paint mixing

[1946 BN IHC]

To those who know about paint and the mixing there of.
Since I seem to have run into a log jam in finding the paint colour desired [with out paying $70 per quart Canadian].
So- I am thinking of taking the paint that the IH dealer has and mixing in an amount of other paint { I have IHC cream white cream on hand and would purchase IHC white} and mix them to achieve a nice finished colour for our lawn tractor.
SO---- does any one know how much, what amount, would be necessary to tint a quart to a close match of Cub Cadet white of pre 1970?, since all attempts to come up with a reasonable colour white and price, have to this point, failed. IH paint is around 25 to35 $ a quart Canadian. I am also finding the same with the red and will put in black to darken it down to achieve an older red colour; again how much per quart?
Wm.
 

[Stephen Newell]

You probably won't find someone with the formula. Anyone can mix paint if they have the time and patience. There isn't anything wrong with intermixing different colors of paint. It just takes time and patience to achieve the color. It would probably help if you tried to mix a very small batch adding a little of this and that to see what pigments are right. Sometimes you get it completely wrong and have to throw it out. Better to through out an ounce or so than a quart. Once you know what pigments are needed then you can start mixing the paint to use. I just mixed some paint for the frame of a Kubota which was a very dark blue. I purchased some black and blue paint and tried to make it but looked very wrong. I then added some green to it and that made it better bot was too light so added more black. Then it was close but the correct color was more creamy looking so I added a small amount of white and that did it. It's just a matter of tinkering.
 

[1946 BN IHC]

my problem is that IH only has bright white and the newer colour at that. I want a more ermine white like colour [ IH 901 /antique winter white[ ppg8665]. Car quest wants, at present $70 per quart/ meteric which is becoming a little much. I will be using the IH red but adding a small amount of black to darken it more like the harvester red 2303 form the older IH trucks., since I can't find the correct colour of Cub Cadet Yellow with out paying again the $70 Canadian per qt. At the moment I am not wanting to splurge but also have a nice look finish.
Any way I will follow what you have stated a few drops at a time in a small container then calculate for the larger amount.
Thank you.
Wm.
 

[Stephen Newell]

I can't exactly find the color you want online. One place it looks to be slightly gray and another has a yellow tint to it. The sites showing the IH 901 I'm seeing a small amount of Yellow oxide (Caterpillar yellow) and maybe a touch of green. It actually makes it easier to start with a pure white. You can add color but it makes it difficult to counter a color in the paint that doesn't fit. No more color than you need you can maybe go to a real paint store and get some universal tinting color. It's the colorant in their machines they use to mix paint. Some of them will dispense some of the colorant for you if you take an empty container. A little goes a long way. Probably a table spool full of the yellow oxide would do a gallon of paint. If you end up using green probably a few drops would do it.
 

[1946 BN IHC]

Thank you
Wm.
 

[Goose]

Color matching is not an exact science.

I once went to Sherwin Williams factory automotive paint school, and we spent two entire days on color matching. It's a complicated subject, and when you add one color to another, the results aren't always what you expect. To expound on it, I'd need to do some research, and then it would probably take more space than is common here. You might be better off to grit you teeth and buy the proper color.

As for price, I get sticker shock every time I buy automotive paint. I recently paid $190 for a gallon of light blue, non-metallic base coat for a '78 Chevy pickup. And that was their shop brand, not a name brand of paint.
 

[1946 BN IHC]

Thank you all I discovered some older paint I had tucked way back on an upper shelf; stirred up, cleaned up, looks like a dark old type IHC
red paint. Looks like it is close to what I want. Thank you for all your ideas anf thoughts.
Wm.
 

[Stephen Newell]

If it's an enamel the hardening oils can go bad even if it stirs alright. To be on the safe side I would add some linseed oil to the paint.