43 replies to this topic

[Mark1275GT]

Spaying the rocker cover

Poor Rocker Cover...

Lol,
I know, i was up all night thinking, Poor rocker cover lol that was a joke by the way.
Shame i didn't know someone who could get it really clean.
Anyway. im going to do it silver, with lacquer on top. should look good, he hopes

Ill show some pics when done

And the heading does say (Spaying the rocker cover)

[Retro_10s]

First thing i thought was 'that's an MG metro rocker cover with a breather pipe welded on'. If you want to be really picky don't paint/laquer the fins on the top, just the flat areas, the fins are there for cooling, and whilst they don't really make much difference at all if you don't paint them.... it looks cool!, polish the fins and paint the rest methinks hehe

I would think you'd get a nicer finish from car paints, but hammerite will give you a good finish with relatively little work. but I would still flat it back and then cut and polish it up regardless.

[Mark1275GT]

First thing i thought was 'that's an MG metro rocker cover with a breather pipe welded on'. If you want to be really picky don't paint/laquer the fins on the top, just the flat areas, the fins are there for cooling, and whilst they don't really make much difference at all if you don't paint them.... it looks cool!, polish the fins and paint the rest methinks hehe

I would think you'd get a nicer finish from car paints, but hammerite will give you a good finish with relatively little work. but I would still flat it back and then cut and polish it up regardless.

When u say cut and polish it up. is that after i laquer it.

So i use 400 wet & dry just to take the sheen off the rocker cover.
Then spay with hammerite. should i still use car primer before hand ?
Then use 1200 w&d lightly on the paint work. then /laquer lol

or should i be doing it this way

coat 1
coat 2
wet and dry 800grit
coat 3
coat 4
wet and dry 1200grit
coat 5
(optional coat 6)
wet and dry 1500grit then 2000grit.

cutting paste (G3 used lightly) then use G10

leave for 1day-2days to fully harden

polish
wax.

(Retro he's the man)
Or if your really kind, your give me a little run down.
This is my first time doing this, and i want to do it right. ive read all difefret sort of ways of spraying,
But not sure which is best

Thanks

Whos a nOOb, me

[Mark1275GT]

Getting there with the painting on me engine.
But seems to be alot of silver going on
Looks good thou.
But not sure if its going to be over doing it by spraying the rocker cover silver.
What do you think about red ?
Dont u just hate it when u cant deside on what colour. and hoping u made the right choice

Gonna go ask someone who uses paintshop if they can change the colour of me rocker cover, so i can see what it would look like.

P.S
With out going of the subject.
Whoever does there engaine bay, thats if your doing it nice and proper, not just a quicky
Then you have to be well patient, as you might get abit bored.
If u do, just think to ya self, i can do this, and im gonna do this.I Guess u have to be abit positive,
As negative thoughts can Creep in,thats when you get bored.
But its well worth it.
My mate has done his, and thats what made me want to pull my finger out and do mine. its all fun

Attached Files

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Edited by Mark1275GT, 27 November 2006 - 06:18 PM.

[Retro_10s]

Here's what i would do if i was using car paints with a laquer coat too.

1. Prep the rocker cover by rubbing down with 600grit wet and dry.
2. Degrease and wipe down the rocker cover using white spirit.
3. Spray 2 light coats of primer, allow them to FULLY harden. (see primer instructions)
4. Flat back the primer layers just to get it smooth with 800grit wet and dry till smooth.
5. Spray another 2 coats of primer on and let them FULLy harden.
6. Flat back the layers of primer with 1200grit wet and dry till nice and smooth.
7. If any patches are primer-less after flatting back, keep adding coats till you can flat it back and still have a fully layer on.
8. Degrease using white spirit, when completely dry, add your first 2 light coats of colour and allow to harden
9. Flat back Using 1200 wet and dry. Add another two coats and allow to fully harden.
10. Flat back using 1200 wet and dry. Now degrease the rocker cover.
11. Now add a couple of light layer of laquer and let them dry fully.
12. Now flat the laquer back lightlywith 1200grit wet and dry.
13. Add another two coats of laquer and allow it to harden fully.
14. Flat it back lightly, Now using cutting paste on a 'moist' cloth,.. cut the laquer back.
15. Using T-cut/or similar polish it back up! leave it for a week in a warm enviroment (indoors)
16. Now wax it!

Right. A quick note to say you might get away with one layer generous layer of laquer but it depends how smooth you managed to get your previous coats of paint. And the laquer might 'run' too leaving hard blobs behind!

good luck,

If I was using hammerite I would:

1. Prep the cover as above with 600grit wet and dry.
2. Degrease it thoroughly
3 Brush a coat of hammerite on and leave it to FULLY harden.
4. Flat it back with 800grit wet and dry till smoooooth.
5. Keep going with layers and flatting till you can flat back and still have a solid layer of paint left.
6. Final flatting should be done with something like 1200-1500 grit wet and dry.
7. Cut it back with G3 cutting paste/or similar.
8. Polish it up with t-cut/similar stuff. leave for a week in warm conditions/indoors.
9. Wax it.

Wet and dry is always used wet.

Edited by Retro_10s, 27 November 2006 - 06:21 PM.

[minivanman]

Now I've seen the pictures, for your rocker cover I would paint it in the same colour as your engine, but just polish the very tops of the fins. There was one like it the other month in one of the mags and it looked awesome.

[Mark1275GT]

Thanks Retro me old mate
Few more things..
Do i use soapy water with the wet and dry ?
Plus, doing it the hemmarite way,can i use the spay instead of the brush on paint.
Or best to use brush on paint. and will that come up really shiny doing the that way.
I would use car paint, but think it last longer with the hem way.
Have you done your rocker cover your self ratro ?
Anyone else done this, show us some pics plzzzz
Thanks.

Whos the man (retro, retro)

Edited by Mark1275GT, 28 November 2006 - 02:11 PM.

[Mark1275GT]

Hi retro.
Ive got round to doing my rocker cover.
Its looking nice.. but the thing is, from what ive been told, the laquer will crack from the heat.
So could i just use cutting paste, then polish on the finish paint work with out the laquer to give it the shine.
Thanks mate

[cool_stu]

You want to do something like this bud..



i didnt like the rounded tops of the fins so i filed them flat, then using the file with progressively smoother grades of flatting papaer wrapped round it polished the now flat ribs. degreased the whole thing with some thinners, gave it several coats of matt black paint and left it to harden over night. Then using a bit of worn 1200 paper took the paint off the edges and polished with some autosol.. i was a little unsure of how the black would look against the green block, but i wouldnt have it any other way now! i used the same principal on the inlet manifold too, except i used high temp paint on it.

[Mark1275GT]

You want to do something like this bud..



i didnt like the rounded tops of the fins so i filed them flat, then using the file with progressively smoother grades of flatting papaer wrapped round it polished the now flat ribs. degreased the whole thing with some thinners, gave it several coats of matt black paint and left it to harden over night. Then using a bit of worn 1200 paper took the paint off the edges and polished with some autosol.. i was a little unsure of how the black would look against the green block, but i wouldnt have it any other way now! i used the same principal on the inlet manifold too, except i used high temp paint on it.

I must say, that does look good.
Im doing mine ANTHRACITE METALLIC. so i want a nice shine on it.
Love what u have done to the fins. think ill do mini like that
very nice

[Mark1275GT]

Stu,
Did u use wet and dry after u spayed it mat black ?

[minivanman]

I was going to do something similar to mine, but I like the idea of flatting the tops of the fins down.

Now wheres that file gone?

[Mark1275GT]

Dont have any filed.
So looks like i better get some cheaps ish one
What ones should i use.. do they come in numbers etc.. thanks

[panelbeaterpeter]

Dont have any filed.
So looks like i better get some cheaps ish one
What ones should i use.. do they come in numbers etc.. thanks

I really like the idea of flatting down the fins. You could just do it with wet and dry 600 on a block. But as i have always said, lubrication is the key.

Must.....Not....Stare.... At.... Avatar...

[cool_stu]

Mark: no mate, i just rubbed the bare metal down with some 400 then 800 to get rid of the last bit of laquer, and to get rid of some surface imperfections. I used a reasonably fine file to get the fins flat, degreased the whole thing and gave it a few coats of matt black (i think it was just some generic stuff i bought from Focus!), the finish is as it came out of the can.