1st Generation Specific (1979-1985) 1979-1985 Discussion including performance modifications and technical support sections

anyone ever spray-bombed their RX?

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Old 09-01-05, 12:22 AM
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anyone ever spray-bombed their RX?

just wondering out there if anyones ever spray painted their RX7, i'd like to see some pics of how it came out. i've actually seen some spray paint jobs that came out really good. hard to tell they were done that way at all.

i'm thinkin' of repainting my black RX7, but considering its more of a fun car and i dont care much about its appearance, i'll be going the cheapest route possible.

i was also thinkin' about renting a spray gun and fabbing up my own paint booth, but im trying to stay as lowely budgeted as possible. also dont want to spend weeks on bodywork. hehe.
Old 09-01-05, 12:31 AM
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If y ou want it to look nice heres a tip. put plastic down in the garage then make a plastic tent around it make a stand for a fan and cut a hole in the plastic and have the fan blow out on low. Then paint the whole car witha few coats and let it dry overnight wetsand it then put a few more coats on then wetsand again once you do that clean the car off and then paint it with gloss and it should look about as good as you can get it with rattle cans.
Old 09-01-05, 12:40 AM
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Rattle cans will not give a very nice finish, and the number required to completely cover a car gets rather expensive. The rattle can stuff doesn't hold up to the weather and elements very well, and will leave you disappointed.
A low cost alternative would be to get some industrial type paint, like the stuff used on equipment and trailers. These can give a decent finish without costing a lot.
Wet sanding with 600 grit, followed by 1500-2000 grit, and buffing will leave a very smooth and shiny finish that will last for much longer than a rattle can job.
Old 09-01-05, 12:43 AM
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...94% correct.

 
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rattle can jobs require you to want a matte finnish. If you're looking for something shiney, do something else. If you want the matte finnish, I'll happily walk you through it.
Old 09-01-05, 12:47 AM
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the price of a bunch of rattle cans shouldnt be so bad. i figure i can get a deal on a case of them. using engine paint would probably help with the elements so it would last longer too, since its made to withstand such high temps....

do you have any idea where i would find the type of paint they use on industrial machinery? and what kind of selection of paint they have?
doesnt sound like a half bad idea. unless ofcourse i end up with a school bus colored RX
Old 09-01-05, 12:48 AM
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Originally Posted by Makenzie71
rattle can jobs require you to want a matte finnish. If you're looking for something shiney, do something else. If you want the matte finnish, I'll happily walk you through it.
ya i realize im not going to get much of a gloss happening. what are your pointers?
Old 09-01-05, 12:49 AM
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...94% correct.

 
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I've used industrial paints on cars a few times as well...again, you're not going to get very shiney, but it'll be better than a rattle can. They have to be applied with a gun, though...and you'll only be saving a small amount compared to appropriate automotive paint. If you're looking to save money, I'd stick wtih the rattle cans...
Old 09-01-05, 12:54 AM
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Flat Black!!!!
Old 09-01-05, 12:54 AM
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First, let's start with the paint. Rattle-can jobs aren't top quality, but can be effective and CAN look better than that. There's several areas of the bike that look as though they were not prepped propperly. You need to go out with some 180 grit paper, after your paint stuff cures (about 7 days), and knock off as much as you can. Try to work it down to the original paint, if you can. Then wet sand with 400 grit, 600 grit, and finally with 1000 or as high as you can find...all wet sanding. This will get you a very nice, usasble finish. Next, go out and buy new rattle cans. This bike should require about 4 cans of primer. With your color-scheme I would go with black primer. If you repeated the color scheme, I would use 5~6 cans of the silver and 5~6 cans black. Get 10 of each...you an always return what you don't use.

NOTE: $.98 Wally world paint is crap. Go someplace and get Krylon or another quality spray. Expect to spend between $3 and $5 per can.

Start priming. Apply a thin coat. Wet sand with the 600 grit, then with 1000. Repeat until you have a glass-smooth surface that shows none of the original paint or tinting. Let the primer cure over night. Then start applying the new colors. Apply thin coats, at least 10 but continue until you have a deep finnish with no evidence of the undercoating.

Things you need to keep in mind:

You're not moving your spray can fast enough. See those streaks in your paint? They're there because you're moving too slowly, allowing paint to build before moving on. Then you can't keep it uniform.

You're holding the can too close. Again, look at the splotches...they're narrow and elongated. This means your nozzle is FAR too close to the surface. Spray between 12 and 18 inches from the surface.

Mask the surrounding areas. The overspray on your frame, exhaust, and surrounding areas looks very poor.

Do not apply decals until your paint has set a minimum of 4 weeks. They can be quite damaging and they also prevent the paint from curing propperly.
I was speaking to someone about their bike at the time, but same difference...
Old 09-01-05, 12:56 AM
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DON'T DO IT!!!! It will only take a few months before it starts to look like ****. The front bumper on my T-Bird was painted with rattle cans after a mild accident. I got the car this way and it looked fine at first. But now 4 months have passes and it looks like ****. Bugs get stuck in the paint easily, it chips easily, doesn't hold rust away too well (previous experience on another car), scuffes so easily that if you look at it the wrong way it'll start to look like crap.
Old 09-01-05, 12:59 AM
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Originally Posted by 85rotarypower
DON'T DO IT!!!! It will only take a few months before it starts to look like ****. The front bumper on my T-Bird was painted with rattle cans after a mild accident. I got the car this way and it looked fine at first. But now 4 months have passes and it looks like ****. Bugs get stuck in the paint easily, it chips easily, doesn't hold rust away too well (previous experience on another car), scuffes so easily that if you look at it the wrong way it'll start to look like crap.
funny. i used black bumper paint on my RX over a year ago, and its holding up great. does the T-bird have a flexible bumper cover or is it metal?

might have just been a shitty job..
Old 09-01-05, 01:01 AM
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...94% correct.

 
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Originally Posted by 85rotarypower
DON'T DO IT!!!! It will only take a few months before it starts to look like ****. The front bumper on my T-Bird was painted with rattle cans after a mild accident. I got the car this way and it looked fine at first. But now 4 months have passes and it looks like ****. Bugs get stuck in the paint easily, it chips easily, doesn't hold rust away too well (previous experience on another car), scuffes so easily that if you look at it the wrong way it'll start to look like crap.

Then it was done impropperly. My TLS was painted propperly with Krylon semi-matte black and propper primer. It's been that way for months, at the abuse of road debris, more bugs than I care to fathom, being washed multiple times a day, dragging along a brick wall (no paint damage, rather impressive), and any other kind of abuse automotive paint would see...

...and I assure you, all the sand and bugs and road debris are hitting my TL a LOT harder than they're hitting your t-Bird
Old 09-01-05, 01:12 AM
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Originally Posted by Onlyonthurs
Flat Black!!!!
thats what i was thinkin'... anyone have any pics of flat black RX's?

also Makenzie those are some great tips. thanks man!
Old 09-01-05, 05:46 AM
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A friend of mine has a toyota he set up for racing, fast car, he painted his flat black, kinda convenient when it starts to chip or fade, he spends $3 on a can to touch it up. Doesnt look too bad but for a 7 I would just do a full paint job. Personally if you are going to spend all this time getting it to run nice and keeping it maintained, wouldnt you wanna do the same for the paint? If you decide to do the full paint job and need pointers <a href="https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.php?t=458292">THIS THREAD</a> has some great pointers. It was done by rbf41182gt adn it looks great.
Old 09-01-05, 03:32 PM
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i plan on sanding my SA down and rattle canning it flat black until i get funds to get a full paint job. my brother drives a 97 civic with a 99 B16 and many other mods and his car was rattle can primered grey and its been holding up for well over a year.
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