When to choose metallic paint and when to choose gold or silver patina

The best source for technical topics are factories. Here people face a lot of problems that they need to solve quickly and well. That's how we got to today's topic. Being in a factory and discussing varnishes, paints, technologies and many other topics, they told me about a problem they had recently and asked my advice. The problem was with a gold patina that was very easily removed from finished objects. And that's how we ended up discussing the differences between a metallic paint and a gold or silver patina.

In short, the problem was this: they had to make large parts of furniture in a reddish-golden bronze-like colour. They took the patina from a supplier and applied it as directed. But after drying, they found that the patina came off very easily, simply jumping off the furniture at the slightest shock. The patina was applied all over the surface, forming a uniform film.

Using skates as an even layer over the entire surface is a mistake. Metallic paints should be used for such finishes. They are formulated in the same way as other paints, with a base and added pigments. The base ensures adhesion to the substrate and the surface properties characteristic of any top coat: resistance to scratching, mechanical shocks, staining, etc. The pigments are embedded in this base (resin like that in varnishes) and are thus fixed and do not have to be removed if the furniture is rubbed by hand.

Unlike paints, coatings are formulated to create certain effects. Their principle is to be applied and then removed so that a very small amount remains on the surface, sometimes only on certain parts of the surfaces (borders, profiles, carvings, etc). Their adhesion is much lower precisely so that they can be easily removed. Skates are always fixed with a layer of varnish. If a small amount of patina remains, the varnish practically adheres to the primer layer, trapping the patina in the middle. If the patina layer is thick, the lacquer cannot reach the primer and gets stuck to the patina. As the patina has low adhesion, at the slightest mechanical aggression it detaches from the primer and leaves with the varnish.

In conclusion, when a uniform finish coat needs to be applied over the entire surface, a coat of a certain thickness, with very good coverage, metallic paints are used. When you want to create special effects that give preciousness to the furniture, metallic coatings are used. When buying such products, it's a good idea to say what you want to achieve and what the final effect should be. The supplier will be able to recommend the best product to achieve that effect.

If you are unclear or want to know more about the topic, use the comments area. I'll be happy to reply.