My mistake with a cheap paint mixing system cost me a whole job

I got a deal on a no-name paint mixing system last fall, thinking it would be fine for small touch-ups. The motor sounded rough from day one, but I figured it would break in. Last week, I was mixing a custom match for a 2018 Honda Civic in Solar Silver, a tricky metallic. Halfway through the batch, the motor seized up completely, leaving the paint half-mixed and unusable. I had to rush order the right color from my regular supplier, which put me a full day behind. Between the wasted materials and the lost day of work, I was out about $350. The worst part was having to explain the delay to a good customer. Has anyone found a budget mixing system that actually holds up, or is it just not worth the risk?

2 comments

2 Comments

victor_stone15d ago

That 2018 Solar Silver is a tough one... it's got a really fine aluminum flake that needs a perfect mix. A cheap system's impeller just can't break up the clumps right, even if the motor runs. I've seen it come out looking blotchy on the test card. You might have dodged a worse problem with the motor seizing, honestly.

reese_ward5015d ago

Saw a shop review that basically said what victor_stone mentioned. Cheap mixers can't handle the shear for modern metallics. You end up with bad color even if the thing doesn't break.