candy2o
Water-Based, Metal-Complex Dye, Color Concentrates
VOC 27.7 g/L Reg.
Edited August 2023 – This tech sheet supersedes any other inconsistent information, including the label.
Quick Guide
Appearance: Concentrated and dark in solution but bright & vibrant over a metallic base when top-coated with gloss clear.
Mixing Ratios: Generally 1:1 with 4050 UVLS Gloss Clear for airbrushing; 6:1 or 8:1 for spray-gunning.
Thinning: 10% – 20% 4011 Reducer after mixing with 4050 for airbrush, often not required for spray-gun.
Top-Coat: A durable, catalyzed (2k) urethane clear.
Base for candy2o: AutoBorne 6013 Silver Sealer is the color reference, apply over other metallic colors for varied candy finishes, ex. Wicked Metallic Gold for candy-apple colors.
Description
candy2O are water-based, dye color concentrates intended for mixing with a carrier such as 4050 UVLS Gloss Clear.
candy2o are metal-complex dyes, which are light-fast stable and suitable for exterior applications such as automotive refinishing. While not lightfast like a pigment-based color, candy2o are not fugitive like a fluorescent and will last for many years with limited exposure to direct light, such as a candy paintjob on a car or motorcycle that is driven and parked outside on sunny days, but otherwise garaged. candy2o’s dye type, metal complex, is more light-stable compared to other dye-types, both solvent-based and water-based.
candy2o are concentrated and appear dark in solution. After top-coated with a gloss clear, candy2o appear bright & vibrant over a metallic base, and the 100% transparent nature of the color will be apparent.
Top-coat with a durable, catalyzed (2k), urethane clear. 4053 UVLS High Gloss Clear is not recommended as a gloss top-coat over candy2o due to leaching of dyes into clear, which even at minute levels, affects gloss-level.
candy2o are 100% transparent colors, intended for application as a mid-coat over a metallic base such as AutoBorne 6013 Silver Sealer. candy2o can also be mixed directly with pearl colors, such as Wicked Hot Rod & Cosmic Sparkle Colors.
candy2o spray excellent as an airbrush dye-color that builds to a darker value the more the color is applied, allowing for well-blended transitions and techniques where colors are built to their darkest value.
MIX RATIOS
General Mix Ratios:
Airbrush – 4050 1:1 candy2o, thin ~ 10% 4011 Reducer
Spray-Gun, 4050 6:1 candy20, no thinning.
Allow mix 10+ minutes to acclimate before spraying. This allows the alcohol in 4011 to break-down surface-tension which allows for improved flow and leveling.
4011 Reducer is generally added 10% – 20% per volume after mixing candy2o with 4050.
Thin as needed with 4011 Reducer colors intended for spraying within a 48-hour period; mixing with 4011 shortens candy2o shelf-life.
candy2o dyes are concentrate in the bottle and need to be extended with a carrier-medium. Generally, the mix ratio is about an even 1:1 mix of 4050 UVLS Gloss Clear and candy2o for use with an airbrush, and much more for a spray gun, generally 4050 6:1 candy2o or 4050 8:1 candy2o for stronger colors such as 4661 Emerald Green and 4665 Brandywine.
Mixing cont’d.
4050 UVLS Gloss Clear is the recommended carrier-medium. There is another carrier, 4030 Balancing Clear, which is the original carrier-medium for candy2o and still can be used as a substitute, although 4050 works much better, especially when spraying candy2o with a spray-gun or as a mid-coat where uniform color development and coating control is important.
Application
STRAIN BEFORE USING! Always pour candy2o through a strainer before using. A fine mesh-size, 125, micron works best.
candy2O dry matte after application and
appear transparent and vibrant after top-coating with a gloss clear.
Tip Sizes & PSI Settings
- Airbrush: Any Tip Size, generally 15 – 30 psi
- Mini Spray-Gun: 0.8mm – 1.2mm tip
- Spray-Gun: 1.2 – 1.3mm
- Spray-Gun – follow manufacture’s psi settings, often at upper limit
Apply 4 – 6 Medium-Wet Coats
- 75 / 25 overlapping coats. Apply candy2o in multiple coats, each medium wet, with 75% of each coat covering the subsequent coat for maximum saturation of color.
- Extend re-coat times, allowing enough drying time for each coat to dry tack-free, which is the quickest time to tape and apply the top-coat clear.
- Check fan pattern for even distribution of color that is well atomized before spraying. Make adjustments to spray-gun to correct any uneven distribution in fan pattern.
Drying Times
Estimated drying and curing times are set at 70⁰F and 65% or less relative humidity (RH). Allow for extended drying times in colder or humid conditions.
- Re-coat: 10 – 15 minutes in-between coats.
- Top-coat with a clear: 1 hour after last coat candy2o
- Use air flow, not heat, to assist drying.
- Final cure is 48+ hours after application.
- A quicker time to clear is achieved by extending re-coat times. Applying candy2o over a fresh coat of candy2o that has not thoroughly dried can create mapping (visual imperfections) in the finish as well as prolong final cure times.
Bleeding / Leaching of Dyes
Unlike pigment-based colors, candy2o dyes will bleed, that is leach, into top-coated colors. The best way to stop candy2o colors from bleeding is apply a catalyzed (2k) clear direct to candy2o.
4040 Bleed Checker also prevents candy2o from bleeding at lesser saturated amounts, such as when airbrushing with candy2o. Apply 2 coats of 4040, with 10 – 15 minutes drying in-between coats.
Taping & Masking
When applied as specified, candy2o may be taped on direct after 60 minutes air drying at 70
- Use a vinyl or wax tape, avoid crepe-paper tapes.
Base Coats for Candy Mid-Coat Finishes
- 6013 AutoBorne Silver Sealer is the standard metallic base used for all candy2o.
- Other popular metallic bases include:
- W350 Wicked Metallic Gold
- W351 Wicked Metallic White
- W359 Wicked Metallic Charcoal
- Anodized Candy Finishes, apply candy2o over
W357 Quicksilver and W358 Gold Chrome.
- candy2o can be applied over any Createx paint without needing to be scuffed.
When applying candy2o as a mid-coat over a metallic base, applying a “cheater coat” helps achieve uniform application, especially with darker valued candy2O colors. A cheater coat is a mid-layer between metallic base and candy2O made by mixing the two together, resulting in a more gradual transition between metallic base and candy. For example, when applying 4665 Brandywine over 6013 Silver Sealer, a cheater coat would be made by mixing Brandywine and Silver Sealer (mixing even parts works best) and applying this mix over the base Silver Sealer, then applying Brandywine over the candy-aluminum mix, which will better hide any uneven color build-up much better compared to applying Brandywine direct against Silver Sealer.
Candy-Pearl Colors
Mix candy2o with Wicked Cosmic Sparkle & Hot Rod Sparkle Colors, Wicked Flair Colors and other Wicked pearls for custom candy-pearl colors. Apply over a metallic base, 6002 Sealer Black or color-keyed AutoBorne Sealer color.
candy2o can be mixed in any ratio with Wicked pearl colors. Generally, the mix is in equal parts of candy2o and Wicked pearl color, then adding about twice the volume 4050 UVLS Gloss Clear.
candy2o 1: 1 Wicked pearl : 2 4050 Clear.
Thinning with 4011 Reducer is optional for airbrush.
candy2o work excellent as tints added direct to a metallic color, especially 4652 Tequila Yellow and
4662 Dirt Track Brown with earth-tone metallics.
Repairing candy2o
candy2o is more difficult to repair, spot blend, due to the nature of the 100% transparent dyes and how the color continues to darken the more its built-up, so blends are hard to hide. The CreatexColorsCo YouTube Channel’s How-to Match A Candy Red-Finish is a great video on how to repair any candy2o color.
Scratch-marks will appear in candy2o if colors are sanded. If candy2o is scratched, apply a few more coats to help blend in color before clear. although even after applying as few more coats, the scratches may be apparent; such is the nature of a transparent dye color.
Properly extending candy2o with 4050 UVLS Gloss Clear, (4050 6:1 candy2o), improves mar resistance and sanding of candy2o, amongst other improvements such as color control and leveling.
Cleaning
candy2O is best rinsed from the airbrush or spray-gun with 4011 Reducer. Use soapy, warm water and 4008 Restorer as a rinse for final cleaning.
It best not to directly wipe candy2o prior to paint. Best practice is to apply a 2k clear soon after applying candy2o. UVLS Clears can also be applied as a protective inter-coat. Wiping candy2o can only be done with a post-sanding, solvent-based degreaser; test first to make sure even a mild wipe doesn’t leave a visible mark. If in doubt, don’t wipe candy2o direct.
Pot-Life & Storage
- candy2o does not have a pot life when mixed with either 4050 UVLS Gloss Clear or 4030 Balancing Clear; i.e. the mix will maintain a sprayable viscosity after mixing for an indefinite time period so long as its stored out of light and capped air-tight.
- candy2o has a 48-hour pot-life (period afterwhich spray performance & viscosity may be affected)
- Store air-tight in a cool, dry environment away from direct light.
- Do not let candy2O freeze; it will not return to a liquid after thawing. Best stored in temperatures between 40⁰ – 80⁰ F.
YouTube Channel
The Createx Colors YouTube channel contains many videos featuring candy2o. From how-to reduce and apply candy2o, how-to mix candy2o with pearls and more, the Createx Colors YouTube channel is an excellent resource for how to paint with candy2o.
Health & Safety
Use in a well-ventilated area. Avoid contact with eyes. Wash hands thoroughly with soap and warm water after use. Do not ingest. When spraying or sanding, use a properly fitted NIOSH approved respirator per the manufacturer’s instructions.
Eye contact: Rinse with clean water for 15 minutes. Seek medical attention.
Inhalation: Use in in well ventilated areas and wear a NIOSH / MSHA approved respirator when spraying.
Refer to candy2O SDS for additional information.
WARNING: Cancer – www.P65Warnings.ca.gov
Sunset Magenta, Marine Blue, Ultra Violet, Deep Purple & Brandywine
Manufactured by:
PO Box 120, 14 Airport Park Rd
East Granby, CT 06026
800.243.2712 | 860.653.5505
info@createxcolors.com