PAINTING the outside of my axle...UPDATE! Post #28

[jonrpick]

Update!!! Sandblasting complete!

Well... On Thursday I dropped off the 10-bolt with the brake backing plates, spring plates, diff cover (and bolts) to the sandblasting dude.

This guy is a total pro. All he does is blast. A lot of what he does is custom sign making, where he's etching words and images into stone or marble. I've seen some of his more "artistic" work, and it's easy say that he knows his sh!t.

I almost don't want to paint it!!! I'm thinking I may switch from black paint to a silver that mimics the look of the bare metal. Suggestions anyone???

Anyway, enough talk... there's pic-whoring to be done...

 

[thatK30guy]

Hope you wore gloves when handling those bare metals.

If not, get some lacquer thinner and clean them up real good. Your fingers have oils that will stay on the metal and rust it.
Clean it up with the thinner before shooting some etching primer on it. After that dries, shoot some epoxy primer on top of that. Your choice of color can be sprayed last.

 

[jonrpick]

Hope you wore gloves when handling those bare metals.

If not, get some lacquer thinner and clean them up real good. Your fingers have oils that will stay on the metal and rust it.
Clean it up with the thinner before shooting some etching primer on it. After that dries, shoot some epoxy primer on top of that. Your choice of color can be sprayed last.

Doh!

Well, I went ahead and laid down a coat of etching primer on the backing plates and spring plates. None on the axle yet. You really think it's gonna turn my finish to crap?

 

[thatK30guy]

Doh!

Well, I went ahead and laid down a coat of etching primer on the backing plates and spring plates. None on the axle yet. You really think it's gonna turn my finish to crap?

I wouldn't worry too much about it. The axle is gonna be back under the rig, so its not like the axle is going to be in a show truck.
The little bits of oil that do make it on the bare metals won't be a factor in making it rust quickly, etc. I wouldn't worry about it anymore.

Just next time, remember to wear gloves.

 

[muddybuddy]

how much did that cost ya? looks good

 

[jonrpick]

how much did that cost ya? looks good

$60

I've heard of getting it done cheaper, but it was worth it IMO to get a real pro to do the work. Since this guy works with so many different materials and blasting medias, he did it right and the result is spectacular. Honestly, the pics don't do it justice.

 

[jonrpick]

I wouldn't worry too much about it. The axle is gonna be back under the rig, so its not like the axle is going to be in a show truck.
The little bits of oil that do make it on the bare metals won't be a factor in making it rust quickly, etc. I wouldn't worry about it anymore.

Just next time, remember to wear gloves.

Gotcha...

This is an awful lot of effort for a 10-bolt, but I figured it was worth it for the experience. And for my immediate needs, it's more than enough axle.

 

[jonrpick]

More pic-whorin'

Well... I got down to business priming and painting the axle and other hardware.

I decided against a gloss black and went with a hammered silver finish. It's kinda bling, but not really. I *really* like the look of clean, just-cast iron...the texture, the color. I just love it. The hammered silver was the closest thing to that look that would still retain some "gloss". At least, it's the closest thing I could find. With any luck the gloss will help shed dirt. I did the backing plates for the brakes this way, and almost went with a white finish on the inside. Basically I just wanted it to be nice and bright in there whenever I had to open it up and work on the brakes.

Pics... forgive the lighting. It wasn't that dark out, but it wasn't bright enough for the flash to work.

Primed parts:

The K5 awaiting the axle (among other things...)

Brake backing plate with the hammered silver finish applied... I'm *really* liking this finish.

Axle housing, first coat of paint... I'll need to let it dry more before I can rotate it and get the underside.

So there you have it... It's coming along nicely.