Red touch up paint for carb bikes?

Go to a really good painter--& I mean really good, someone that has been doing this for 20 plus years. They will have the eye & expertise to mix you a small batch, they will have to start then modify it slightly a couple of times to get it spot on --but thats your best bet---far better then just going to a paint supplier & telling them what you need-& they can never get it right. --depends on how close you want it it be.

If you want it to match and disappear as a blemish what he said. If you just want to touch it up Colorrite has a selection of Ducati paints. Be aware though Ducati over the years was very inconsistent about what red was. So the "correct" color may or may not actually match.

There are many different shades of color--even Black--there are many different Black paint colors--red yellow etc --even when you get into a specific color-( or so you think)--BRG= British Racing Green-you would think that in itself yould tell you the exact color--But Not So--It depends on what the year is. even BRG has changed dozens of times over the years.

They use a special tool or a hand held gun to measure the pigment these days. Old style is the old fart painting forever. Throw both paint jobs under microscope, bet the gun will more match the color.

BOTT said:

They use a special tool or a hand held gun to measure the pigment these days. Old style is the old fart painting forever. Throw both paint jobs under microscope, bet the gun will more match the color.

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again that depends on if you have a really good painter or not--My painter by hand matched 60 year old discolored pin striping in about 3 min. --re-striped the tank & both mudguards only painting what was missing--left the 40% original pinstriping intact-----I defy anyone to find the original paint or the new paint that is faded into the original--A painter is not a painter--you need an artist that knows his shit.

BOTT said:

They use a special tool or a hand held gun to measure the pigment these days. Old style is the old fart painting forever. Throw both paint jobs under microscope, bet the gun will more match the color.

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again that depends on if you have a really good painter or not--My painter by hand matched 60 year old discolored pin striping in about 3 min. --re-striped the tank & both mudguards only painting what was missing--left the 40% original pinstriping intact-----I defy anyone to find the original paint or the new paint that is faded into the original--A painter is not a painter--you need an artist that knows his shit.

I have an auto painter as a neighbor. We talk shop. He's the one who says the fading artist are history. Tech calls the blend these days. He now sells paint to the body shops. One of the top salesman. I'm sure he can point out why the paint finish looks off, orange peel, etc.

The bike is 27 years old, that paint is no longer whatever color it was from the factory. Those reds hold up better than your average Honda civic red, but they still fade a bit. You can still see the shadow of the old tank pad I pulled of my '94 tank, for example.

So I agree, you have to have it custom matched.

Oh my goodness, I have the fix... Love the patina, live with the look. Money better spent on food or oil and filters.

Signed,
Not That Anal Club

BOTT said:

I have an auto painter as a neighbor. We talk shop. He's the one who says the fading artist are history. Tech calls the blend these days. He now sells paint to the body shops. One of the top salesman. I'm sure he can point out why the paint finish looks off, orange peel, etc.

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Well I have a few friends who say they are painters--Everyone that call's themselves a painter will always say--" I can flat out paint"--yet I dont use them to paint my restorations--the reason -They are not as good as they think they are--I use the person that I trust to get it spot on everytime, --and that little camara may get it close enough for you---But in my business there is no such thing as close enough--It's right or it's not.

My research says the color code is PPG 473.101
I gave that code to my painter and he informed me that there is another code for that paint, and it all depends on if the primer coat is white or grey.

I have found the biggest issue with touch-up paints is application. Vehicle paints are meant to be sprayed and if you use the brush touch-up paints it's really difficult to get it to work out. Years ago I contacted Dr. Color Chip and asked for Ducati Rosso for a '92 Ducati. Their paints are formulated to allow them to be worked when applied. I just had a small scratch on my tank and their "system" did a really good job fixing it. Took multiple applications, but there were no paint blobs like I usually get with touch up applications.

If you are looking for a color match to spray, I think that taking the tank to some place like PPG and having them do a paint match with their colorimeter is the best solution. But it might take some trial and error after the paint is mixed. You might be able to give the color code to Dr. Color Chip as well to see what they can do.

VW LP3g and believe it or not Rustoleum Sunrise Red are very close matches to the Ducati red. If you build up the paint in layers [it takes patience and time] and sand/ rub down the inevitable lump it can be almost unnoticeable to anyone other than yourself.

I used this touch up paint for my 1995 CR/SS and it was literally a perfect match with the factory red. Assuming the damage isn't too bad I've had really nice results with this paint and some meguiars scratch x compound and some elbow-grease.

Good luck!

Red?
Easy for nicks.
Ever seen how many shades of nail polish there are?
Visit your local cosmetics boutique and ask if they can match the shade, 99% of the time they will have a nice small bottle with applicator for short money.

Testors RED model paint is pretty close. It's cheap and available get a good brush. I dotted a little key mark on the tank on my 939.

Why do they put the ignition switch next to the gas tank? The key chain had the saddlebag lock key on it. One ride.

wdietz186 said:

VW LP3g and believe it or not Rustoleum Sunrise Red are very close matches to the Ducati red. If you build up the paint in layers [it takes patience and time] and sand/ rub down the inevitable lump it can be almost unnoticeable to anyone other than yourself.

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Thanks for the suggestion, turns out that is a near match. Picked up a 2oz jar on amazon for $15.

ducvet said:

Red?
Easy for nicks.
Ever seen how many shades of nail polish there are?
Visit your local cosmetics boutique and ask if they can match the shade, 99% of the time they will have a nice small bottle with applicator for short money.

Click to expand...

Long ago when I was a single guy, there was always a cloud of suspicion over me as I had a single bottle of red nail polish amongst my things. Revlon #34. That was considered a close match but it does not hold up too well.

LowRyter said:

Testors RED model paint is pretty close. It's cheap and available get a good brush.

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Unfortunately, Testors, now owned by Rustoleum has discontinued their enamel and acrylic model paint line some years ago. Problem for because that's all I used for my models.