I see the q&a about mixing colors...  Do you have any examples of mixing?  I'd like to have a red that isn't quite as bright as your Safety and Fire red.  What might be a "normal" mix ratio?  For instance, one part black with 20 parts red(?).  Any experience with that?

You can blend KBS Top Coater colors to get a deeper red, with a couple of limits to know before you start.

We don't have a tested black-to-red ratio to give you, because it comes down to the exact shade you're after. Black is easy to add and impossible to take back out, so start with a small measured amount and build up from there.

Before you mix:

• Blend only KBS Top Coater colors with each other. Do not mix in BlackTop or any other KBS product, since they are different formulas.

• The only black in the KBS Top Coater line is Flat Black Camo (Matte). Adding it to Fire Red (Gloss) or Safety Red (Gloss) will lower the gloss somewhat, and more so the more you add.

• KBS Top Coater also comes in Iron Oxide Red (Matte), another stock red to compare if a matte finish works for your project.

Here's how we'd approach a custom blend:

1. Request free painted-out samples of Fire Red, Safety Red and Iron Oxide Red so you can compare the reds in hand. Samples arrive in 5 to 7 business days.

2. Stir each can for several minutes, touching the bottom of the can and lifting, so the pigment is fully mixed before you measure anything.

3. Mix a small test batch by measured parts (a measuring cup or syringe works well), adding black a little at a time. Write down the parts at each step.

4. Brush a test panel with each blend and let it dry before judging the color.

5. Once you find your shade, scale up the ratio you wrote down and mix enough for the whole job in one batch, so every coat matches.

Before you get started, we strongly recommend reading through the complete application directions. The links are included below. The steps above are a quick orientation, not a substitute for the full directions.

• KBS Top Coater

• KBS Top Coater Application Directions

• Request a Free Color Sample

If you try a blend, we'd like to hear how it turns out. Reach back out anytime with questions.