Wasted $150 on a paint mixing system that did not work

Last summer I bought one of those handheld paint mixing gadgets from an online ad. It promised perfect color matching for small touch-ups. I tried it on a Honda Civic fender repair and the color came out way off each time. After three attempts I realized it was cheaper to just bring the paint code to a local shop. Has anyone else tried those mixers and had bad luck?

2 comments

2 Comments

fiona13023h ago

Can't believe you dropped a hundred and fifty bucks on that thing before checking reviews. I almost clicked "buy" on one of those fancy mixers myself but stopped when I saw the fine print about needing specific lighting conditions. Sorry you had to learn that lesson the hard way, but at least now you know the old school paint code shop method works every time.

angela_kelly22h ago

@fiona130 read something the other day about this exact thing. Apparently those fancy mixers work great in a lab setting with controlled overhead lights, but throw them in a typical garage with a single bulb and they start guessing wrong every time. That $150 is a hard lesson but honestly it's the kind of mistake you only make once. The old paint code method might take a few extra minutes at the shop but at least you know what you're getting. Plus those mixers have a habit of needing calibration after a few months anyway, which nobody mentions in the ads. Stick with what works, that's what I always say.