How do paint formulas work?

17 years ago

I am trying to understand exterior latex paint formulas - they usually several rows of colorants and columns labeled "OZ", "32", "64" and "128". So a formula would look like:

Colorant OZ 32 64 128

Color1 - 1 1 -

Color2 2 13 - -

is made by taking some amount of the base paint and mixing in:

1/32 oz + 1/64 oz of Color1

2 oz + 13/32 oz of Color2

So far so good (assuming I understand it right).

But I have seen formulas that have numbers that are bigger than necessary. For example, I have seen formulas that show a value like "57" in the 32 column. Would this be equivalent to adding 1 to the "OZ" column and changing the "32" column to 57-32 = "25"?

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (3)

Faron79
17 years ago
You're on the right track...

We've got 3 computerized auto-tinters @ our store now.
2 COROBS, & 1 5y/o Fluid-Mgmt.

>>> Our tinters/software are built on formula-databases in "48th's".
Meanining:
* Each full Oz. of colorant is split into 48 "shots".
* A "half-shot" would be a "96th"....a quarter-shot= a 192nd". Not many tinters can shoot a "192nd"!!
* There's no way on Earth a manual-tinter can reliably shoot a 192nd.
* Some software may show these as decimal-equivalents for each colorant.
* Behind the scenes, on $pendier machines, the tinters are ACTUALLY shooting timed-"gravimetric weights" of each colorant. Our 2 COROBS operate this way.
* Yearly calibration of these baby's is CRUCIAL. Pumps that push the colorant thru slowly wear, slightly affecting calibrations. The actual TIME a colorant-pump/line takes to pump "X" WEIGHT amount of colorant, is what's actually adjusted.
* These are weighed out to the FOURTH decimal place...(on our COROBS anyway!! (...not the cheapest machines...)

>>> The formula's you're referencing are based on an Oz. of colorant divided into 32nds.
* A "half-shot" of this would be a "64th", and so on...
* Again...the actual label for the same product/color may vary, depending on a stores' equipment.

Faron/....geek.!
paintguy22
17 years ago
Haha, yeah....now explain it to him in English.
Related Professionals
College Station Interior Designers & Decorators · San Marcos Interior Designers & Decorators · Moline Interior Designers & Decorators · Liberal Interior Designers & Decorators · Kansas City Bathroom Remodelers · Leominster Bathroom Remodelers · Albert Lea Bathroom Remodelers · Clearlake Bathroom Remodelers · Farmington Bathroom Remodelers · Sarnia Bathroom Remodelers · Quincy Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Saint Cloud Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Las Cruces Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Boise Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Bismarck Kitchen & Bathroom Designers
hgtvdream.com
Original Author
17 years ago
OK thanks all, I think I get it now.

I was taught to represent fractions in lowest terms, dunno why that isn't common practice in the paint industry.