Plasti Dip your Car

[lewdog]

Originally Posted by Detoxing

For an entire car to be wrapped you'd be looking at $2K at the very least. Likely more.

I have some cancer on my F-body's hood and considered a wrap instead of repainting. I couldn't find a shop to do it for less than $500 in San Diego. Just for the hood.

Ah I see.

I found your problem.

San Diego.

[cooper barrett]

Originally Posted by BWillie

Yeah vinyl wraps are quite a bit more expensive though, yeah? Not like refinishing your entire car, but probably at least 3 times as much as Plasti Dip if I had to guess?

I HAVE A HOOD ON A CHEVY TRUCK THAT IS WRAPPED IN CARBON FIBER AND CHROME AND IT WAS NO WHERE NEAR $500 Oops sorry, I just now saw SD reference.

As far as getting it shot in PD I would run a Craiglist ad in garage sales asking for a referal. $4-500 sounds fair if you do the degrease\ wax removal and do the taping off and trim removal yourself.
You can sand the pealing paint and prime it with 2 part epoxy primer (spray can) then wet sand to feather before PDing it.

[IowaHawkeyeChief]

There are some youtube videos out there with pros and cons. It sounds like it has to be done really well, or it sucks, there is no in between. It sounds like a viable product if it is put on correctly. Good luck.

[jdubya]

Oh good lord.....its a prius. Just put it out of its misery already and be done with it. Let us know when you get a "real" car.

[BWillie]

Originally Posted by jdubya

Oh good lord.....its a prius. Just put it out of its misery already and be done with it. Let us know when you get a "real" car.

Prius is the most cost effective car to own known to man. Efficient to drive, cheap gas, and lasts a long long time. I absolutely love them. The downside is I look like I care about the environment. I do not. This much I assure you.

[jdubya]

Originally Posted by BWillie

Prius is the most cost effective car to own known to man. Efficient to drive, cheap gas, and lasts a long long time. I absolutely love them. The downside is I look like I care about the environment. I do not. This much I assure you.

I wont argue with you but here in California the majority of Prius drivers act like self entitled bitches, covered in Bernie or Hillary stickers and I have grown to despise all Prius`s. I do remember when they first came on the market that a study was done and it showed that they were so expensive off the floor at the dealer that the savings in fuel didnt kick in unless you kept the car for over 15 to 20 years. I`m sure that has changed today but I laughed my ass off at all the tree huggers thinking they were saving the planet and money when the first models came out.

[BWillie]

Originally Posted by jdubya

I wont argue with you but here in California the majority of Prius drivers act like self entitled bitches, covered in Bernie or Hillary stickers and I have grown to despise all Prius`s. I do remember when they first came on the market that a study was done and it showed that they were so expensive off the floor at the dealer that the savings in fuel didnt kick in unless you kept the car for over 15 to 20 years. I`m sure that has changed today but I laughed my ass off at all the tree huggers thinking they were saving the planet and money when the first models came out.

Yeah prices must have really came down. You can get a used Prius for very reasonable price. It's scary when the main hybrid battery goes out but you can get some with most of the cells recharged (for lack of a better word) for only $1,000 or so with a 2 year warranty.

[MTG#10]

Halo EFX. like Plasti-dip but looks like real paint. They even have a peel-able clear coat.

[MTG#10]

Nothing says pussy-repellent like a Toyota Prius.

[cooper barrett]

Originally Posted by MTG#10

Nothing says pussy-repellent like a Toyota Prius.

Jeff Dunham's old sky blue Prius comes to mind

[cooper barrett]

I thought I would put together my thoughts and experiance of shooting cars using plexidip and the ready to spray version. Yes you can add the solvent yourself and come out cheaper but without warranty (I know: what warranty!!)
1st off I suggest a HVLP paint sprayer (warm, dry air) to shoot it with and the proper needle. I think it is a 1.5mm tip and nozzle for HVLP. You can spray with air using a 1.8mm tip but make sure you have filters for oil, water and dirt in line. Remember this is cold wet air your using.

I have sprayed whole cars with this and the key is in the details. You must clean it really really well, I suggest Dawn to get clean and then a citrus degreaser, and then another wash with Dawn.* If you have to do any repairs just prime them with 2 part epoxy primer and then wet sand and compound it to a shine.
Once done you need to remove all silicon,wax, and grease with a solvent made for the job. (follow the directions). Mask everything as best possible. It is better to mask less than too much as you can exacto cut and peel the overspray.

Make sure you have epoxy thinner or Industrial Maintenance Coating Thinner handy for use as needed. Prep the paint per directions, strain into gun, I suggest a real organic respirator for this job but others just use really good cone filters in a ventilated area, Use a real respirator not a toy!!!!

Start with an old body panel or sealed cardboard box (TV) to get a feel for prime, wet, slick coats as you don't want runs.:cuss

Start on the roof and do the whole roof. I stand on a ladder and spray away from my body to get a wet seam when I move to the other side.
Move to your quarter, door(s), and fender. then your hood and the down the other side and move on to the trunk (if you are painting bumpers then do them after the hood or trunk lid).

Wait the recoat per instructions and then repeat 2 more times. WARNING allow to dry completely, recoating over unflashed product will call lifting and bubbling!!!!! ** tip; I change direction on the 2nd full coat to avoid streaking but always paint the last 2 coats side to side.

*** PRO TIP:You now know about how much you need to go amount the vehicle. Make up another batch adding 10-15% thinner in the mix. Test it on your test box and see how smooth it becomes.. If you don't like it, skip this stage.. Practice till you can cover without runs!

After the dry time has passed spray a heavy, without runs, coat on the car as before and let it dry per directions.

Inspect for issues and uniformity and correct as needed, If a door doesn't look perfect, as in, lack of product applied, this is when you can fix it. Spray using the thinned final coat material as needed respecting dry times. SPRAY THE COMPLETE PANEL BLENDING INTO THE ADJACENT PANELS

You can now get a trash can ready and: A, carefully remove masking or B, clean up your gun, tools and trash. either way it's your call. I say mask then clean as you have earned yourself a beer while cleaning up!!!!

Insert picture of a cold craft brew here!!!!

Hopefully this either inspires you or scares you from this process but it is easy and fun and yes if you put a 5 coats total (one light prime, 3 full coats, and a slick coat on the car it will peel right off.


* never wash your car with Dawn unless you are waxing it immediately after!!

[Buck]

I once plasti-dipped my truck emblems and the front bumper.

Stock


Dipped

[ToxSocks]

Originally Posted by Buck

I once plasti-dipped my truck emblems and the front bumper.

Stock


Dipped

Did it coat evenly? No dry spots or anything like that?

[Buck]

Originally Posted by Detoxing

Did it coat evenly? No dry spots or anything like that?

Yeah it was easy as shit.

One time the wind picked up though and sorta blew some of the dip away from where I was pointing it, but I just used masking tape and newspaper to cover everything near where I was spraying it so it just got on the newspaper.

For the emblems I left I rectangle open and sprayed the whole thing. 4 coats or so. Then I just peeled it from the truck and it stayed on the emblems. No problems.

[The Franchise]

Originally Posted by Buck

Yeah it was easy as shit.

One time the wind picked up though and sorta blew some of the dip away from where I was pointing it, but I just used masking tape and newspaper to cover everything near where I was spraying it so it just got on the newspaper.

For the emblems I left I rectangle open and sprayed the whole thing. 4 coats or so. Then I just peeled it from the truck and it stayed on the emblems. No problems.

What brand did you go with? I actually wouldn't mind dipping the emblems on wheels on my ride.