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Author Topic:   Gel Coat Color Recipe for Desert Tan

Smallfrye posted 06-10-2014 07:31 PM ET (US)
The traditional Whaler gel coat color "Desert Tan" looks simple to duplicate but I can't get it to my expectations. Does anyone have or know the color recipe for mixing this color?

Jeff posted 06-10-2014 09:13 PM ET (US)
There is no set recipe because it is all depended upon what your are starting with and the quantity as well.
Based on a sample color scanned from the underside of one of my deck hatches on my 1985 22 Outrage here are my findings:
The Desert Tan is the same as Pantone color is: PMS#7527
For those who do not know what Pantone is...It is a standardized system of color matching.
http://www.pantone.com/pages/pantone/index.aspxp
I only buy straight pure white liquid gel coat by the quart for everything I do on Whalers. I then use evercoat coloring agents to tint the white to match the tan I am working towards.
http://www.evercoat.com/productDetail.aspx?pID=157
I typically only mix 1/2 a quart at a time just in case I really screw something up or need more white. I have Brown, Yellow, Black, White and Red tints for making all kinds of shades of tan. I mostly use the Yellow and Brown. WHite only is I am out of extra liquid gel coat. The black is voodoo. It is necessary at times to use it however, a tiny bit goes a LONG way in changing color. If you have to use it I only add tiny tiny bits at a time. Red is a rarity as well unless you are working on a post 1992 desert tan.
NEVER try to color match gelcoat in anything but natural day light. Harsh, high contrast days are ok but, not the best. An overcast day or, sun raise and sun set are better. Incandescent, florescent and high pressure sodium lights will always alter the true reflected light pigment of any color. If you mix color in these environments what looks correct could be off in actual day light.
Here is another thread I started on using straight gelcoat instead of those spectrum gel coat patch kits that go bad after the first opening. I shared a lot of the tinting info there as well.
[ http://continuouswave.com/ubb/Forum3/HTML/016540.html
Binkster posted 06-11-2014 07:41 AM ET (US)
I have the same tinting colors as Jeff. Last fall I mixed a dead on match for Desert Tan gel coat. In order to get a sample to make the match from I cut a circle with a hole saw from my discarded side console 15 ft. Striper. Before I cut out the sample I sanded and polished the area until it looked like new. I used the gel coat I mixed on the custom center console I built for my 15 footer. I also Awlgripped the interior of this boat, the exterior of the hull was in very good condition, with no marks or nicks and only required sanding and polishing. With Awlgrip being very expensive, I didn't trust my mixing skills so I had my supplier, Finishmaster Automotive and Industrial Paints in Largo Fl. make the paint for me, matched to my sample. Phil, the tinter, does all the tinting there. He does it all by eye, doesn't trust computers as he mentioned that computers have screwed up alot of expensive paint. If anyone needs Desert Tan Awlgrip contact the branch in Largo, just ask for Desert Tan Awlgrip, the formula is on file.
As far as mixing it yourself, you need to look at a color and be able to see what colors its made from. Its not that easy, I worked in a Glidden paint store back in the sixties, before color matching computers and got good at matching paints. The key is to go slow, use small amounts of tint, especially black. Keep extra white gelcoat or paint on hand incase you get to dark. If you go slow you can do it. Dood luck.
rich
Smallfrye posted 06-12-2014 04:58 PM ET (US)
Thanks Guy's. Based on the information that Desert Tan is Pantone 7527; the recipe would be C=0, M=2, Y=6, K=7
With these color proportions, any size base can be colored to this pantone reference.
This is what the paint computer's do (no it is not magic)
I'm going to whip up a small batch since my PC shows the Pantone 7527 as a grey/ white color. It's probably my monitor considering the color agents.
Thanks again
Jeff posted 06-12-2014 07:29 PM ET (US)
I think your CMYK conversion is off. See here for the CMYK break down for PMS 7527-C.
http://rgb.to/pantone/7527-c
Cyan - 3
Magenta - 4
Yellow - 14
Black - 8
Which would be Cyan 3% + Magenta 4% + Yellow 14% + Black 8% + White 71% = 100%
Finding pure Cyan and Magenta tints for gelcoat are going to be tough so one would have to adjust for color tints they can get their hands on.

jimh posted 06-12-2014 11:48 PM ET (US)
Try this simple recipe:
Pure White gel coat resin and very small amount of Raw Sienna pigment.
jimh posted 06-12-2014 11:55 PM ET (US)
Jeff's Pantone equivalent in RGB is #d6d2c4.
For the website forum Desert Tan color, I have been using #f1eee7.
Binkster posted 06-13-2014 10:11 AM ET (US)
jimh sez;
Pure White gel coat resin and very small amount of Raw Sienna pigment.
That's a good start, and the base pigment, but it will look way too yellow, add ,little black, red, and blue. When I say add, I mean dip a stick in the color, and stir it in the gelcoat. Never pour. How far you dip the stick in the color is anybodys guess. Its best to go SLOW, and keep extra white on hand, and for make enough the whole job.
Its not a difficult color to tint, the red and blue will give it the greenish beige hue it needs to be accurate.
My fiberglass/gelcoat supplier in St. Pete would have tinted the gelcoat for me for $250. My Awlgrip supplier, Finishmasters Automotive and Industrial Paint in Largo, Fl. which BTW is a national company tinted Desert Tan for me to a sample I gave them for $25, and keeps the recipe on file, so any one needing that color can get it for only a nominal extra fee over white, and extra paint will always match,
rich

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Author	Topic: Gel Coat Color Recipe for Desert Tan
Smallfrye	posted 06-10-2014 07:31 PM ET (US) The traditional Whaler gel coat color "Desert Tan" looks simple to duplicate but I can't get it to my expectations. Does anyone have or know the color recipe for mixing this color?
Jeff	posted 06-10-2014 09:13 PM ET (US) There is no set recipe because it is all depended upon what your are starting with and the quantity as well. Based on a sample color scanned from the underside of one of my deck hatches on my 1985 22 Outrage here are my findings: The Desert Tan is the same as Pantone color is: PMS#7527 For those who do not know what Pantone is...It is a standardized system of color matching. http://www.pantone.com/pages/pantone/index.aspxp I only buy straight pure white liquid gel coat by the quart for everything I do on Whalers. I then use evercoat coloring agents to tint the white to match the tan I am working towards. http://www.evercoat.com/productDetail.aspx?pID=157 I typically only mix 1/2 a quart at a time just in case I really screw something up or need more white. I have Brown, Yellow, Black, White and Red tints for making all kinds of shades of tan. I mostly use the Yellow and Brown. WHite only is I am out of extra liquid gel coat. The black is voodoo. It is necessary at times to use it however, a tiny bit goes a LONG way in changing color. If you have to use it I only add tiny tiny bits at a time. Red is a rarity as well unless you are working on a post 1992 desert tan. NEVER try to color match gelcoat in anything but natural day light. Harsh, high contrast days are ok but, not the best. An overcast day or, sun raise and sun set are better. Incandescent, florescent and high pressure sodium lights will always alter the true reflected light pigment of any color. If you mix color in these environments what looks correct could be off in actual day light. Here is another thread I started on using straight gelcoat instead of those spectrum gel coat patch kits that go bad after the first opening. I shared a lot of the tinting info there as well. [ http://continuouswave.com/ubb/Forum3/HTML/016540.html
Binkster	posted 06-11-2014 07:41 AM ET (US) I have the same tinting colors as Jeff. Last fall I mixed a dead on match for Desert Tan gel coat. In order to get a sample to make the match from I cut a circle with a hole saw from my discarded side console 15 ft. Striper. Before I cut out the sample I sanded and polished the area until it looked like new. I used the gel coat I mixed on the custom center console I built for my 15 footer. I also Awlgripped the interior of this boat, the exterior of the hull was in very good condition, with no marks or nicks and only required sanding and polishing. With Awlgrip being very expensive, I didn't trust my mixing skills so I had my supplier, Finishmaster Automotive and Industrial Paints in Largo Fl. make the paint for me, matched to my sample. Phil, the tinter, does all the tinting there. He does it all by eye, doesn't trust computers as he mentioned that computers have screwed up alot of expensive paint. If anyone needs Desert Tan Awlgrip contact the branch in Largo, just ask for Desert Tan Awlgrip, the formula is on file. As far as mixing it yourself, you need to look at a color and be able to see what colors its made from. Its not that easy, I worked in a Glidden paint store back in the sixties, before color matching computers and got good at matching paints. The key is to go slow, use small amounts of tint, especially black. Keep extra white gelcoat or paint on hand incase you get to dark. If you go slow you can do it. Dood luck. rich
Smallfrye	posted 06-12-2014 04:58 PM ET (US) Thanks Guy's. Based on the information that Desert Tan is Pantone 7527; the recipe would be C=0, M=2, Y=6, K=7 With these color proportions, any size base can be colored to this pantone reference. This is what the paint computer's do (no it is not magic) I'm going to whip up a small batch since my PC shows the Pantone 7527 as a grey/ white color. It's probably my monitor considering the color agents. Thanks again
Jeff	posted 06-12-2014 07:29 PM ET (US) I think your CMYK conversion is off. See here for the CMYK break down for PMS 7527-C. http://rgb.to/pantone/7527-c Cyan - 3 Magenta - 4 Yellow - 14 Black - 8 Which would be Cyan 3% + Magenta 4% + Yellow 14% + Black 8% + White 71% = 100% Finding pure Cyan and Magenta tints for gelcoat are going to be tough so one would have to adjust for color tints they can get their hands on.
jimh	posted 06-12-2014 11:48 PM ET (US) Try this simple recipe: Pure White gel coat resin and very small amount of Raw Sienna pigment.
jimh	posted 06-12-2014 11:55 PM ET (US) Jeff's Pantone equivalent in RGB is #d6d2c4. For the website forum Desert Tan color, I have been using #f1eee7.
Binkster	posted 06-13-2014 10:11 AM ET (US) jimh sez; Pure White gel coat resin and very small amount of Raw Sienna pigment. That's a good start, and the base pigment, but it will look way too yellow, add ,little black, red, and blue. When I say add, I mean dip a stick in the color, and stir it in the gelcoat. Never pour. How far you dip the stick in the color is anybodys guess. Its best to go SLOW, and keep extra white on hand, and for make enough the whole job. Its not a difficult color to tint, the red and blue will give it the greenish beige hue it needs to be accurate. My fiberglass/gelcoat supplier in St. Pete would have tinted the gelcoat for me for $250. My Awlgrip supplier, Finishmasters Automotive and Industrial Paint in Largo, Fl. which BTW is a national company tinted Desert Tan for me to a sample I gave them for $25, and keeps the recipe on file, so any one needing that color can get it for only a nominal extra fee over white, and extra paint will always match, rich