Insanely cool paint on a budget thread

[koldsimer]

I appreciate this thread. I have always rattle canned my truck because 1) I have no body/painting skills, and 2) I go through body panels on a weekly basis- no joke, 3 fenders, 2 doors, 2 mirrors and a sliding window this week in 3 seperate incidents. After reading this thread, I have made up my mind to buy a cheap spray gun and give it a shot next time. There has been a ton of good info here and I would really like to see someone do a good, easy to follow writeup on a beginners paint job on a budget. And I hear you Ryoken. Knowing what you know, it's gotta be hard to see guys get all excited about their rattle jobs when a quality result wouldn't take much more effort. Anyway, thanks for all the solid information this thread has given me!

 

[littlejimmythatcould]

Sorry to interupt, but will foam rollers work as good as those other ones posted in the thread earlier. I bought some at lowes today and some paint and other supplies. I'm wondering if it they will leave bubbles in the paint. I've used small foam rollers to touch up jets before with minimal bubbles but I wasn't sure if the rustoleum paint was prone to bubbling when applied or if it was just a matter of how it is applied. I am taking leave this week for a few days so I guess I'll have to experiment. By the way, I bought flat black paint... please forgive me for I know not what I do..... but I intend to rectify myself with the gloss yellow (sunshine yellow or something) flames... or pinstriping. I haven't decided. But my truck is a hunting truck so I like for it to be invisable at night.... now if I can just make it silent... I've got a buddy that can lay out flames pretty good, just to make it more than just flat black. I think flat black looks good as long as it's accented some way with something... I think the contrast between the flat black body and the gloss yellow flames (or pin striping) will really (for lack of a better word) POP!
I say this everytime I post... thank again everybody. This web site rocks! All of my bronco buddies are all jealous of this site! I apologize if I don't post up again for a day or so, I work weird hours on base, but when I do have time on my lunch break, I enjoy reading everyones posts (and arguments... just playing). Thanks again. I hope my picture posts with this "Dammit, Jim, I'm a doctor not a computer engineer!"

 

[ryoken]

Most high density rollers should be ok because the Rustoleum has no catalyst.. Just be wary, it sucks when they desintegrate on you..

Stir, not shake your paint, and the foam brushes will pull any air out anyway..


And Koldsimer, thanks, I think you said in one sentence what I couldn't get across in this whole thread....

 

[big_black_blazer]

maybe the problem here is that RYOKEN is from Jersey Shore, which i will assume is up north, and that 78 Suburban is from Georgia, and we just do things different around here. i've painted several trucks, boats, motorcycles and anything else downwind of me with tractor paint. and the bad thing is that my $1000 88 ford ranger with a $20 dollar Tractor Supply Co Valspar paintjob done in my dirt-floored barn looked better than just about any other truck in the reidland high school parking lot. poor people have poor ways so we have to find other ways to afford out fun.

 

[littlejimmythatcould]

Should I just use paint thinner or mineral spirits to thin my rustoleum paint? I'm not thinning it to spray it but I'd like to get just a little more out of 2 gallons of paint. Plus it might cut down on cure time with it being thinner.

 

[ryoken]

maybe the problem here is that RYOKEN is from Jersey Shore, which i will assume is up north, and that 78 Suburban is from Georgia, and we just do things different around here.

I'm not really sure how I should respond to that...

It comes across like I'm some rich guy or something and the truth couldn't be farther from that.. I struggle just as most do, more than alot probably...

I spent years living on peanut butter sandwiches to build my Chevelle.. If that means I'm spoiled or priviledged, you can have it..

 

[ryoken]

Should I just use paint thinner or mineral spirits to thin my rustoleum paint? I'm not thinning it to spray it but I'd like to get just a little more out of 2 gallons of paint. Plus it might cut down on cure time with it being thinner.

Read the can.. It'll say on the back... Won't be lacquer thinner, more than likely mineral spirits..

Thick paint won't level nearly as well... Most times you want to thin in the 10% range... For roll and tip, it's more...

 

[Chevy305]

My vote is for semi gloss white with gloss black graphics/accesories.
Plus I believe your 'burb is already white so there will be less prepwork.



No black graphics, but you don't need a bunch of chrome to make it look good.
The only chrome you see is the roll bar and he side view mirrors.

 

[colbystephens]

maybe the problem here is that RYOKEN is from Jersey Shore, which i will assume is up north, and that 78 Suburban is from Georgia, and we just do things different around here. i've painted several trucks, boats, motorcycles and anything else downwind of me with tractor paint. and the bad thing is that my $1000 88 ford ranger with a $20 dollar Tractor Supply Co Valspar paintjob done in my dirt-floored barn looked better than just about any other truck in the reidland high school parking lot. poor people have poor ways so we have to find other ways to afford out fun.

d@mn, dude. you sure came off like an @ss on that one. pretty sure he's just been sharing his experience w/ painting for the sake of helping out other people interested on getting a good paint job. and i don't know that it gives you much bragging rights to say your truck looked better than any of the others in a high school parking lot.

 

[big dan]

Im poor. I like rattle cans. Ive painted my truck 3 times. Maybe if I would just do it right I could save more money.
By the way in my opinion my truck was the best looking in the parking lot. The only real 4x4 that really got used. Ill take my dents and pin striping over one of those pretty paint jobs any day.

 

[colbystephens]

nope. my flat black is even better looking in the parking lot than yours, and mine is magnetic! i mic'd the sheetmetal thickness, and i bet it's thicker than your too! i like rattle cans too.

 

[big dan]

It prolly is thicker. The last time I painted it was because it was 4 different colors cause I swapped beds and a couple other things. I was in a hurry and did a really crappy job. If you press hard enough with your finger you can wipe it off. I plan on sanding and giving it a few more coats this summer when I have time.

 

[littlejimmythatcould]

Here are some before pics of my truck before I rolled it.

 

[littlejimmythatcould]

Here are some pics of what it looks like now. I have access to a gerber machine, so my stencils on the rear quarter panels came out nice. Over all I think it looks good for $70 in paint and primer and about $80 in supplies (I hate cleaning brushes, so it costs a little more).

 

[Revolution]

I'm not really sure how I should respond to that...

It comes across like I'm some rich guy or something and the truth couldn't be farther from that.. I struggle just as most do, more than alot probably...

I spent years living on peanut butter sandwiches to build my Chevelle.. If that means I'm spoiled or priviledged, you can have it..

Kind of hard when your the only one thats wants to do it right isnt it? Just because you dont want to funky monkey stuff, and do it right, i dont think thats wrong. Its like your all alone with that concept though. I know how that is, for sure.

I say do the paint once, and do it right!

 

[littlejimmythatcould]

Everyone can't believe that I rolled it. And my chain of command is actually happier now for not having it rolling around base looking like A**. But they didn't make me paint it, they just kept dropping hints. Then they all laugh because I did it on the cheap and they didn't know the difference until I told them. Oh well, I get my next stripe in 1 1/2 months and then it will finally be time for a lift. I'm countin down the days....

 

[Chevy305]

I have been meaning to ask you, what the hell is that thing on your hood?

 

[littlejimmythatcould]

Home made ram air scoop. It has built in baffle to channel rain/mud/fog out of the air with a 2 inch carb spacer and 10 1/2 inch velocity stack. I'm still working on getting the filter lid for it. But it is about 4 inches above the hood, so it is functional. sometimes it gets in the way and I've contemplated taking the top half of the scoop off and converting it to a cowl hood. It started out as a training project at my shop on a slow night and 2 1/2 hours later.... hoodscoop. It's made out of 5052 H-34 aluminum .050 (non aircraft metal) so it doesn't add hardly any weight and it gives it that Mad Max look. I haven't had any problems with rain or water getting on my air cleaner yet. If you walk by the mouth of the scoop you can hear it breathing and sucking in nothing but cold air! Some people like it, and some people don't... but they all stare. Homemade is the name of the game.

 

[pvfjr]

Well I got started on the DD, she's going to be "Gloss Sand". Just experimenting with the hood for now, it was good to get all that rust off of there.

 

[broncoman6524]

By the way in my opinion my truck was the best looking in the parking lot. The only real 4x4 that really got used. Ill take my dents and pin striping over one of those pretty paint jobs any day.

thats my feelings too, my truck aint pretty, the hardest wheeled, or the biggest. But i paid for it, worked on it, and wheel it myself i didnt have my parents pay for it or have someone change the oil for me. It mine and i love it, its got more sentimental value then anything i own. when people make fun of it all i say is **** you. just bc your mommy and daddy bought you the 50000 dollar sports car you wanted that you cant even drive dont mean you can make fun of my truck thats mine... Most of the richy richy spoild kids kinda shut up and walk away...

ok i lied my parents bought the truck but im paying them back. lol