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What's a good paint to use?

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1.5K views 26 replies 11 participants last post by  Robert87yj  
#1 ·
What\'s a good paint to use?

I am considering painting my Jeep this spring and was wondering what is a good paint to use. I will take it to a shop that uses a hand sprayer - not a booth.

Any recommendations? I want something that is at least as good as the factory paint on my 88 YJ - low maintenance ( I haven't done crap except wash it every couple of weeks and wax once a year) and is durable. I want to have it applied over my old paint once it is preeped and the few rusty spots primered.

Any additional tips?

Hank
88 YJ (sort of)
 
#4 ·
Re: What\'s a good paint to use?

Spray?

Yes, it can be sprayed, it even comes in spray cans. I prefer the brush on stuff, and yes, I have used it on the exterior, but only on the bottom foot or so that takes the abuse, then coated it with truck and bed coating. I plan on doing the whole Scrambler in Hammerite Tan and the wife's Zuki in Hammerite Green (don't ask) this spring.

JEEPN
Winter Harbor, Maine
'81 CJ-8 Scrambled!
It's a Jeep, Chevy, IHC kinda thing!
 
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#5 ·
Re: What\'s a good paint to use?

I myself prefer PPG(Diztler) single stage urethane. I restored a CJ a few years ago and the paint had a unbelievable shine to it. It holds up pretty good too, scracthes easily buff out. It is pricey but, but you get what you pay for. There are other brands that I might condsider - stay away from Dupont products. From my experiences with it the shine doesn't last as long as PPG's shine. And it chips easier than PPG. Of course you need to also use quality primers and sealers as well. The undercoats are just as important if not more so than the topcoat.

I Don't know anything about Hammerite(?) !

As far a as booth vs. a hand sprayer - the difference there is the environment that the vehicle is painted in. I would take my vehicle to a shop with a booth before taking it to a shop that didn't have one. A paint booth produces a much cleaner dust free(less dust anyay) finish. Plus in a booth the paint can be baked, which cures it a lot quiker than air drying.

Wayne
 
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#6 ·
Re: What\'s a good paint to use?

Hank,what part of Ga you in?Im in Social Circle in Walton Co.with nowhere to ride here due to the infamous "posted"turf we all know so well.Usually run Rich mt or Anderson crk mostly.See ya on the trail??

1 cross plus
3 nails
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4 given /wwwthreads_images/icons/wink.gif
 
#9 ·
Re: What\'s a good paint to use?

While not trying to start a debate or fight with an above post........I really like dupont "centary" single stage. I have used ppg paints too and while a direct competetar I don't care for them. Look at the TOP paint shops and see what they use. Centary with a gloss hardner looks great,shines great, is cost effective and DOES NOT CHIP any easier than ditzler. I honestly think dupont is easier to paint too. If you want to step up a notch in a single stage paint, try imron. This is not a cheap single stage paint but no one can say its crap. It was for years "THE" paint used for boats, airplanes, and upper end paint jobs. This stuff wears like iron. Nowdays multi stage paints are the norm, but for something like my jeep........just give me my centary.

Image

http://home1.gte.net/rythem/davescj7.htm
 
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#10 ·
Re: What\'s a good paint to use?

if i can ever get a jeep again and if i have to paint it. (2 if's/wwwthreads_images/icons/smile.gif)- I am going to go down to a small airport by my house and figure out what the best aircraft paint is. I have seen airplane scrapyards with 30+ year old planes sitting there w/ out any rust. Now thats hard to do! Just think, plane paint has to withstand super cold temps for high alt cruising, super hot temps for sitting on a tarmac for long periods, 600+ air speeds, and lots of salt or other chemicals used on the runways. How could this not be the way to go? The only thing wrong mught be the price. But i would gladly pay whatever it is to not have another CJ rust in MO.

Sold the CJ... Cant wait for the next time around!
 
#12 ·
Re: What\'s a good paint to use?

A buddy of mine says imron is tough stuff. I have a cousin that works in an autobody shop that uses PPG and he is pushing two stage stuff because he says it is harder to screw it up.

My paint looks pretty good to be almost 13 years old living in NW Georgia. I want the next paint job to last at least that long. The only paint I have had done was by a shop that closed because the owner died. I do not know what they used but they did good work and everyone in town used 'em. Now I don't who to go to!!

How much can I expect to pay with Centary or Imron? ( I can do some prep work myself but I won't if it does not save me that much money).

Hank
88 YJ (sort of)
 
G
#15 ·
Re: What\'s a good paint to use?

My next paint job is going to be rattle can. The thought of doing a whole paint job for under $100 is pretty enticing. Hopefully it will get done this summer.

Dont sweat the petty stuff and dont pet the sweaty stuff
 
3
#16 ·
Re: What\'s a good paint to use?

I used Dupont Centari. I think I have about $200 in materials, including primer and bondo. My neighbor used to paint cars for a living, so he painted it for me (in my back yard) It turned out great and has not chipped, except on the fender where the metal got bent (from lack of bump stops) Check out attached pic.

Lugnut 77 cj5
 

Attachments

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#17 ·
Re: What\'s a good paint to use?

Jeepn -

You're going to go nuts over this, I know, but I DO NOT LIKE Hammerite. I used some in the refurb of the Jeep this Winter and am not impressed. My biggest complaint is that it scratches off way too easily. Maybe I did it wrong or something, but I applied the black smooth Brush on stuff to freshly sandblasted steel and it will not take ANY abuse whatsoever. I ended up painting the exterior of the Jeep with DuPont Chromo-One - I had a gallon of that left over from another project.

The Hammerite seemed to NEVER fully harden, and it's been three months and I DID use the newer formula. Either Jeepgod or Elusive told me that they have had it scratch off easily as well.

The Durabak, on the other hand, exceeded my expectations - it's a great product. Just my 2 cents, but I don't plan on the Hammerite that's there sticking around long in real-world 4-wheeling applications once it comes into contact with rocks... :-(

Chuck Hadley
 
#18 ·
Re: What\'s a good paint to use?

I have some rims I painted late last fall, I'll give them a scratch or two when I get home. The tub Hammerite (green) is the old formula, and I know that's like iron. I remember you e-mailing me about it being soft a few months ago, it should have cured by now. I'll let you know what I find tonight. If it's not durable, I'll stop using it as well, and complain to the manufacturer. I'll post pics of what it takes to scratch both surfaces tonight and report back. Maybe it's not worth using anymore.

JEEPN
Winter Harbor, Maine
'81 CJ-8 Scrambled!
It's a Jeep, Chevy, IHC kinda thing!
 
G
#19 ·
Re: What\'s a good paint to use?

All this talk about Imron being tough is very true. I hate the stuff though because you can not spot repair it. That's why nobody in the auto body business uses it anymore. If you get hit or come down hard on a rock the entire panel must be stripped down and repainted. Makes it kinda tough if the panel is a Jeep tub. Dupont Centauri get my vote as it sprays well, has a good finish, and is easy to repair. Very user friendly paint for the non-professional bodyman. Hammerite may be tough, but a body just isn't where it was intended to be used. I frankly don't want a hammered finish on my body panels.

'75 CJ5,258 w/Howell EFI,T18a,4.27's,33's,On-board air,Warn 8274
 
#20 ·
Re: What\'s a good paint to use?

Hammerite may be tough, but a body just isn't where it was intended to be used. I frankly don't want a hammered finish on my body panels.

You're right, it's original intent was for use on salt water boats. I used it on the Scrambler because if it's tough enough for use on the salt water lobster boats, it's tough enough for me.

It does come in non-hammered (smooth) finish, which is what I use. A "hammered" finish would look terrible! ALL of the colors it comes in are available in hammered or smooth finish. The smooth finish is also tougher than the hammered, btw.

JEEPN
Winter Harbor, Maine
'81 CJ-8 Scrambled!
It's a Jeep, Chevy, IHC kinda thing!
 
G
#21 ·
Re: What\'s a good paint to use?

I'll be pulling the tub off my Jeepster in a few months and I found a shop nearby that does powder coating. That is the way I'm going to go. I've got stuff (outdoor furniture) over 15 years old that sits out year round that is powder coated with no problems, no rust. My 2 cents.
Rondo
P.S. I live in Colorado.
 
G
#22 ·
Re: What\'s a good paint to use?

Gosh,
all of the talk about painting has got me thinking about painting my jeep, probably going to be krylon or hammerite smooth though...

I'm planning on stripping my jeep and re primiring it. I have some leakage that I'm sure has caused some rust between pannels. I'll pop the spot welds around the top of the fire wall and make sure that there is no rust at all. Put it back together, primer and then paint.

So...what is a good way to strip a jeep of its paint, right down to the bare metal, wire brush, sandblaster, paintstripper? other chemical???

Robert87yj/wwwthreads_images/icons/tongue.gif
4.2 w/(4.0 head & MPI) (jeep is down need a new head)
Process of a moonguy after beer
/wwwthreads_images/icons/mad.gif /wwwthreads_images/icons/frown.gif /wwwthreads_images/icons/crazy.gif /wwwthreads_images/icons/wink.gif /wwwthreads_images/icons/smile.gif /wwwthreads_images/icons/blush.gif
 
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#23 ·
Re: What\'s a good paint to use?

Robert87,

I wouldnt strip it to bare metal unless its rusty, and has to be taken down that far.

usually a good scuffing of the original paint will suffice.

whenever you get to bare metal, your supposed to use a self etching primer, not just regular sandable primer

Ive helped a buddy paint his race car with some offbrand paintfrom the local wholsale place, I dont even remeber the name, but it was $50 a gallon for whatever color you wanted, he picked chevy truck white, and I think that price included the reducer and hardener.

the paint looked great, and has held up so far.

very little prep, since it banged up sheet metal anyway, but the large flat areas really looked better than I had expected, Ill be buying the same stuff when I paint my CJ white this summer

Im thinking, cheap paint means, I wont bitch and moan when I scratch it, I can afford to repaint any parts I dont like, and I can afford to change the color once per year If I feel like it.

OzarkJeep

"If thats the way that you want it, well thats the way I want it more..."
 
#24 ·
Re: What\'s a good paint to use?

OK, so I went out and tested both the old and new formulas of Hammerite. The new is hammered gray on some rims, been sitting about 4 months, and the old is green smooth that's been sitting for 6 months. The old definitely held up better. I took my knife and scraped some away on both, and the new stuff flaked away very easily, and in areas the knife blade didn't touch, indicating poor adhesion. The old was harder to scrape, and the only paint that came off was exactly where the blade was, nothing else. Both were brushed on. Needless to say, I'm amazed. I'll have to do further testing now, and a little more scientific, my knife hasn't been calibrated in over a year.

JEEPN
Winter Harbor, Maine
'81 CJ-8 Scrambled!
It's a Jeep, Chevy, IHC kinda thing!
 
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