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Painting between fins on valve covers?????

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by FRITZ, Sep 14, 2004.

  1. FRITZ
    Joined: Sep 6, 2001
    Posts: 1,209

    FRITZ
    BANNED

    Ok I wanna hear how you guys have done it and how successful your job was. I have a set of brand new Edelbrock fined valve covers and im gonna paint between the fins with house of kolor paint, and prime. the block looks like it came out ok. im felling so,so about how good it'll last though.
    FRITZ
     
  2. Upchuck
    Joined: Mar 19, 2004
    Posts: 1,576

    Upchuck
    Member
    from Canada BC

    tape off the outside that you don't want painted and just spray away then with some fine sandpaper sand off the tops of the fins to reveal the aluminum again
     
  3. 47lincsled
    Joined: Jul 16, 2004
    Posts: 165

    47lincsled
    Member

    Paint the whole thing then wipe it down with laquer thinner,paint stays where you can't wipe.
     
  4. Foul
    Joined: Mar 25, 2002
    Posts: 643

    Foul
    Member

    I remember reading a while ago about using something like petroleum jelly on the places you dont want painted, then wipe the gunk off when you're done painting.
    havent tried it mahself.
    dan
     
  5. bigron
    Joined: May 6, 2003
    Posts: 631

    bigron
    Member

    [ QUOTE ]
    Paint the whole thing then wipe it down with laquer thinner,paint stays where you can't wipe.

    [/ QUOTE ]

    this is how i've done it also. works well. fritz being the painter gooroo you should make it look awesome
     
  6. IntrstlarOvrdrve
    Joined: Feb 26, 2004
    Posts: 364

    IntrstlarOvrdrve
    Member

    Hrm, I have sprayed them down before and just taken a slightly damp rag and wiped them down. I didn't use the paint thinner like someone said above and mine turned out decent, i just wiped it off a few seconds after I sprayed the valve covers. Although I might try the paint thinner thing next time, I was just afraid it might mess up the chrome..
     
  7. Dooley
    Joined: May 29, 2002
    Posts: 3,100

    Dooley
    Member
    from Buffalo NY

    There was a post where someone used Chapstick.

    Rub the chapstick, I think it was cherry, so you can see where it is (red) then spray and remove.

     
  8. FRITZ
    Joined: Sep 6, 2001
    Posts: 1,209

    FRITZ
    BANNED

    Chapstick, thats a good idea. I dont have a problem with the "wipping the fins" down part, how did everyone else prep to paint, ya gotta have some kind of primer on them first. \epoxy, self etch ...........anyone try this.
    FRITZ
     
  9. Nads
    Joined: Mar 5, 2001
    Posts: 11,875

    Nads
    Member
    from Hypocrisy

    I just painted a paif chromed Cal Custom jobbies. I scuffed up the valleys real good with a scotchbrite pad. I did mine in candy apple red over a silver base. I didn't use any primer. I used Dupli Color lacquer spray bombs. I used acetone on a rag to remove the paint on the fins.
    They came out great, I hope they stand up to the heat and chemicals. Time will tell.
     
  10. Petejoe
    Joined: Nov 27, 2002
    Posts: 12,614

    Petejoe
    Member
    from Zoar, Ohio

  11. Gas_Tires_Oil
    Joined: Feb 27, 2003
    Posts: 757

    Gas_Tires_Oil
    Member

    Great tip on using Cherry Chapstick! I wish I knew about that last time I did some of this type of detailing. It would have saved me quite a bit of time.

    Thanks [​IMG]
     
  12. tommy
    Joined: Mar 3, 2001
    Posts: 14,756

    tommy
    Member Emeritus

    I use the chapstick. Every time I tried the rag trick I'd get a fuzzy or something in the wet paint. When I get a paint job looking nice I get the hell out of the garage quickly before I screw it up somehow. [​IMG]
     
    bonesy likes this.
  13. Rand Man
    Joined: Aug 23, 2004
    Posts: 5,374

    Rand Man
    Member

    I like the Chapstick idea. Whenever I try to wipe off excess paint with something like urethane reducer, I'll likely mess it up.
     
  14. Paul
    Joined: Aug 29, 2002
    Posts: 16,956

    Paul
    Editor

    I painted a pair with black wrinkle not too long ago,

    and cleaned the fins with sand paper for a brushed look.

    they looked great till I got brake fluid on them..

    if you want to remove paint from your valve covers without harming the aluminum

    try brake fluid, it actually works quite well [​IMG]

    Paul
     
  15. I've done the thinner thing. But I have also used a buffer to buff off the tops to expose the fins. Works well, especially if your covers are chrome or polished.

    I will say, you should etch your covers. The paint doesn't like to stick to unprepped surfaces for very long. I just stripped an oil pan on the car that wasn't prepped. The paint just flicked off and I blew off the rest that I couldn't reach.

    Reverend Jake
     
  16. [ QUOTE ]
    tape off the outside that you don't want painted and just spray away then with some fine sandpaper sand off the tops of the fins to reveal the aluminum again

    [/ QUOTE ]


    That's kinda how I did it...

    Here are mine:

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  17. FRITZ
    Joined: Sep 6, 2001
    Posts: 1,209

    FRITZ
    BANNED

    Petejoe<
    hey thanks, I tried to serch for an old post on the subject but didnt come up with anything. I think im good to go now.
    Thanks
    FRITZ
     
  18. I just finished mine using Vasoline on the ridge tops. Just used my finger to wipe a small amount of Vasoline on each ridge.

    I cleaned my aluminum heads by using solvent and a wire brush. I just shot the black right on without primer. Wiped the paint off the top of each ridge with a wire wheel on a drill.

    Since I used the wire wheel to take the paint off, I probably didn't need to bother with the Vasoline, but the stuff sure came off easily.

    Mike
     

    Attached Files:

  19. Gas_Tires_Oil
    Joined: Feb 27, 2003
    Posts: 757

    Gas_Tires_Oil
    Member

    Bump - here's a thread worth bringing BTTT! Just used this trick again recently.
     
  20. alvisoroadsters
    Joined: Jun 9, 2005
    Posts: 250

    alvisoroadsters
    Member
    from Cupertino

    I used masking paper & tape on the sides,used a exacto knife on the ends
    between the fins & on the eldebrock.used some blue fine line tape on the tops of the fins themselves.after you paint & pull the paper, take a q tip with a little thinner to sharpen up the line edges & dial in the lettering
     
  21. Ford Freak
    Joined: Jan 5, 2005
    Posts: 827

    Ford Freak
    Member

    I masked off the fins with some pinstriping tape. 3/16ths, I think it was. Took some time, but came out great.
     
  22. langy
    Joined: Apr 27, 2006
    Posts: 5,730

    langy
    Member Emeritus

    I tape off what i can first then put on 2 light coats of Epoxy primer, Then wipe with thinner, Then the colour and lacquer, wipe with thinner again. I don't use a rag but use paper towel.
    Using thinner will give a much nicer edge.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     
    bonesy likes this.
  23. MIKE47
    Joined: Aug 19, 2005
    Posts: 987

    MIKE47
    Member
    from new jersey

    Scuff between the fins. Then polish the top of the fins. Clean well with thinner to get all the polish **** off. Tape off the tops with blue fineline tape. tape off surrounding area. Light primer. Then paint. Less chance of f'n up the paint trying to polish later.
     
  24. theHIGHLANDER
    Joined: Jun 3, 2005
    Posts: 10,727

    theHIGHLANDER
    Member

    This is really an easy task. Tape the big areas, wipe the small ones like the fins. The best way to wipe with solvents is to stretch a rag or a piece of leather over a flat block and dampen with the solvent you need. Simply "erase" the paint off you want removed. The only secret is to not soak whatever you put the solvent on. For adhesion, there's only certain self etch products that work for aluminum, usually the clear goldish looking stuff from PPG. Alway use light conservative coats. Painted parts like this peel easier the thicker the coating gets.
     
  25. thewildturkey46
    Joined: Dec 4, 2005
    Posts: 763

    thewildturkey46
    Member
    from Rice, MN

    I scuffed the valleys real good, masked them off, primed with DP90,***** the first time I did not prime them and they flaked off before I got them on the car ( about 3 months)****** I used single stage Omni for the color. I think the real key is the primer.
     
  26. gbones32coupe
    Joined: Jan 1, 2007
    Posts: 733

    gbones32coupe
    Member

  27. marvbarrish
    Joined: Dec 23, 2007
    Posts: 215

    marvbarrish
    Member
    from SoCal

    I would definitly recommend using SEM acid etching primer before painting. Comes in a spray can and I just mist it on and paint my first coat of paint before the primer dries. This method really bites into the metal and holds real well. Scuffing the areas to be painted with a scuff pad is also highly recommended.
     
  28. KATFISH
    Joined: Aug 9, 2004
    Posts: 662

    KATFISH
    Member

    I think this is the best method,I never use primer anymore for this because when you wipe away the excess there was allways a faint line of primer showing at the edge.
     
  29. Irish Dan
    Joined: Jan 19, 2006
    Posts: 1,231

    Irish Dan
    Member

    I used Plasticote red on mine. I just taped off most of the valve cover, shot the paint, let it dry, then used 1000 steel wool to clean off any excess paint or overspray. It worked real well! Good Luck!
     
  30. Gasser 55
    Joined: Nov 11, 2006
    Posts: 54

    Gasser 55
    Member
    from beaver

    thats how i did it
     

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