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JASON ALLEN
10-12-2005, 08:48 PM
Can Anyone Help With What Paint To Use. I Have Two Offshore Legs I Need To Paint And Whatever I Use, I Need It To Say On This Time. I Have Painted Midsections Before With The Results Being The Paint Flaking Off, Fading, Or Both. I Know Base/clear Has'nt Done The Trick For Me.

Bruster
10-12-2005, 09:09 PM
I like to start by having the parts plastic media blasted. Plastic is the least (or one of) damaging ways to proper prep aluminium for paint.
I prime with PPG DP epoxy primer Sand with 600 wet and topcoat with PPG single stage "concept" Acrylic Urethane topcoat. If you want something really nice I'll carefully sand the topcoat with 1000 the next day and recoat.
This is what you get :D

<img src=http://home.comcast.net/~mercmanwon/taylor6>

ShorePounder
10-13-2005, 06:08 PM
Along the same lines, I used PPG DPLF epoxy primer over a nearly bare surface. Then shot PPG OMNI CV single stage urethane over top of that. Extremely durable and shines forever.

chynewalkr
10-13-2005, 06:34 PM
i have a question, if the factory paint is still intact, is it worth stripping off to bare metal and epoxy priming or should it be left intact, lightly scuffed and then primed over the old paint?

Bruster
10-13-2005, 10:14 PM
If your paint is OK, don't worry about it. A DA sander with 80 grit will hog most of the rough stuff off, follow up with 180 to feather in smooth. Follow this up with 320/400 wet. Wipe everything real good with a degreaser and clean paper towels. Let it dry good, spray a couple of coats of DP primer. If your primer looks nice follow up with with your color. Or...If what you are working on is pretty nice, do the wet 320/400, clean & prime. If you don't have any damage sand with wet 500, use the DP as a sealer primer (light coat) & paint.
I like the PPG Concept 'cause it is easy to work with and super durable, it is really expensive though, but you get what you pay for. :D This help?

Raceman
10-15-2005, 04:35 PM
Or................. you could buy one of the do it at home powder coat kits like Eastwood or Harbor Freight (much cheaper) sells, and then go down to the used appliance store and buy a big used oven for about 20 or 25 bucks and powder coat it. It probably won't cost much more overall than buying the high dollar base coat/clear coat with the catalyst and will be more durable and look a helluva lot better (unless you're better with a spray gun than me)

Bruster
10-15-2005, 05:03 PM
Or................. you could buy one of the do it at home powder coat kits like Eastwood or Harbor Freight (much cheaper) sells, and then go down to the used appliance store and buy a big used oven for about 20 or 25 bucks and powder coat it. It probably won't cost much more overall than buying the high dollar base coat/clear coat with the catalyst and will be more durable and look a helluva lot better (unless you're better with a spray gun than me)

Raceman,
Problem with powder coat is you can't easily match the color, at least my powdercoat house couldn't and if you can you still can't match the factory paint texture. I really like powdercoating, and it has it's applications but I don't really think it's the best choice for this. If it was I am sure Mercury would powdercoat. It's without question a less expensive coating process.
If you don't have the equipment, patence, talent or desire to paint, have a good automotive paint shop do work. Don't use or have someone use base coat/clear coat, just color (single stage).
The process I outlined is pretty much Mercury's painting recommendations. :D

JASON ALLEN
10-17-2005, 08:47 PM
Bruster/shorepounder, I Will Try It. Thanks For Your Help, J.a.

Hottrucks
04-13-2006, 11:06 AM
Ok what where the results? it been a while since the first post and am looking to do the same thing and was woundering what the results after some time and use are??
Thanx