the supplier.

On light coats it gives the fender translucent effect (deep wood grain showing through the paint), but with 3 coats or more its solid in colour

Ive got to get some tv yellow mixed this week, so can show you what it looks like on this respray I have just taken on

[rocket]

Looking forward to that Steve , thanks.
Rod.

[017]

OK...

So Mirotone were no help. They said I needed to call the state distributor for technical information. Strange they wouldn't field technical questions...

Anyways, I called the state distributor/supplier (who have always been helpful to me), and they said I could try 3150 over 3220, but they don't recommend it because apparently 3220 is not nitrocellulose-based? It was explained to me 3220 is a "lacquer", whereas 3150 is a "nitrocellulose". I always thought 3220 was NC with a catalyst. They're apparently heard of a few people who have successfully done it, but they won't officially recommend it. A sealer was mentioned that I could use to go between 3220 and 3150, but I of course forgot what it was (though it wouldn't be hard to find out). My only other officially approved option is to add Mirostain to 3220 myself.

I've tested some white Mirostain pigment (the pigment had settled to the bottom and I used the pigment "concentrate") in 3220 and it seems to work fine.

At this point, I'm probably just going to pigment 3220 myself with the white I have and call it a day.

Thanks again to all for the helpful discussion.