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Deciphering Paint Formulas

14 years ago

Recently I found a website that gives a 5 gallon formulas for many different Ben Mo paints. For example, the formula for Wythe Blue is B-32, C-16, D-16.

Can anyone tell me how to read this? I know that the letters must stand for different colors of tint. Is there a list of the abbreviations used for the different tints somewhere out there?

I also noticed that some of the formulas have a lower case y next to the numbers. For instance, the formula for Grant Beige is B-4, L-1y16, T-16. What does the "y" mean?

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Comment (1)

decorativewalls
14 years ago
jockewing,

I use BM products almost everyday and I am behind a paint counter many times over also. To my knowledge their colorants are not listed in this manner at all. I have used Wythe Blue before and that was definitely not the formula for that color. Not in the Regal line, nor the Aura colorants. A gallon formula you would just 5x's it Their formulas are not listed that way.

Unless the color was a BM color and different brands were used for the mix and products like their Ben, Nurtura and Aura uses the special gennex tints and they are not listed the way you found them neither.

Another thing , just thinking these could be just plain standard universal tints and are not any way Ben Moores 12 glycol based or their waterborne gennex acrylic pigments. Could be UTC's which are closer to artist pigments.

The numbers/letters you have listed above is not the typical way BM formula's are dispensed. They are fractions of fluid ounces, referred as shots 32shots = 1 oz. or such as 0x .14033 with oy, bk, tg, or aura tints r- 1,2,3; y- 1, etc. and the oz. given.

I just don't recall anything ever being on their labels as what is listed above. Wish I could help you more, but that is what I know about their pigments and measurements.
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