Painting the "Tubes"

[Otto Man]

I'm not a body shop guy by trade so I need some input.
The stupid water pipes (them that run around our valve cover) are primed and ready. Any hints how to get a nice uniform finish? I gotta cardboard box (my booth) but how do I get a nice even coverage? I just cant see it happening. No Big Deal
Any tricks would be appreciated. Remeber its frickin cold here in Maryland...15 at night.
I'm gonna get a heater for the garage toorrow.
Chris

[Gator]

Well, first off, take the paint and the parts in the house for a couple hours.

If the paint can if left outside the cold will affect how the paint comes out of the can.

Other than that....just keep the can about a foot away from the part and "mist" the part with paint until its coated evenly.

The key here is patience. Spray a little and let dry....spray a little and let dry....spray a little....and on and on.

You might want to get some carbboard to practice on to see how the paint comes out of the can and get familiar with it first.

[KevinK]

I would suggest Eastwood's chassis black spray paint. Holds up great and covers well. Use a pair of vise grips to grab the tube and hang it from a wire. This way you can spin it and not worry about holding it. Try to resist spraying it too heavy.

[Otto Man]

Thanks for the hints!
I primed the tubes with engine primer, and the can says to wait 5 days before applying the finish coats. Am I misreading this or do I really have to wait 5 days?

[gbeaird]

That is possible. In fact, since it is so cold where you are, you may want to wait a week, or longer. You want the primer dry and set so that when you sand it, it won't ball up in the sand paper. Use a 400 grit to roughen up the primer, but not really scratch the painted surface too deep. Let everything dry, COMPLETELY.

As Gator said, you want all the involved parts to be at least above about 75 degrees F. I even take and fill a sink with hot water and soak the paint can in it for a while, until the can is warm to the touch even after shaking. That makes the paint flow better. If things get cold again, stop painting and get them rewarmed. The paint won't stick well to cold parts, will take for ever to dry, and the paint won't come out of a cold can very well.

Be VERY careful about painting in an enclosed area with a electric or gas heater. While it will keep things warm and dry, it can lead to explosive results.

Good luck!

Gene Beaird
86 2R SVO
Pearland, Texas

[lonchair]

to get a nice even finish, see if you can hang the tubes and paint them that way.

I chromed mine so I wouldn't have to paint them again.

[SVOeric]

lon -- have you been hanging around with the chromesexual ?

[Otto Man]

They are Painted

They came out nice. But what next? I mean do I use ultra smooth sand paper or steel-wool to buff them? Or leave them alone?
When I reinstall those "clips" that secure the tubes is there a trick to not gouging the new paint? Perhaps a silicone spray?
Chris

[Gator]

Re: They are Painted

Originally posted by Chris Weber
They came out nice. But what next? I mean do I use ultra smooth sand paper or steel-wool to buff them? Or leave them alone?

IMO If they look good, leave em alone

When I reinstall those "clips" that secure the tubes is there a trick to not gouging the new paint? Perhaps a silicone spray?
Chris

Naw, they are gonna gouge regardless. the best thing I have found is to put them on about an 1/8th of an inch from where you want them located. Then slide the clip over the gouge to "hide" the scratch or gouge.