Painting Rubber

[428street]

ok, so I might be a bit crazy but probably no worse then some others.

I want to know if anyone has any experience or knowledge on how to and/or if it can be done....painting rubber.

I'd like to paint blue dots on my tires like the original tires for a street car came with...also, from my research I found the original color hoses for the expansion tank over flow and the tube that went to the top right hand corner of the tank into the radiator were orange. I have searched for Orange hose so looks like I need to get creative..

Any idea's?

[FWB]

you can buy an additive to add to the paint so it will flex and not crack, think
of late model vehicles with rubber bumper covers, see a body shop or paint
distributor for it

fred

[mrmustang]

You can use a flex agent for the blue dot style paint design you want on the tires (you must dewax and degrease the area you plan to paint several times while cool and out of the sun), but painting hoses that will go through a large temperature change day in and day out will not work more than a week or two before they crack, flake, and discolor. There are no additives to mix into the paint to take that type of abuse, at least not that will work on a rubber hose. Although I have seen Krylon paint oversprayed on lower radiator hoses that are 5+ years old, but I've never seen a hose that was completely sprayed and covered in such a way as you want to, so you never know.....

Bill S.

[ALLEN ENGLISH]

http://www.plastidip.com/home_solutions/Plasti_Dip

http://www.plastidip.com/docs/plastidip_uv.pdf

I used Plasti Dip on my Bill Board Tires. You can get it in spray form or brush on.

Plasti Dip
Synthetic Rubber Coating

Multi-purpose air dry, synthetic rubber coating that can be easily applied by spraying, brushing or dipping. Plasti Dip resists moisture, acids, abrasion, corrosion, skidding/slipping, and provides a comfortable, controlled grip. It remains flexible, stretchy and will not become brittle or crack in extreme weather conditions; -30°F to 200°F. Available in 7.25-oz Can, 11-oz Aerosol, 14.5-oz Can, 1 Gal, 5 Gal, 50-Gal Drum - UV and Fluorescent Formulas Available in 1 Gal, 5 Gal, 50-Gal Drum.

[wtm442]

Originally Posted by 428street

I have searched for Orange hose so looks like I need to get creative..

Any idea's?

Samco Sport supplies silicone hoses in orange. Good for vacuum and water lines, but not for fuel lines.

http://www.samcosport.com/usa/index.asp

[428street]

Thanks guys, I appreciate it...

[ZOERA-SC7XX]

Frank, you can also use acrylic artist/poster type paint. Maybe a buck or two for a small jar and available at any art supply.

[FUNFER2]

Hey Allen, how has the Plastic dip worked out and how did you apply it ?

[ALLEN ENGLISH]

Hello Kevin, I used the spray. Spray about three to four lite coats only giving them about 30 seconds to dry between the coats and removing the stencil or masking tape before it has a chance to dry much. If you wait too long everything will come off with the stencil. I found that the lettering will yellow over time, but I am fine with that. It has also held up well for me, but I don't have my cobra anymore and will be using this stuff on my RCR40 once it arrives.


You can get tire lettering stencils here:http://www.racelinedigital.com/store/index.php?cPath=6

[FUNFER2]

Oh man, you sold your cobra ???
But, the RCR is the best GT-40 on the market. I talked to Fran a couple of years ago when I was thinking about buying his car. It would be too expensive for me.

He's a great guy and builds very high quality cars. It's really a work of art !

When will you get yours ?

Thanks buddy, for the advise and the stencil link.

[elmariachi]

Kevin,

I just bought a set of 200 mile Billboard's that had the Plasti-Dip on them. As Allen said, they had yellowed from soaking in the rubber/oil, no biggie. But with a slight roll of the thumb, I removed an entire letter. I then prepped one of the words "Eagle" on one tire and did it again with PD and same thing, rolled right off. Not sure Ranger is going to hold up much better, they are already cracking in the garage and I haven't even mounted them yet.

[RedBarchetta]

Originally Posted by elmariachi

Not sure Ranger is going to hold up much better, they are already cracking in the garage and I haven't even mounted them yet.

It's all in the prep. Go to the other thread that covers Billboards and Fred K. posted a nice step-by-step tutorial on how to properly prep and apply the paint. It takes patience to get it right...you can't rush the job or you'll get rushed results. The paint should be thinned and you need to be prepared to apply multiple thin coats.

-Dean

[Ronbo]

Make your own, jar of rubber cement and artist's paint. (oil based)

[ALLEN ENGLISH]

Yep the cobra is gone, not really by choice but that's another story. Your welcome for the link. Now as for the paint not sticking, I never had that problem but that could have been because I was painting within the goodyear lines on the tires. I'm not sure how well it would work stenciled on tires of another brand. I plan to try it on some BFG's and re-letter them as Firestone tires.


My RCR40 was supposed to be completed at the end of May, but I flew out to inspect it and see the RCR shop and found that it was not even close to completion. I am behind a few other lucky folks waiting for the RCR product and was told that mine will be ready by the middle of July. I can hardly wait and do expect to have a great car from these people.

[elmariachi]

Originally Posted by RedBarchetta

It's all in the prep. Go to the other thread that covers Billboards and Fred K. posted a nice step-by-step tutorial on how to properly prep and apply the paint. It takes patience to get it right...you can't rush the job or you'll get rushed results. The paint should be thinned and you need to be prepared to apply multiple thin coats.

-Dean

After looking, its only cracking on one tire, so far. I did a lot of prep, thinned it and made several passes with an airbrush. Frankly, the worse it looks, the better/more original.