Ok, I am at a point in my build that I'm ready to paint this thing... What's the best way? I ask because I just attempted to primer my frame and chassis and it took 2 quarts of primer (all I thought I needed) and I barely got the chassis done. I haven't even touched the frame or floor yet... Now, I'm not completely new at painting, and I've painted a few trail vehicles (not show cars to say the least), but I know I must be doing something wrong. I have a bottom-cup gun with the air set at about 50psi. Should I just roll and brush the paint on and "let it go" or spray bomb it? What have you done???

i rolled on Rustoleum enamel paint. it looks like powder coating and is pretty sturdy. i mixed 50/50 black and grey because i think black looks cheap and crappy and the grey was too bright. i think it came out nicely and looks good. just get a 2" wide roller and go to town

See, that was what I was thinking... I painted my last rig with some "Industrial Anti-Rust Metal Paint" from Lowes, and get this.. they paint-matched it to the factory color all for about $10. And it was tough too... I laid my truck against many trees and that shit didn't scratch at all....

Actually, here's a pic of the Lowes paint on my 87...
http://a.imageshack.us/img504/3823/4edb3ug6.jpg

that stuff may be better then. mine has scratched off but it is from rocks

Up until last week I would have never believed a rolled paint job would look good. Man was I wrong... We used rustoleum hammered paint, it looks great and has a powder coat look. Also rolling you can apply it pretty thick too. It's a lot "cleaner" with no over spray.

Yup, I guess that's what i'll do. Thanks guys...

I used to be a "rattle can" guy, but painting my toterhome with industrial enamel and a roller made me a believer.

I think I used ~20+ea cans of primer and black paint to rattle can my FToy. I like spacecowboy's idea of mixing your own...most decent paint shops can also retint your industrial enamel for you...or add some pearl or metalflake! :evil:

are you going to a car show? screw primer? its a buggy. once you get rock rash on it, your primer will show thru and you will have 2 colors showing all over you buggy. also, the ftoys look best if you paint the frame and chassis one color, a dark gray or black, then use panels with color on them to fill out the look you want. its a huge huge pain in the butt to change the color of tube after you decide you dont like it. and you will need to be touching it up all the time, so a little rattle can of black over those scratches and you are look great.

of course this is assuming you are going to wheel it hard at the hammers :) if its a east coast show pony, nevermind:flipoff2:

I used spray can black on the frame, and enamel through a spray gun (top cup/hvlp) for the chassis. Used about 2 quarts (3 quarts mixed with hardener/reducer). It looked good,and has held up pretty well, but is gonna be a pain in the ass to touch up after this season of rock-rash.

also, the ftoys look best if you paint the frame and chassis one color, a dark gray or black, then use panels with color on them to fill out the look you want.

That's the plan. I actually picked up Rustoleum Smoke Grey (just a shade darker than plain-ass grey), and I plan to do everything that's welded together one color. The chassis, frame, floor, mounts, everything. I figure blue or something for the panels...

I would powder coat but then I have a buddy that owns a powder coat shop....

Hobie-East Coast show pony? :flipoff2: You goin to the nationals? Maybe we can show you how well an east coast rig will work on ya'lls "sidewalk concrete" courses.:D

of course this is assuming you are going to wheel it hard at the hammers :) if its a east coast show pony, nevermind:flipoff2:

....you don't need primer @ the hammers where it almost never rains!!

I would powder coat but then I have a buddy that owns a powder coat shop....

Hobie-East Coast show pony? :flipoff2: You goin to the nationals? Maybe we can show you how well an east coast rig will work on ya'lls "sidewalk concrete" courses.:D

:laughing::laughing::laughing::flipoff2: