Tri-Coat Paint

Tri-coats
Any colour that has the word "Tri-coat" in the paint name listed on our site has three different coats of paint applied at the factory. The first is a basecoat of colour. Next a second coat of transparent colour, called the midcoat is applied and finally, a coat of Lacquer. The midcoat colour is applied very thin and adds additional depth to the paint. In order to successfully match a tri-coat, you should practice on a scrap piece of metal or plastic.  

Application
First apply the basecoat. This is the main colour coat. Make sure this has thoroughly dried for at least a few hours.  Next, apply the midcoat layer. This bottle (or spray can) will have a check by the word Tricoat (or Midcoat) or a #2 on the label to identify it. This colour goes on very thinly and you must practice a bit to get it right. Finally, you apply the Lacquer to achieve the correct colour.

Make sure to get the primer and basecoat sanded very smooth before applying the additional stages of paint. The primer should be wet sanded before applying the paint. Once the midcoat is applied over the basecoat, it becomes very difficult to smooth the basecoat paint.  You can use  #1000 grit sandpaper or rubbing compound to smooth the paint. Always let the basecoat dry for at least one hour but not more than 24 hours before applying the midcoat. Then, let the midcoat dry for at least one hour but not more than 24 hours before applying the Lacquer.

When you apply the midcoat the real trick is applying the midcoat over the basecoat to achieve the right colour. It's like using a coloured transparent piece of plastic over the basecoat to change the colour. Add too little, and the basecoat won't be changed enough; add too much, and you will change the basecoat too much and have to start over again. Make sure you PRACTICE OFF the bike to see how it turns out and keep comparing your practice work to the vehicle colour. Midcoats are best sprayed, but if you use very thin coats, you can do a reasonable job.

Final Thoughts
Applying midcoats is more difficult than a regular base-coat/Lacquer combination but with some practice you can achieve satisfactory results. Because these can be very tricky, you may want to consider having a professional apply this paint or leave the entire job to a collision shop. However, it is also a very expensive repair job in the shop so why not try it yourself first to see how it turns out!