Paint Codes

[glitter1007]

I have located the paint code for my freeda as 11W. Now I thought she was a very bog standard green, but having looked at all the information on paint codes on this site I can't find it anywhere. I have a little chip and want to get a touch up kit. Can anybody help?

[francophile1947]

Interesting all the 11s are silver
Is yours the dark green over silver? If so it's 14E, with 5S being the code for the Neat Green.

[bigdaddycain]

Ford or mazda? The codes can differ....

[glitter1007]

She's a Ford Freda - so is that why I can't identify the paint code? I think she is probably neat green over silver - because she is a very common colour.

[bigdaddycain]

Yes, that could indeed be the case...We needed a paint code for daveblueozzies freda,and had issues obtaining the correct code.

If my memory serves me correctly, there are four shades of neat green, (according to my paint supplier). The only definitive way to be absolutely certain that the shade is correct, is to break out the colour chips, and offer them up to your bon...sorry, freda, till the correct shade is determined. I'd suggest trying the chip against a few different panels, in case vehicle has had paintwork carried out in the past.

A word of warning though, if you pick the "correct" shade in bright sunlight, you will have the correct shade on your vehicle in bright sunlight,conversely, if it's a grey gloomy day,the coulour will match on grey gloomy days, try to pick an "average" day with regards to lighting.

I needed some paint mixing for my driver's door, and freetop, see how it's a darker shade in failing light, yet matches perfectly in bright sunlight?

Failing light, (door and roof)



Bright sunlight... (sorry, no drivers side view in the sun)

[glitter1007]

Blimey that sounds a touch complicated - I thought there would be one shade of neat green. Where would one be able to do this colour matching? I live in Norwich. Can it be achieved at Halfords or a similar establishment?

[bigdaddycain]

Hi, it's not that complicatd really, halfords are ok, but you may find it tricky to get a member of staff to actually come out to your vehicle, and spend a little time mulling over the different shades, your best bet would be to find a local motor factors, that can mix up paint for the bodyshop industry, often these chaps can "aerosol" the paint for you if need be, it'll be better quality than halfrauds too, as they tend to overthin the paint a bit for my liking...

Try pm'ing francophile, he may know of a decent motor factors in your area,he lives in norwich (i think)...

I use a place in warrington (P&M autopanels), they have friendly staff that don't mind spending a few minutes with the colour chip chart,and your vehicle,deciding on the nearest shade they have for your vehicle, an experienced person can actually adjust the shade to take into account the amount of fading that has took place on your particular vehicle.

With hindsight, i'd have had the entire driver's side resprayed when i needed my door re-painting....

[glitter1007]

Thanks for your help - I will start my mission next week. At a festy this weekend in my lovely freda. By the way - love those wheels.

[bigdaddycain]

Ta! Enjoy the festival, and good luck with the paintwork....

[francophile1947]

Try pm'ing francophile, he may know of a decent motor factors in your area,he lives in norwich (i think)...

-

Wish I did Ste - the best one closed a few months ago Halfords is the only place I know that mixes paint in aerosols.

[flippa]

good post i need to respray my front and rear bumper .....mine is silver over grey.....i take it the bumper grey colour is the same on all vehicles ....does anyone know off hand what code or exact colour it is .....i may have found someone who mixes 2 pack aerosols?

[Ian]

There are 3 different types of silver; silent silver, silver stone and highlight silver. Bumpers come in all 3 colours.

[flippa]

cheers ian thats narrowed it down......so there is not a common bumper colour? i mean 1 that has been used more of the 3 you mention....also via the paint code on mine what letters denote the bumper colour?

[bigdaddycain]

A silver main body colour can mean any variant on bumper colour kieran... Silent silver is the shade that is used probably 75% of the time....

[bigdaddycain]

I have a little chip and want to get a touch up kit. Can anybody help?

Oops, i fear i may have got a little carried away here... You are talking about a touch-up pen type paint, glitter?

If that's the case, exact shading is far less important as its over such a small area,Ian should be able to help you out with that...i've heard that the club shop touch up's are top notch

You can employ a "french polishing" technique to the repair ya know?

Half fill the chip with the neat green paint, wait for a coulple of hours, then build up the layers of lacquer till it stands slightly proud of the surrounding paintwork...Leave it for a week.

Take some 2000 grit wet & dry, (or lowest grit you can find, 1200 will do) Soak the paper in warm soapy water for 5 minutes, then slowly, and gently sand the slightly proud lacquer till it is flush with the rest of the paintwork,keep checking as you go along, and keep dipping the paper into the water to flush the area of any floating grit, (if it squeaks,you have picked up a sharp bit of grit ) Dry the area thoroughly. You will now see that the area is dull, and lacklustre, but (with a bit of luck) smooth as silk. You can either spend some time t-cutting the area to replenish the shine, or whizz it over with some G3 on a buffer for 5 or 6 seconds, then wax to seal, (the whole panel preferably) And depending on how far you want to tae the job, further seal the paintwork with some autoglym extra deep gloss protection. (or equivalent) Let the deep gloss "soak" into the panel for an hour, then buff to a deep sheen with a clean good quality micro fibre cloth.