Cheap paint questions: Grassroots Motorsports forum: Grassroots Motorsports Magazine

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Dec. 14, 2009 10:39 a.m. Treb Reader

I'm looking for a paint that: 1. is cheap 2. is durable (for use on the underside of a car) 3. is tintable 4. can be applied by brush or roller

I'm not too worried about the possibility of brushstrokes showing; this is going to be in the wheelwells, under the car, perhaps in the engine bay.

1 is a flexible definition; if the alternatives are either upgrading the garage and getting a compressor, gun, etc. or having a body shop do the painting, the cost of a gallon of paint isn't that big a deal.

I would, though, like to be able to get a reasonably good color match.

It is my understanding that rustoleum can't be tinted all that well, but that's the idea that got me started on the idea of doing these surfaces by hand.

I guess I should also ask about adhesion -- whether the paint in question sticks well, or whether other paint might have issues sticking to it. I think Rustoleum has problems there, too... but again, I'm probably thinking more of automotive-type paints.

Any ideas/suggestions?

Thanks Matt
Dec. 14, 2009 10:40 a.m. Ian F HalfDork

Search: tintable bed liner.
Dec. 14, 2009 12:36 p.m. minimac Dork

Tractor Supply Co./Central Tractor or whatever they are calling themselves now, can be your paint friend. Very reasonable as long as a tractor came in the color you want. Basically, single stage in basic black, red, orange,green(john deere) or yellow, but the prices are reasonable by the gallon. With proper reducing, you'll have enough to paint 3 cars-as long as you like them to be the same color. Play mix and match to get the color you want.
Dec. 14, 2009 4:34 p.m. Raze Reader

single stage poly yacht paint from a boat supply store, they usually have additives for tinting, it's cheap, 1 qt will do a car and only costs around $35, very good gloss, UV resistance, goes on well with brush or roller. That being said, tintable bedliner may be more what you want for the underside, but it's not the cheapest stuff...
Dec. 14, 2009 4:45 p.m. aeronca65t HalfDork

I used Tractor Supply black paint on the bottom of my race car. Be sure to add the hardner (also available at TS). Has held up very well...better in my opinion than the POR-15 that I used previously. I've also just used it on my latest vintage racer project.
Dec. 14, 2009 4:49 p.m. Cotton HalfDork

Raze wrote:

single stage poly yacht paint from a boat supply store, they usually have additives for tinting, it's cheap, 1 qt will do a car and only costs around $35, very good gloss, UV resistance, goes on well with brush or roller. That being said, tintable bedliner may be more what you want for the underside, but it's not the cheapest stuff...

You can get a quart of House of Kolor for 40 bucks from Coast Airbrush. It is extremely high quality paint, and comes in a wide variety of colors with tints etc, but will need to be sprayed and clear coated. I know you wanted rollable, but maybe you could borrow a compressor and gun. I painted my 944 turbo with their basecoat and plan to paint my 71 Firebird with one of their metallic basecoats. For clear I use SPI Universal clear.

Edit: Sorry I just noticed the original poster was talking about wheelwells and undercarriage. For that I have used eastwood chassis paint....not sure if it is tintable.
Dec. 16, 2009 8:48 p.m. Treb Reader

Ian F wrote:

Search: tintable bed liner.

Hmmmm.

That might be just what I need.

Thanks for all the responses, though -- and there will probably be uses for some of the other suggestions, too.