Hot Rods Automotive Paint Job That Looks Like Bare Metal

Has anyone done it? Have any pics and info?
Bare metal Hot Rods always seem to look very slick. Bare metal Hot Rods aren’t very practical/low maintenance.
This coupe looks really slick…but I’m guessing it’s bare metal.
Doesn’t seem like it would be very hard to do…a less than perfect silverish spray job over some other color/s that could slightly show through in spots.
Like I said, anyone tried it?
(Do me a favor and save your, “don’t like fake shit” comments.)

 

I think it’s called....
Silver.

 

I have not done it, but I've seen some bare metal rods out there at events. There was a Model a coupe at the RPM Barona Drags a couple weeks ago, it was just bare metal, not coated in anything. I took photos of it, but the files were corrupted and I lost them. Veazie Brothers in Pomona that worked for Pete C and took over the old So Cal Hot Rod property a;sp have a bare metal Model A coupe they've had around there for years, I don't see any clear coat or anything on it, and it is not silver paint. I do have photos of that one I could dig up.

 

There are probably more than a shitton of silver variations…looking for first hand experiences.

 

There are a shitton of silver variations. The issue is they are silver. They are/look like, metallic flake.

Your best option to look at, may be PPG's Vibrance VM4201 Liquid Metal. It requires a flawless black surface, a specific/special reducer, some skill, and some decent cash if you want to do a complete.

 

I was thinking more along the lines of something like Rust-oleum chain-link fence paint, with a little flattener. The opposite of flawless, actually.
.

 

Satin clear over bare metal?

 

you really can't do a bare metal look on a car since bare metal we see is generally "polished" with scotchbrite pads. there are no paints that have that sheen to them,
satin clear would be the only thing close.

 

Gibbs/Scotchbrite?

 

Expanding on Gary's suggestion, has anyone looked into Cerakote ? There is a matte clear that might provide a protective coating for bare metal.

Manufacturers Description:
Cerakote Ceramic Clears are the strongest clear coats on the market. Cerakote Matte Ceramic Clear MC-161 leads the industry in hardness, chemical resistance, wear performance and UV stability. As a matte, air cured, ceramic clear coating, MC-161 can be used as a top coat over several materials such as metals, paints, composites, plastics, hydrographics, PVD and more. Click here to be sure you're using the best Cerakote Clear for your project.

• Color stability to 300°F
• Ease of application
• VOC compliant and can be sprayed in all 50 states
• Tack free at 30-45 minutes
• Dry after 24-hours (full cure after 5 days)
• This coating excels in outdoor applications
• 100% Inorganic Formulation is completely UV stable. Will not yellow or haze.

https://www.cerakote.com/shop/cerakote-coating/MC-161/matte-ceramic-clear

 

The look has been sought after for a while now. That coupe pictured looks like Silver paint.
One pretty good attempt I saw was a guy who did stripes on a painted car that looked like bare metal. He had shot silver, then scuffed it before clear. It worked on the stripes, but I don't know if it would work on a whole body. It would take a lot of effort. Between the reflections of each scratch (like a record) and the sheen of the whole surface, it's going to be very difficult to replicate.
Fooling the human eye is tough. Most can spot a difference in brushed steel vs brushed aluminum even in a picture. In person, it's even harder to fake.

 

I have practiced this a bit. I was trying to duplicate the brushed steel look of a V-Rod HD. The best I got was a metallic argent or pewter base, dusting of black working in small areas and brushing with a soft bristle brush while wet, Cleaning the brush on my pant leg between wipes, transparent silver over the top and clear coat. I only did one small panel and it cost a fortune in paint and took a ton of time. I couldn't imagine doing an entire truck which was my plan at the time. It would have been easier to brush the actual steel and clear coat with DTM clear coat or wrap it.

 

I think I would try sanding the primer on the car with a bit too coarse of a grit. i.e. 180 or 220 instead of 400. Then paint with a silver base coat. A bit on the dry and light side. Then clear it. It might look like a brushed finish. I have thought about this before. Never tried it.
I have done silver clear coats where a random sand scratch sticks out like a sore thumb.

 

Yep…maybe 220 grit, then spray more of a normal coat or 2 of Rust-oleum Chain Link Fence Paint, followed by a very light 3rd coat with some flattener added. Normal coat or 2 to insure no water gets to the metal.

 

Satin silver, and then scuff it with Scotchbrite.

 

Getting the right paint (satin silver) is very important, for sure, and then scuffing (with a fine Scotchbrite) would be worth a try.
What PAINT?
Satin silver…non-metallic, right? Or satin silver very fine metallic?

 

This is a true bare metal, polished metal example, pretty slick, have to wear sunglasses on a bright day!

​

 

The Sunburn you would get driving that car.

 

This 36 was built for Hetfield by Blue Collar Customs in the Sacramento area. Hetfield was going to have it painted black but was so impressed with the body work that he decided to have it clear coated.

 

Very cool high-end stuff!
Hopefully someone on here has an example of a more blue collar/low buck attempt, and can post some info and pics.

 

I'd say a big test panel with various silvers, then scuffed with various media will show what's best for achieving the result you want and can get.

 

I've seen some local kids with vinyl wraps that looked like brushed aluminum on their imports. No idea where they got them, but I'm sure Google could assist.

 

Was hoping someone on here has already done this. As cool/popular as bare metal Hot Rods are and have been for quite a few years now…it’s hard to believe it hasn’t been attempted/done!

 

The shiny RPU is aluminum…..

 

It's also kinda hard to believe that, that information has been provided to you. But based on your previous comments. You are not interested in it. ALSA also had ghost chrome & mirra chrome. I believe at one time HOK had something similar. Iirc they all came out within a year or two of each other. Probably 20ish years ago. It's not that it hasn't been done. It's just that, that particular paint " fad ". Has probably already run its course. More than a decade ago.

Maybe you need a different title/description. Because it sounds like what you really want. Is some type of hack/workaround. And not a true automotive quality paint job.

Have you rattle canned, one of your fenders yet. With a cold zinc rattle can fence product yet ? You won't know what's acceptable to you. Until you physically make some test samples.

 

I would think non-metallic.

Bare steel is a single reflective surface.

Metallic paint brings in millions of separate reflective surfaces.

 

There was a company producing a brush on, roll on clear (fairly glossy) nylon style plastic coating for things like STOP signs and other outdoor stuff. I called and talked to a rep to ask about being on a car and he said they'd never thought of that before. I couldn't afford it then, but I hope he got a big bonus for "his new idea".

If you're gonna spray over bare steel, make sure you have dry air or it will rust under the coating. (i'd just roll it out and let it flow).

Nyalic now carries packages to cover cars, RVs, SidebySides, etc.

They took the idea and ran with it.

Photo Gallery for Anti-Rust Treatment for Cars | Nyalic

Nyalic Industrial Coating Products | Clear Coat Rust Protection, Page 4

-rick

 

Isn't a non-metallic silver, called Grey

 

I would guess it's because it's a whole lot of work to kind of look like bare metal when you can get the actual bare metal look by applying something like Gibbs or Bulldog Adhesion promoter a few times a year and get actual bare metal with way less work.

 

Nothing fancy for me…sort of like your avatar pic truck only with the bare metal look instead of the multi-color work in progress look.