Refinishing a ProVari

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pennysmalls

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Has anyone done this? There are two ProVari's up for sale in the classifieds that have either lots of scratches or lots of wear and tear on the finish. I'm thinking they probably work just fine so it's just the finish that's preventing them from selling. Can these be refinished? Would sanding do or would it have to be more like a sandblasting procedure? Those ProVari's in the classies only need a make-over, there's got to be way. Right?
 

pennysmalls

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I don't know but someone completely polished the one I bought there. It used to be a black mini and now it's just shiny.

I like shiny ProVari's. I just ordered a satin mini, due to arrive today, but really wanted another polished. And of course they are sold out. I keep looking at my polished wondering if there would be a way to add some brass accents. I would really dig the polished with brass.
 

Spoons

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Spoons, your Provari is the one that had me wondering. If there were a way to refinish it, it could be "good as new" if it's still in good working order.

It is in perfect working order.. We just don't use it anymore.
Looking closely at the wear, it almost looks like a primer color underneath of the blue. Not sure it that is some type of a base coat or the actual metal.
 

mackman

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What about having it wrapped

If they can be stripped down to a bare shell they would come up great after a powdercoat or you coukd plastidip them

Someone posted that they did the plastidip to a Provari or other tube mod and it was a disaster. A friend of mine has a body shop and wants to do one in a pearlescent white. He thinks an automotive polyurethane enamel will hold up to wear and tear just fine.
 

The Ocelot

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There are some that show up sometimes, but it's rare. I have no idea how they do it. The ones I'm thinking of were all done by the same fellow I believe.

ETA: The pictures are too large to post, but heres one: http://vapeporn.com/wp-content/uploads/20130412_134301-800x600.jpg

I have also seen pictures of a green one and a blue one.

I've often wondered if you bought a ProVari and asked ProVape if they would send you just the casing, which you could have coated and then sent back for assembly, if they would go for it.
 
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EvilZoe

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There are some that show up sometimes, but it's rare. I have no idea how they do it. The ones I'm thinking of were all done by the same fellow I believe.

ETA: The pictures are too large to post, but heres one: http://vapeporn.com/wp-content/uploads/20130412_134301-800x600.jpg

I have also seen pictures of a green one and a blue one.

I've often wondered if you bought a ProVari and asked ProVape if they would send you just the casing, which you could have coated and then sent back for assembly, if they would go for it.

Oh, that RED is BEAUTIFUL!!

I love that!!!!

I bet automobile paint would look lovely. I really should stop thinking right now...lol
 

The Ocelot

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Oh, that RED is BEAUTIFUL!!

I love that!!!!

I bet automobile paint would look lovely. I really should stop thinking right now...lol

The blue one had me drooling, but I can't seem to find a picture of it. If I do I will post it. Sir Sloth took his apart to paint it, I wonder if he took all of the electronics out, which would allow for it to be sent somewhere for refinishing?

ETA: I think this is the same blue one, but the picture I recall had different lighting so the color was slight different.

WP_000604.jpg
 
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glassgal

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There are some that show up sometimes, but it's rare. I have no idea how they do it. The ones I'm thinking of were all done by the same fellow I believe.

ETA: The pictures are too large to post, but heres one: http://vapeporn.com/wp-content/uploads/20130412_134301-800x600.jpg

I have also seen pictures of a green one and a blue one.

I've often wondered if you bought a ProVari and asked ProVape if they would send you just the casing, which you could have coated and then sent back for assembly, if they would go for it.

That's a great idea! I wonder...

When I ordered my silver one, it was because they didn't have the Chrome, so I figure I could just hit it on my grinding wheel at a 600 grit and it would polish right up. When I GOT it, I liked it as it was, and also realized that I'd be WET grinding, and it's full of electronics... that I had no idea how to take out, nor would I want to. Why do that to a brand new unit?

But if you could buy just the tube from ProVape and paint it/polish it etc, then sent it back for assembly, that would be the best of all worlds. Not me, I'm fine with 2 Provari and don't need a 3rd anytime soon, but what a great idea if I did:)!
 

Thrasher

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here is one I media blasted for a nice satin finish, doesnt really scratch easy and easier to hold with wet or slippery hands. this is my beater and had it for over a year now.
PA300071.jpg

here is one I got off the classies cheap it is currently heading toward a brushed SS finish when i have time (more like when i finally quit being lazy)

PA300072.jpg


you have to take something like a long screwdriver and carefully insert it into the body till it reaches the head and tap it with a hammer. moving the screw driver to a couple different places. slowly you will see the head start to come out when it does you have to go slow as the board is wired to the head. once out the button will just fall out of the hole, then unscrew the window and ready to do what you want.

reassembly is easy as well, put the window back in, drop the button in the hole, slide the board back in to place (there is grooves on the inside of the tube) add a few drops of hot glue to the top edge of the board (to keep it from moving around after assembly) set it on the table and take a hammer or something solid and tap the head back it.

As you can see there really isnt anything to damage on the underside of the head as it is just a solid almost 1/2 in thick chunk of stainless,
PA300073.jpg
the only thing to watch out for is making sure you dont scrape the rod,screwdriver, whatever across the curcuit board when you stick it in.
 
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newbego

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Someone posted that they did the plastidip to a Provari or other tube mod and it was a disaster. A friend of mine has a body shop and wants to do one in a pearlescent white. He thinks an automotive polyurethane enamel will hold up to wear and tear just fine.

Why what went wrong ? Its used on alloy wheels that get up to high temps and getting serious abuse from stones and tar hitting off it and it holds up fine

Powdercoating is probably the best durable finish for it , a wrap is probably the cheapest

Theres a good business idea for someone they should set up a provari refurbishment service
 
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