how do i get the right paint color?
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New User
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how do i get the right paint color?
i have a 99 ranger painted in autumn orange metallic. i bought it from a guy who put a pretty deep scratch in near the tail light..... waxing it and buffing it do not help it at all, so i was wondering if there was anyway i could just buy and ounce of that kind of paint. 
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 999
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From: Willamette Valley Oregon
<cr>
First off, a metallic is difficult to work with, so don't expect to dab a little paint in the scratch and expect it to disappear. Repainting the entire panel is the way to do it right.
On the other hand, if the scratch is down to the primer, dabbing in a little paint will hide the primer, making the scratch less apparent. The scratch will still be there. Just less glaring.
Is the paint a factory color? Is the finish a single stage or basecoat/clearcoat?
First off, a metallic is difficult to work with, so don't expect to dab a little paint in the scratch and expect it to disappear. Repainting the entire panel is the way to do it right.
On the other hand, if the scratch is down to the primer, dabbing in a little paint will hide the primer, making the scratch less apparent. The scratch will still be there. Just less glaring.
Is the paint a factory color? Is the finish a single stage or basecoat/clearcoat?
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New User
Joined: Mar 2004
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it is the factory color, it is pretty rare, i have only seen a couple other explorers and rangers painted it.....i can see down to a white part...it looks almost like fiberglass.....i believe it is a single stage.
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 999
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From: Willamette Valley Oregon
<cr>
You should be able to find some paint codes on the vehicle. This is your starting point. Get those numbers and take them to your local auto paint store and see if they have a match. You might have to buy a pint.
Most likely, you have an urethane finish and the white you are seeing is part of the primer coat. You might be able to touch up the scratch (a paper match works great as a paint brush) with your paint. Don't expect it to entirely disappear but at least it won't be glaring at you.
BTW, a single stage paint has a very thin layer of clear over the paint. You do not want to be sanding on a SS metallic. If you do, you will need to repaint the entire panel.
You should be able to find some paint codes on the vehicle. This is your starting point. Get those numbers and take them to your local auto paint store and see if they have a match. You might have to buy a pint.
Most likely, you have an urethane finish and the white you are seeing is part of the primer coat. You might be able to touch up the scratch (a paper match works great as a paint brush) with your paint. Don't expect it to entirely disappear but at least it won't be glaring at you.
BTW, a single stage paint has a very thin layer of clear over the paint. You do not want to be sanding on a SS metallic. If you do, you will need to repaint the entire panel.
Last edited by Aekisu; Mar 7, 2004 at 07:32 PM.
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Joined: Feb 2004
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From: South Shore, MA
Pull off your gas tank door and take it to a paint shop. They will take a picture of it and get the formula for your paint on the truck now. If its a factory color then look in the driver's side door jamb on the VIN tag and just above where you get axle codes, engine codes, tranny codes you should see 2 letters which are your paint code.
