So we're at the stage where I need to decide on a finish for the chassis. Since we intend to beat the crap out of this car, I'm questioning powder coat and wondering about using a hammertone paint? Seems like it would be alot easier to touch up when necessary and if/when we need to change something.

Anyone done this?

Thoughts?

Thanks in Advance......

Are you talking about rust oleum hammer tone paint?

RHINO LINE IT!!!

Go with a silver vain powder coat, if you need to touch it up use the hammer tone paint.

yes

Hammertone rocks, love that stuff.

Not as good as powder for sure, I have been using it on stuff for years weathers really good and takes a beating.

hammertone powder coat will outlast hammertone paint.

I've yet to powder coat my frame, been using rattle can. It is nice that you can just touch it up easily with out disassembly. Doesn't hold up the greatest but if you keep on top of touching it up it's fine. In the sand the trailing arms seem to get blasted pretty quick in some areas. I am just using a regular rattle can paint but the hammer tone holds up alot better than the regular paint.

I have the hammertone silver-vein powder coat in my chassis, front upper and lower a-arms and rear trailing arms. On my fourth season of good hard driving and it is holding up really well.

Good feedback - Thanks

I don't think paint or powdercoat is gonna hold up to the crawling stuff so paint would be easier maintenance.

Not that I am building a new car any time soon but I plan to PC the chassis clear. do a really good scotch brite rub after sand balsting - if necessary - and then PC.

I figure it's a lot tougher than paint and when I need - not if - to weld something I can touch it up with a can.

RC is a completely different atmosphere though

If you can get the part you are using the hammer tone on very hot before painting it gets hard as a rock. After welding small parts I spray them with the hammer tone while they are real hot and the paint gets very hard. It would be hard to do it on a frame but small parts it works great.
DON~~~

Just wait till the summer leave the chassis in the sun done. Lol im in phoenix gets toasty

I could use my custom chassis heater to cook the paint.

Click to view attachment

my first buggy was painted blue with black veined hammertone, until I decided on the powdercoat, like it so much that I never changed it. Tim

Love Rustoleum Hammerite Black & Silver. Easy to touch up, looks good, lasts OK. It's clearly not powdercoat durability, but it's also $40 in paint for a chassis.

Plus, the texture makes it not as obvious when you do touch it up/rattle can it.

Since you don't live in AZ that could work. The hammer tone works a lot better when the metal is hot before spraying.
DON~~~

How is your build comming? Do you have any new pictures?
DON~~~

Not since the last ones.

John is doing the Lexan body panels now. They look really cool. Some final welding then paint and motor and we ready to start testing. I'm thinking another month or so.

Post up some new pictures. I like to see different stuff and yours is verry different.
DON~~~

Have you thought about automotive paint? They sell the ready to spray stuff at most of the auto parts stores. Might last a little longer than rattle can and you could use an airbrush to touch it up.

I had really good luck with Rustoleum enamels and rolling it on with some Penetrol to even out the brush/roller marks on our Lemons car. Even survived some, err, incidental contact. I did zero prep work, just started rolling.

Some of my buddies have had AMAZING results with the stuff and a little bit of finishing effort. Since it ends up fairly thick, it should be pretty durable.

of all paints at least the hammertones i think are a little more durable..

and like you said... powder coat wont handle what you want to do either... so spray can it is...


i dont regret going with paint myself... yes ive already scratched it all over but im only about 1 buck away from a quick repair.... that eases the pain of a scratch better than anything!

hammertone paint will fade super quick and look like dog doodoo
Im gonna try VHT semi gloss black chassis/roll bar paint