Quote from: cj on July 22, 2009, 03:23:08 PM

Why not just do your original idea in flat?

I like that idea if I can find a flat red. Red primer won't cut it. I want a bright, flat red. I figured a flat color would be hard to find & gloss colors look awful coming from a can. 
 

Go find the red you like and get them to put in some flattener and then after you have painted it get what's  leftover put into rattlecans for touch-ups.

You don't need an expensive paint gun to paint your rig.  I bought this one, and I'm very happy with it so far. 

http://www.wagnerspraytech.com/portal/optimus_power_painter_spray,307691,747.html

With a paint gun like this....you can buy whatever color you want, in whatever finish you want, and it'll still be cheap.  It cost me less than 20 dollars for a gallon of the OD paint I used to paint my Tracker.  Got it in satin finish, and it looks awesome.   

I think the gun cost me like 70 or 80 dollars....but it's totally worth it. 

I think the gun cost me like 70 or 80 dollars....but it's totally worth it. 

Yeah and you have it for life now so you can use it for repairs, or painting whatever else is thrown your way!
I'm watching this thread to see all the pictures that are being posted.  Because I have a 2dr tintop Tracker I am considering painting in the near future (1yr or so) and like to see how other's turned out

Are you looking to use spray paint to save on the cost of paint or so you don't have to buy a gun?

Funny story. I have the gun, but my air compressor went poop recently. I have access to another compressor, just don't want to haul it 2 towns over to do it. I realize I could probably use the gun & maybe even save $$$ vs spray paint.

Mainly I want to use a can instead of a gun because I know if I need to make a quick repair & can always go to the store & buy another can. If it's shot with a gun, I would have to mix up another batch & hope the color matches or respray the whole thing. This is mainly a trail toy, but looks are somewhat of a concern. I figure a good flat spray paint followed with wet sanding should look decent & be easy to repair.

If this was more of a daily driver, it would be sprayed with a gun & probably be a deep maroon with gunmetal accents & wheels.

Some Safety Red at 25 a gallon and Rustoleum Black highlights.  I don't think it looks to bad.  We did use a gun though. 

Looks good. How many gallons of primer, paint, & thinner did you need? Also is it painted inside & under the hood or just the outside? Yours has the quality I would expect if I shot with a gun, but cans of gloss would be a hassle to get looking like that.

I found 12 cans of Desert Tan for $50 shipped on Ebay, but it's latex based. Never heard of latex spray paint before, just the stuff used in homes. If I can use it, that looks like the cheap route to go + I would have some extras.

If it's shot with a gun, I would have to mix up another batch & hope the color matches or respray the whole thing.

Usually any 2 batches of rattle can aren't the same either. You're going to want to buy more cans than you need as "backup" for touch up jobs. That said - I'm pretty sure the same goes for spray gun paint - as long as you keep the "extra" laying around, you won't need to mix up any new paint... just use what was left over from the original paint job.

This claims it can do latex...
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=47274





I've also been curious about...
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=66297

Looks good. How many gallons of primer, paint, & thinner did you need? Also is it painted inside & under the hood or just the outside? Yours has the quality I would expect if I shot with a gun, but cans of gloss would be a hassle to get looking like that.

We probably used about a quart of paint and primer, but I have not painted the targa bar or the doors yet.  As Jeremiah said, you will want the extra.  That is why we bought the gallon of standard Safety red.  By not mixing the paint we can always re-spray later and it should match.  We are tempted to go back and put a couple passes of clear coat on it as well to help protect against scratches, but that will wait for the next paint job.

Currently it is just the exterior painted.  We are going to paint the inside of the bed the same color then the floor in either grey epoxy or in the Rustolium black, same as the bumpers.  In time, in time.  Lindenmooch's rig looks great with the power painter and the latex paint, it will be interesting to see how it holds up.

I'll get BRD HNTR to jump in, as he knows a bit more about painting then I do.  It was his idea to use the paint from the hardware store instead of 150 dollars worth of high end auto paint. 

Rattlecan, and turned out pretty good.

I went with a gloss enamel in charcoal gray for a "utilitarian" look.  It is a Rustoleum color that nobody carries anymore.  I painted the trailer first, and them couldn't find the paint.  I found the last five cans I needed for the Zuk in Florence, KY and haven't seen any on the shelves since.

Looks great; rattle can?
Did you prep/prime?
Clearcoat?
How many cans?

I'm thinking same color; like a gun metal grey with wheels and accents a shade or two darker or black.

I like that gloss gray too.  I'll probably do a glossy smoke or gun metal next time I paint it....with more prep obviously.

mrhawk, that's exactly what I had in mind if I go DT. What paint did you use?

As far as the gloss gray that jzap said no longer exists, I wonder how close to that color you could get with a darker gray primer & a few coats of gloss clear coat? I think that would look pretty cool on a stock Sami with like colored wheels. On a lifted one like mine, it's probably out of place for the "Utilitarian Look". Definitely gives that Kick a workhorse appearance instead of your average "cute" look that most stock TracKicks have.

mrhawk, that's exactly what I had in mind if I go DT. What paint did you use?

It's actually a base coat paint from a swedish car parts warehouse. We don't have any military color style rattle can paints here. This is basicly the cheapest rattle cans I could find ( $5 a can )

I like flat colors, easy to touch up. My zuk used to be flat black before, but I think samurais look better in brighter colors.

With my new toy I have gone with a color called Machinery Grey. It's pretty common here for painting industrial equipment and it is similar to the kick above. Here is a pic but it is not very good.