So I want to fit a deluxe fender to my Softail Slim.

I also want to paint it the same colour as the rest of my bike... 'charcoal satin'

The problem is that here in the UK, 1 quart of the paint costs over £160 ($230+). An added problem is they can't tell me if it's a "solvent based, 2-pack" paint (which my painter needs), or if it's water based (which he can't/won't use).

They could tell me that their system said it needed a 'urethene activator'?

Does that mean anything to anyone?

And... am I really looking at having to pay more for the paint than for the spray job itself???

I can't find anyone here in the UK that can supply the paint cheaper... or indeed at all!

 

Check out Color Rite. They'll tell you anything you need to know.

 

Hmm.. with UK delivery, they're not much cheaper

Looks like I'll be gettin' my wallet out if I want to go this route.

 

Not cheap, but if your painter can't match the paint using a different (cheaper) system, then you need to find another painter or pay up.

 

Have you tried a collision repair shop?

They should have the paint code. If they don't, They should be able to match very close.

This is what I did for my "chopped" bobber front fender, an auto repair shop painted it Harley Davidson "Vivid Black", they had the code.

"Very close" may be just fine, since the fender is separated from the tank by several inches, there is no direct comparison, unlike a car repair where the fender or masked area is directly next to the original paint.

Just a thought since cost is an issue, this would be the cheapest way to go around here.

 

I think 8 ball custom paintwork in derbyshire are the only company in the uk that are approved by harley, might be worth you giving them a call ??

 

Ah thanks! I'll check them out

 

Any reputable body shop will have a portable Spectrophotometer, we use one in the shop I'm at, and it will scan virtually any paint on the planet, and give you a formula to match. Basically, it's a hand held, computerized camera, that takes a snapshot of the color you are wanting to duplicate, and it gives you code to match.
It's extremely accurate, and requires very little, if any adjustments. The one we use is from Dupont.