Caliper painting technical tips . . .
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 11,122
Likes: 672
From: SE Pennsylvania
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
Oldtimer
Caliper painting technical tips . . .
I'm in the process of painting the brake caliper on my 03, is there any tips about this job you can pass on, like how do I keep the paint off the front calipers lettering ?
Thanks' !
Thanks' !
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2023
Posts: 2,948
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From: North Coast
Calipers that I have seen done have used tape and a xacto knife to cut the letters out. Wax, chap stick, Vaseline and some will paint the letters and either sand or use a razor blade to scrap the paint off. You also can sand it off too with fine sand paper or use a buffing wheel on a Dremel.
Buy a small fine brush from a hobby shop to touch up the details in the letters that may not get all the paint.
Also make sure everything is really clean not just for the paint but for what you use on the letters.
I have not looked but might google masks on the web. I know they make them for older rally wheels.
Buy a small fine brush from a hobby shop to touch up the details in the letters that may not get all the paint.
Also make sure everything is really clean not just for the paint but for what you use on the letters.
I have not looked but might google masks on the web. I know they make them for older rally wheels.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2017
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From: Virginia
2021 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
St. Jude Donor '21-'22
I went with powder coating. However, It you're going to paint them, it's not hard to sand the face of the letters. You can also just paint the letters a contrasting color by hand.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 11,122
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From: SE Pennsylvania
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
Oldtimer
Thank you, I bought a set of fine paint brushes to do the lettering, I plan on changing the letters from the silver they are to a black ! I's always better to ask those who know on a project to see the techniques you guys use !
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2006
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St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
NCM Member '09
The C5 calipers (on a C4) I did by hand with the Duplicolor brush-on, both silver and red. I just took my time, and used a small brush for the letter.
The C6z cals were powder-coated by Mike the Powder-Coater that used to frequent here, before he retired.
Both have held up just fine.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 11,122
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From: SE Pennsylvania
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
Oldtimer
I went to Home Depot and got a small can of Black BBG grill paint, I was thinking a high-temp black would hold up on the calipers, they get hot ?
Last edited by killain; May 9, 2023 at 08:27 PM.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2017
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From: Conyers Georgia
I was just watching a video yesterday on painting calipers. I'll see if I can find it but the guy went into detail on how to do it. I did my C6's calipers and yes, use sandpaper on a very stiff block to sand the letters.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2023
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From: North Coast
Also most normal high Temps would be if you do track time. Even then the heat mostly goes into the rotors as it is the heat sink that absorbed the majority of the heat.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 250
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From: Round Lake, IL
All I can say is if you're using the Dupli-Color caliper paint kit - throw AWAY the brush that it comes with. It fell apart quickly, and the brush hairs were sticking to the caliper and had to be picked out. What a pain.
Race Director
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2023
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From: North Coast
The scrape off method works on most paint but if you use a hardened paint it could be more difficult.
You may want to test it if unsure of the paint you are using.
Better safe than sorry.
You may want to test it if unsure of the paint you are using.
Better safe than sorry.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Aug 1999
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From: SE Pennsylvania
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
Oldtimer
I have a product from G2 and it is the same kit I used on the C6 I had 2 years ago. If I finish by next week it will work out OK, I just have to take my time and work one side at a time. I'll post finished pic's once there. Thanks to all for your support !
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2022
Posts: 153
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From: Atlanta
I also used the Dupli-Color caliper paint kit and completely agree with the comment above about the brush the kit comes with. That brush is absolute, complete crap. The paint itself is holding up very well, but do not use that brush. As for the letters, I painted everything then used a Dremel to take the paint off the letters after it dried.
Melting Slicks
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