The RFD Guide to Inexpensive Paint Jobs

"RightFootDown" (rightfootdown) 10/16/2014 at 15:18 • Filed to: None

1

10

Silver cars aren't all that interesting. Our !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! is silver and I can say that when I look back over my shoulder at it, there's just something "blah" about the color. It's one of the most popular colors in the U.S., and has been for years. Then again, the Toyota Corolla is one of the best selling cars in the U.S., so volume isn't necessarily an indicator is it? Sorry, I'm getting sidetracked. Anyone can pay several grand for a paint job, but that's expensive and what if you hate it? Today we are exploring the less expensive options that you can do to your car's exterior if you think it needs a little sprucing up.

Read the Original Article Here (opens in new window)

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

Plasti-Dip

One of the cheapest and easiest options. Buy some cans (or a big bucket) of !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! and spray whatever part you want to have changed. You can do crazy colors and it just peels off when you are tired of it. Of course, it can just peel off on its own too, so you have to look after it.

Image Credit: !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

Vinyl Wrap

Similar in cost and accessibility (if you have the patience to try to do it yourself) wrapping your car can be an interesting way to change the look. Having a custom job done can cost a couple grand. However, if you buy a big roll of vinyl and are handy with an exacto knife and a heat gun, it can be really cheap. Do you own a 911? Are you a big Miami Heat fan but tire of not getting noticed on South Beach? Want to tell everyone about how big a fan you are but worried that one of your favorite players will get traded? Wrap it! It doesn't get much classier.

Read the Original Article Here (opens in new window)

Image Credit: !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

Rattle Can

p next, an old favorite. Rustoleum, Krylon, it comes from various brands but always in the same format, a spray paint can with a ping pong ball in it. Shake it up, spray it on, done. Well, there is spray on primer, prep, etc. and it can look awful. But it can also look pretty cool.

Image Credit: !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

Sharpie

nd now for something completely different. If you own a bland, light colored car and want to radically change the look, give your Wife a sharpie. Wives love sharpies. One Skyline GT-R owner stationed in Japan let his Wife go to town on his baby with a sharpie and it's a pretty dramatic change.

Read the Original Article Here (opens in new window)

Images Credit: !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

This may win the "cheapest, most unique, but most time consuming" option on our list. It's quite striking, click !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! to see more pics and words about this endeavor. What is your favorite option on the list? Actually taken the time to use any of these techniques? Drop us a comment below and show off your work.

//Follow Will on Twitter @WilliamByrdUSA

MonkeePuzzle > RightFootDown 10/16/2014 at 15:21

2

you totally skipped right over engraving...

Takuro Spirit > RightFootDown 10/16/2014 at 15:34

4

You left one out.

BED LINER

Lets say you lift your car/truck/Power Wheels and ALSO do some rust repair and want to seal in the repair and protect the part of your vehicle that scrapes against legs all the time... well, there's always roll on or spray on bed liner!

Or my other favorite alternative from back in the day: MUD

Or, a combination of both.

William Byrd > MonkeePuzzle 10/16/2014 at 15:34

0

lol, that's a thing?

MonkeePuzzle > William Byrd 10/16/2014 at 15:35

0

http://jalopnik.com/this-hand-engr…

Sir_Stig: and toxic masculinity ruins the party again. > RightFootDown 10/16/2014 at 15:49

0

Shoulda gotten the blue, man.

NaturallyAspirated > RightFootDown 10/16/2014 at 16:36

1

I really like Rustoleum Hammered Finish black rattle cans for automotive use. I wouldn't want to paint my whole car with it, but for touch ups and small areas it's great. I used it pretty extensively on my XJ. In the picture, I've used the Hammered Black on the bumpers, light bar, rocker panels, rocker guards, and wheel arches, and Hammered Silver on the Y-link arms.

The trick is that the hammered finish is designed to dry with a sort of mottled, shot-peened appearance, instead of a smooth glossy one. This makes it incredibly easy for spray paint noobs to use. It also means you can spray over corrosion pits, etc, and the paint's finish will hide the damage.

Best of all, if you knock a chip out of it, you can hit the chip with the paint again with no prep and you won't be able to tell the difference.

William Byrd > Takuro Spirit 10/17/2014 at 07:12

0

You can't argue with the protective properties of spray on bed liner.

William Byrd > NaturallyAspirated 10/17/2014 at 07:13

0

Noob-proof options are the best. I've been considering plasti-dip for my wheels, but I'm afraid I'll F-it up.

William Byrd > Sir_Stig: and toxic masculinity ruins the party again. 10/17/2014 at 07:13

1

Quiet you. :)

NaturallyAspirated > William Byrd 10/17/2014 at 11:57

0

I've tried Plasti-dip and I was really disappointed with how it turned out. If your wheels are really bad like mine were, if you're careful you can hardly help improving how the car looks using regular spray paint :).

http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/did-some-paint…