Rattle Can Black Paint Comparison

[klawockvet]

While hanging out in a local body shop I was talking to the owner who was working on his own car. He had a seat frame out of a mustang that he had put back together. He took a spray can of black and immediately used a propane torch to heat up the painted surface. I thought he was going to burn the paint off. Then he put on another coat and hit that with the torch. It actually flamed for a while. He said it was like a cheap powder coat. He took a wrench and scratched and tapped on it to show me how tough it was. I never heard of this trick before but it looked pretty good to me.

 

[Wallace]

I rattle can many projects. Flathead is dead on that Krylon has changed. I now use the Rustolem product. Frankly, I can't afford the "family" of hardeners, reducers, and other agents required. Plus, if spraying conditions or my poor skill set causes a problem, I am upside down in the project. Spray can or send it to a pro.

We powdercoat a bunch... gloss black is not nearly as durable as a satin or flat.

 

[darrylkmc]

One to remember when using any brand of Spray Can Paint, actually three:

Make sure that the paint is up to temperature, at least overnight.

Shake thoroughly, and keep it well mixed when you are using it.

When you are finished, turn the can Upside Down and Spray until all the paint has cleared the Nozzle.

If you miss any one of these steps, you can clog the nozzle and have uneven results.

Rustoleum makes an excellent DTM (Direct to Metal) paint that come in pint and quart cans, and is available at good hardware stores. It also thins with Acetone, as Dusty said. I use a combination of Acetone, Naptha and Japan Drier.

Use what you can afford and get good results with, it beats not doing it at all.

Darryl in Fairbanks

 

[Ross/Kzoo]

Curt, With all due respect, The reason I like a rattle can Is because it simple and fairly cheap. I have a spray setup and I don't really like it. I can't use it well. It just doesn't work for me. Furthermore, there is a cost factor to consider. I can buy black paint at $400+ a gal, spray it and still get a crappy job or I can go to Tractor supply and get a Gallon of their paint + thinner and hardener, Total cost under $75 and paint all day.
That's just what I did and I "Oranged peeled" a fender. The guy who's doing the painting for me said that the paint dried too fast. Sure was shiny though. I tried to sand the OP out and that implement paint was tough. The sandpaper would hardly scratch it. It was tougher than any Rustoleum I've seen. So that how us "amateurs" have to get these jobs done. Yes! I think we'd all concede that spray guns are better.That $400 paint may be better. Although I can't figure out what is in that can to make it worth anywhere near that, but it is what it is. Merry Christmas!
Terry

I guess I'm going to make Curt cringe but I painted my speedster with Valspar and hardener (Tractor Supply). Other than a little brownish the black looks good 6 years later. I found out later that a little blue mixed in would take the brownish tinge away. Not everyone wants to spend $1500-2000 just for the paint product.

 

[QGolden]

I guess I'm going to make Curt cringe but I painted my speedster with Valspar and hardener (Tractor Supply). Other than a little brownish the black looks good 6 years later. I found out later that a little blue mixed in would take the brownish tinge away. Not everyone wants to spend $1500-2000 just for the paint product.

Implement paint is tough stuff. And it lays down well. I painted my wheels with the TSC implement paint IH White, it came out a nice Cream color., I would not hesitate to paint a Speedster with it. I have used the Ford Med Grey and Vermilion on a tractor.

 

[freak]

None of those spray cans will hold up outdoors. You need a catalyzed paint for outdoor usage.

 

[karasmer]

I have used all three and found the Rustoleum industrial to very tough in comparison, I had to also remove paint and the industrial type was difficult to remove. The only issue I have with the industrial is that it has a very slight brown tint to it, works great to paint a frame and 3-4 cans will do it ($15-$20)

 

[KR500]

I have used the Rustoleum high temp paints as of late. Rated for 500 degrees, seem to hold upa bit better than the standard paint.

 

[larrys40]

I use a lot of the dupli-color with ceramic for some small parts
The spray nozzle is excellent for atomizing and the paint goes on well and is very tough and durable I've had guys including an auto painter friend of mine mistake the finish for automotive paint finish

Give it a try. You guys that use rust oleum may never go back
It is available in some of the auto parts stores being a dupli-color brand
Larry

 

[Tom Wesenberg]

I painted a powerhouse yesterday and Jon was right about the 2X will run quite easily. You have to be quick on the trigger and keep the spray moving. I started to get a run, but set that on top and horizontal when I clamped it in the vice to dry. It came out great with no sign of a run. I'll take a picture later.

After 30 hours of dry time I did use the point of my pocket knife to do a scratch test of the 3 paints on the tin can. Both of the Rustoleum paints were harder to scratch than the Dupli-Color.

 

[700rpm]

I tried Rustoleum and not knowing any better mixed it with paint thinner to spray from my gun. Nothing I did turned out right, it never seem to dry and always had a nasty look to it and you could peel it with your finger nail. Read somewhere to thin it using Acetone, I can't believe how fast it dried and with a very nice gloss! It is also tough as nails, I used it to paint my work bench and it really take alot of abuse. Here's the funny part using acetone to clean the gun was a total failure, but the plain ole paint thinner completely
clean the gun.

Does Rustoleum come in Lime-fire green?

 

[Doug in NJ]

I use a lot of the dupli-color with ceramic for some small parts
The spray nozzle is excellent for atomizing and the paint goes on well and is very tough and durable I've had guys including an auto painter friend of mine mistake the finish for automotive paint finish

Larry

I used the same stuff for all the black underhood parts (oil pan, distributor, etc.) and I was very happy with it. One tip: don't bother with the matching primer. I had painted my oil pan first with the primer and then with the black, and I found that the primer stayed rather soft, and allowed the topcoat to chip easily. I neded up bead-blasting the oil pan a second time and re-painting it with just the topcoat.

Actually, this seems to be a common problem with primers. I had used some dupli-color self-etching primer on some small parts and I had the same problem: it just allowed the topcoat to chip more easily.

Doug

 

[Tom Wesenberg]

Here is my latest powerhouse, which I painted with Rustoleum 2X a few days ago. As mentioned, the 2X paint can build up fast and run easily, so you have to keep the spray moving and be fast on and off the nozzle. I wish there was a well preserved original generator in a museum to see the amount of sheen, but I'm thinking this is almost too shiney. I may use the Rustoleum Professional on the next generator since it has slightly less shine.

Notice the lines left by the cutting tool when the case was turned at the factory. The face is nice and even, but the outside surface isn't quite as nice as some others I've seen. The cutting bit must have been getting dull. The first picture shows where the the run started, but I placed the run horizontal and let it dry. Once dry there was no trace of the run, and all the lathe lines show well.

 

[KR500]

Tom, You are so right about a production piece part which was made and was the 10,000 piece before a tool sharpening. I always wanted a car which had the 25th to 50th piece after a die sharpening or new reamer installed or was a part off which was inspected for dimension after a set-up to be installed on a car I purchased. Not a Monday car or a Friday assembled car.

 

[Dusty]

Does Rustoleum come in Lime-fire green?

Of course Lowe's can make it any color you want, with that said its time you guys got off your A$$S and get them fenders painted.

BTW my rims were painted with Rustoleum rattle cans....yes it comes in that color Very forward thinking people at Rustoleum

Did I mention I hate winter?
dusty