Metallic Paints for general use can be made from simple mixture of raw linseed oil, dryer, and suitable pigments in the dry state or ground in oil.

In general, the proportion of dryer to each gallon of oil is 1 to 10, except where white lead is used, in which case, very little dryer is necessary.

Metallic paints made from the dry mineral colors require about 6 pounds of pigment to each gallon of oil. If these colors ground in oil are used, a little more is usually required.

Cheap Metallic Paint

Mix 2 1-2 parts ceiling varnish, 1 part raw oil, 1 part benzine, 1-2 part dryer. To each gallon of this mixture add 5 lbs. of dry metallic, Venetian red, ochre, or other earth colors. If graphite is used, only 4 pounds to the gallon is required, if the graphite is pure.

Red Metallic

This gives a general idea of the compounding of cheap paints in general, which contain a mineral pigment base, such as ochre, Venetian red, metallic brown and like substances.

25 lbs. Venetian red, dry, 10 lbs. Paris white, dry, 2 1-2 gallons ceiling varnish, 1 gallon raw oil, 1-2 gallon liquid dryer, 1-4 gallon solution No. 2 (under R.M. paints).

In the production of a high-grade metallic paint which will resist atmospheric conditions for a lengthy period and thoroughly protect the metal to which it is applied from corrosion, better materials must be used and the paint will of necessity cost more to produce.

Such a paint can be made as the following, to fulfill the foregoing conditions:

75 pounds of high-grade Venetian red, 5 gallons of raw linseed oil, 3 gallons of kauri mixing varnish,

1 gallon of liquid dryer,

2 gallons of turpentine,

1 gallon of solution, No. 1.

Other colors are produced by substituting French ochre, metallic brown, or other oxide of good quality, and which must be finely ground. Colors ground in oil before mixing should be used as dry colors do not give as good results. If the paint is to be used at once, the solution need not be added. Finally, benzine may be substituted in place of turpentine, without affecting the wearing qualities of the paint. Such a mixture will stand a high temperature very well.