Whats The Best Paint For Frames???
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 904
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From: Murphy NC
Whats The Best Paint For Frames???
Im almost done with my welding and gusseting project and it time to start thinking about frame paint. First off, I dont believe in POR15 for painting clean bare metal so please lets stay away from that. Powdercoating is out of the budget as well. Im thinking a good epoxy primer followed by a coat or 2 of enamel. Just wondering what is nice and durable for DD duty. I had rustoleum on there before and I didnt like it at all. It was very soft. What do you guys think?
Race Director
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 16,978
Likes: 7
From: In Dreams There Is Truth Ohio
Im almost done with my welding and gusseting project and it time to start thinking about frame paint. First off, I dont believe in POR15 for painting clean bare metal so please lets stay away from that. Powdercoating is out of the budget as well. Im thinking a good epoxy primer followed by a coat or 2 of enamel. Just wondering what is nice and durable for DD duty. I had rustoleum on there before and I didnt like it at all. It was very soft. What do you guys think?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,084
Likes: 14
From: Airdrie Alberta
I Sandblasted my frame, Sprayed with 2 coats PPG DP90 Epoxy(Black) followed with 2 coats semi gloss black enamel. After all was dry I oil sprayed inside the frame rails and crossmembers with Rustcheck
My total cost was about $320.cdn
My total cost was about $320.cdn
Last edited by hwcoop; May 27, 2007 at 12:46 PM.
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Instructor
Joined: Dec 2006
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From: Camarillo CA
How I did it.
I used POR-15 as a a rust blocker and then shot it with 2 coats of rustoleum from good old rattlecans. I can hear all the people out there crying "why oh why did you use spray paint?". Well, the reasons follow.
1. It's just a frame, not gonna be seen a lot.
2. It's easy.
3. The POR-15 is the real deal and is what will keep the parts from rusting.
You say you don't believe in POR-15 over bare metal. I used both the "Marine Clean" and then "Metal Ready" just like the POR-15 guys said to do and the metal is no longer bare and bright when you get done with those. Not saying you're wrong, just that I'd bet that some of the people who had problems with POR-15 sticking to the metal didn't follow the instructions that came with it.
A warning on POR-15 though, it's a lot of work. Painting with a brush gets old fast. I spent 2 weeks of after work time painting the frame and parts with POR-15 and a bunch of brushes. The spray cans took a few hours over the long weekend.
Pics in this thread: http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1593428
-Trevor
1. It's just a frame, not gonna be seen a lot.
2. It's easy.
3. The POR-15 is the real deal and is what will keep the parts from rusting.
You say you don't believe in POR-15 over bare metal. I used both the "Marine Clean" and then "Metal Ready" just like the POR-15 guys said to do and the metal is no longer bare and bright when you get done with those. Not saying you're wrong, just that I'd bet that some of the people who had problems with POR-15 sticking to the metal didn't follow the instructions that came with it.
A warning on POR-15 though, it's a lot of work. Painting with a brush gets old fast. I spent 2 weeks of after work time painting the frame and parts with POR-15 and a bunch of brushes. The spray cans took a few hours over the long weekend.
Pics in this thread: http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1593428
-Trevor
Pro
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 692
Likes: 1
From: Peabody Ma.
My 02 acid etch primer for bare metal, DP epoxy primer, top coat with what you want!! This is my treatment for parts I dont want to paint again. I have had grind some spots for ground wires, I had some electrical issuse that was related to ground or lack there of due the paint!
Racer
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 469
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From: West Slope of the Sierras California
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 2,008
Likes: 38
From: Space Coast Gator Territory
I have used both POR-15 on one frame and PPG DP40 on a different frames and both are very good. If you want a high gloss finish use POR, if semi gloss is your choice use the PPG.
I have used the PPG on many projects and found this through experimentation. When you mix with the recommended amount of catalyst it produces a flat look that I didn't like. Flat paint does not clean as well as a semi gloss and that turned me off. I discovered the more catalyst you add the higher the sheen produced. Measure amounts of catalyst exactly over several mixes, or the area will take on several different sheens. The catalyst can be bought seperately, so you don't need to be concerned about running out. A 50/50 mix is close to my liking, but a little experimenting might surprise you. With the right sheen, I don't feel the need to top coat. BTW...the PPG can be brushed and look good, just use a good quality brush.
I have used the PPG on many projects and found this through experimentation. When you mix with the recommended amount of catalyst it produces a flat look that I didn't like. Flat paint does not clean as well as a semi gloss and that turned me off. I discovered the more catalyst you add the higher the sheen produced. Measure amounts of catalyst exactly over several mixes, or the area will take on several different sheens. The catalyst can be bought seperately, so you don't need to be concerned about running out. A 50/50 mix is close to my liking, but a little experimenting might surprise you. With the right sheen, I don't feel the need to top coat. BTW...the PPG can be brushed and look good, just use a good quality brush.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 4,883
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From: North Easton Mass
Rick B.
Pro
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 650
Likes: 14
From: Highland Mi
Everyone has their own recipe for painting frames and some guys swear by POR 15 which is fine for them but I kind of agree with hwcoop. I use DP90 (black-now it is DPLF90) for adhesion but it is not a finish paint so I top coat it with an enamel. I use my PPG flatener and experiment till I get a satin sheen. Before I do that though I use a 3M Body shootz gun with a rubber hose clamped on the end so I can spray into the inner sections of the frame. The last time I bought a gallon of black Rust Oleum from Home Depot for $25 and mixed it with acetone and try to paint as much inside the frame as possible with the body shootz gun and some oozed out. I then scraped and sanded that and then put on my finish coat of the satin enamel. It will probably last long after I'm gone-I hope-Jim
