KBS MAXX is now available in Relic Metallic Blue, a deep metallic blue that customers most often describe as a hydro blue or water blue. It comes in both a matte sheen and a gloss sheen, so you get the finish you want without a separate clear coat step. Like every KBS MAXX color, Relic Blue is a direct-to-metal 2K urethane that applies at a 3:1 mix ratio, stays UV stable, and can be brushed, rolled, or sprayed.
What Is Relic Blue?
Relic Blue is a metallic blue in the KBS MAXX color lineup, listed on the product page as Relic Metallic Blue. It sits in the cool, saturated part of the blue range and reads differently with the light: crisp and vibrant in direct sun, deeper and more muted in shade. It is a true metallic, not a candy or a pearl.
The metallic flake is what gives Relic Blue its depth. In direct sunlight the flake catches the light and the color pops. In softer or indirect light it settles into a richer, darker tone. Customers who have seen it in person tend to reach for the words hydro blue or water blue, which is a fair description of a blue that has movement rather than a single flat tone.
Is Relic Blue Available in Matte and Gloss?
Yes. Relic Metallic Blue comes in two sheens, Matte and Gloss, and both are stocked as separate color options on the KBS MAXX product page. The color is identical in both. Only the reflectivity of the finish changes, so you can choose the look you want without adding a clear coat step to change the sheen.
Relic Blue Matte gives you the same metallic blue in a low-sheen finish. The metallic pigment is still there and still visible. The matte formula diffuses light instead of reflecting it, so the color reads deeper and quieter. It is a good fit for equipment, frames, and any surface where glare reduction matters.
Relic Blue Gloss lets the metallic flake catch and throw light, which brings out the full depth and vibrancy of the blue. This is the option for automotive finishes, show-quality work, and anywhere you want the color to stand out.
Both versions use the same 2K urethane chemistry and deliver the same protection. If you already own one sheen and want the other, you do not need to repaint. Our guide on how to change the sheen of any KBS MAXX color covers using KBS MAXX Clear to move a matte color to gloss or a gloss color to satin or flat.
How Do You Apply KBS MAXX Relic Blue?
Mix KBS MAXX Relic Blue at 3:1, three parts base to one part activator, stir thoroughly, and apply by brush, roller, or spray gun. It is touch dry in about 30 minutes, recoats anywhere from 30 minutes to 3 days with no scuffing between coats, and reaches full cure in 7 days. For a metallic color, spraying gives the most even finish. The full procedure is in the KBS MAXX directions.
How to Spray a Metallic KBS MAXX Color
Spraying lets the metallic pigment float to the surface and lay down evenly across the panel, which is what produces the uniform sparkle a metallic finish is known for. An HVLP gun with a tip sized for the viscosity of mixed KBS MAXX gives the most consistent result. The KBS HVLP Spray Gun is the gun we sell for spraying KBS coatings.
How to Brush a Metallic KBS MAXX Color
Brushing a metallic works, and plenty of customers do it, but technique matters more than it does with a solid color. Brush the KBS MAXX out normally, let it sit for a few minutes until it starts to set up slightly, then make one final light pass in a single consistent direction. That last pass orients the metallic pigment near the surface instead of leaving it scattered through the film, and the finish reads far more even for it.
How to Prep the Surface Before Relic Blue
Relic Blue performs best on a properly prepared surface. On bare metal, clean thoroughly with KBS Klean to remove oil, grease, and contamination. If the metal has rust, treat it with RustBlast first, then apply RustSeal as the primer coat before topcoating with KBS MAXX.
Stuck or unsure? Search the KBS Support Desk for instant answers
Not Sure Relic Blue Is the Right Blue?
Free painted samples are available for any KBS MAXX color, in either sheen, so you can compare in person before you commit to an order.
Frequently Asked Questions About Relic Blue
Where can I buy KBS coatings?
Buy KBS MAXX Relic Metallic Blue and every other KBS Coatings product factory direct at kbs-coatings.com. Ordering direct gets you every color and both sheens at current pricing. Select Relic Metallic Blue (Gloss) or Relic Metallic Blue (Matte) from the color options on the KBS MAXX product page.
Is Relic Blue a hydro blue or water blue?
Relic Blue is a metallic blue that many people describe as a hydro blue or water blue. Those are informal names for a cool, saturated, moderately deep blue with visible depth and movement in the finish, and Relic Blue fits that description. If you want to confirm the shade before you order, request a free painted color sample and compare it in person.
What is the difference between Relic Blue Matte and Relic Blue Gloss?
The color is the same. The sheen is different. Relic Blue Matte has a low-reflectivity finish that reads deeper and more subdued. Relic Blue Gloss has a high-reflectivity finish that amplifies the metallic sparkle and the vibrancy of the blue. Both are the same 2K urethane and carry the same KBS MAXX protection.
Can I get Relic Blue Matte in gloss by adding a clear coat?
Yes. Apply KBS MAXX Clear in High Gloss over the cured Relic Blue Matte color coat. KBS MAXX Clear High Gloss brings the finish up to a 90 to 95 percent gloss level. The same approach works in reverse: KBS MAXX Clear Satin or Flat over Relic Blue Gloss brings the sheen down.
Can I brush Relic Blue, or does it need to be sprayed?
You can brush it. Spraying gives the most uniform metallic appearance because the metallic pigment orients evenly across the surface. Brushing works well if you let the coat sit for a few minutes, then make one final light pass with the brush in a single direction. That pass brings the metallic pigment toward the surface and lines it up instead of leaving it scattered in the film.
What sizes does Relic Blue come in?
KBS MAXX is sold in more than one container size. Current sizes and pricing for Relic Metallic Blue in each sheen are listed on the KBS MAXX product page, and they can change, so check the product page rather than an older article for what is available today.
What surfaces can I use Relic Blue on?
KBS MAXX is a direct-to-metal 2K urethane topcoat, so Relic Blue goes straight onto properly prepared steel and aluminum with no separate primer required. Common uses include automotive body panels and trim, motorcycle frames, equipment, railings, trailers, and marine hardware. For other substrates, follow the surface prep in the KBS MAXX directions.
Still have questions? Search the KBS Support Desk for instant answers
Conclusion
Spray Relic Blue for the most uniform metallic finish, or brush it and finish with one light pass in a single direction. If you are stuck between matte and gloss, a free painted sample of each is the fastest way to decide.
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