Painting my 80 with Awlcraft Awlgrip?

[njones843]

Thinking about painting my 96 LC with Awlcraft Awlgrip boat paint.
New to the forum.
I have experience shooting awlgrip products in my boatyard, but uncomfortable with car paint.
Not looking for perfection.
Any advice appreciated.

 

[BILT4ME]

So, you're going to paint your 80 with a bright green heavy metal-flake deep polymer gelcoat?

 

[1911garand]

YES!

 

[rghouse]

I used a single stage commercial paint from PPG for my 80. I would probably go 2 stage though if I had to do it again because the finish work is much easier for correcting orange peel and imperfections. I would imagine spraying is spraying as long is the gun is adjusted right for the product. Boat paint is for boats, and car paint is for cars, but air craft paint is good for 4x4s too .

dont over-think it man go for it!

 

[fjbj40]

My understanding is the Awlgrip is a lot like Interlux Perfection. I have sprayed, brushed and rolled the Perfection and pretty much every time I am blown away with how nice it lays down and how durable it is. I consider it to be as good as quality as DuPont Imron and P&L Jet Glow that I have used on aircraft.

Go for it and report back!

 

[alex cortopassi]

yesterday I did paint my sailboat with Awlgrip which I consider the most beautiful paint for this type of realizations.
I was just thinking of painting my old toy with this kind of paint and wondering if it was correct

 

[fjbj40]

If you want a durable, glossy and economical paint job you can do yourself with foam rollers and fine brushes then hell, WHY NOT!?

DO IT!!

 

[White Stripe]

Don't you have to wear a full body suit when spraying awlcraft?

 

[fjbj40]

Pretty much all polyurethane paints require a forced air respirator and no skin exposed, when being sprayed. It's just good practice to do it with all paints actually! Rolling or brushing not required. However, it sucks when hair or dirt falls off yourself and ruins a paint job so using the tyvek suit also helps in that way.

 

[Jim Rosenthal]

We did a friend's race car (American Iron Mustang) with black AwlGrip. It came out quite well indeed and no one at the track (Summit Point) would believe we rolled at tipped it. As always, prep is key. I have also rolled and tipped AwlGrip on my boat, a 1971 Hatteras. It isn't as easy to use as Perfection- Grip tends to run as it heats up and cures- but you can experiment with accelerator as needed. There is a good video on it from Jamestown Distributors in RI. I would say go for it.

AwlCraft does not have brushing and rolling catalysts, so you are kind of on your own there. It isn't meant for hand application. I'd stick to AwlGrip.

 

[njones843]

Always full respirator when sanding or painting anything, and yes full suit when spraying.
Going to go with black Awlgrip.
First doing all bushings, shocks and starter. Then to paint....
Thanks for the feedback, will update. Heres a few before pics.

 

[fjbj40]

@njones843

So is the plan to wet sand with 320? First coat rolled and tipped then cure and wet sand then another coat? Stop at 2 coats or go to 3?

Looking forward to the results. Are you going to start a dedicated thread?

 

[White Stripe]

What does it mean to roll and tip? How would this paint hold up on a set of rock sliders compared to powder coat?

 

[tacocat]

We did a friend's race car (American Iron Mustang) with black AwlGrip. It came out quite well indeed and no one at the track (Summit Point) would believe we rolled at tipped it. As always, prep is key. I have also rolled and tipped AwlGrip on my boat, a 1971 Hatteras. It isn't as easy to use as Perfection- Grip tends to run as it heats up and cures- but you can experiment with accelerator as needed. There is a good video on it from Jamestown Distributors in RI. I would say go for it.

AwlCraft does not have brushing and rolling catalysts, so you are kind of on your own there. It isn't meant for hand application. I'd stick to AwlGrip.

Curiosity peaked.

Pictures requested.

 

[fjbj40]

@White Stripe

If rock sliders are to be used as intended, then no paint or powder coat will ever hold up!
Paint however, unlike powder coat, can be touched up.

@tacocat

Roll and tip means the paint is applied with a foam roller then a high quality brush is lightly dragged over the freshly rolled paint to burst the bubbles. It has to be done quickly, then the paint flows to a mirror quality finish, if done correctly. When done correctly it is very impressive finish. I have had luck doing touch up on aircraft and it was hardly noticeable to the untrained eye that it was not sprayed! I painted my Boston Whaler this way and 8 years later it still shines, and I have only waxed it twice! I use Interlux Perfection.

 

[Jim Rosenthal]

I can ask him for photos. He sold the car a while back; someone else is racing it, now. Still has black AwlGrip on it. I'll see if he has any old photos. It did look amazingly good.

One of the side benefits to roll and tip painting is that you use FAR less paint. We bought a gallon of AwlGrip and the activator and brushing thinner. He still has most of it. Spraying wastes a lot of paint. R&T is much more economical. We could have done two coats on the whole car with less than half of what we had on hand.

 

[njones843]

The plan is to spray it....
Just had a few hours of fun with the press, some control arms, heat and a saws all.

 

[BILT4ME]

Are you going to paint over the chrome door handles and mirrors?

If so, can you get colored ones and shoot those instead of ruining s set of chrome ones? There are not many of those out there.... i know you don't like the chrome.

 

[njones843]

Actually going to leave the chrome handles and mirrors. Not going to paint them. Need a little contrast.

I read the bushing job was a pain, but man. Im tired...
Tips on other things to address while doing shocks, starter, bushings is appreciated. i have done the PHH.