Repainting a Reo

[davewuvswaffles]

Ok so I've removed all the exterior paint from my Mini and am still debating whether I polish it up and leave it naked or refinish it with some paint and stencil work.

If I do paint it, what type of paint would you guys use? Automotive?

Also, does anyone have any idea how I could make the final coat matte? I was thinking an orange/white base coat for the logo and a matte black finish.

 

[Vapolith]

I would guess automotive paint would work fine, but I'm no expert. Hope you get some answers.

 

[FeistyAlice]

Not sure here either but I do know one thing because I got it straight from the Master after inquiring about him doing a baked on finish, his doing it, Clear Coat on two of my pristine tumbleds. He said the magnets and pressed in atty fitting would have to be removed or they would be ruined by his oven. So best to consult Robert if you are going to be baking the finish.

 

[Filthy-Beast]

With all the steel and aluminum after market stuff I put on my jeeps I have to paint a lot of it and often repaint it after scraping through rocks and stuff. Prep is the key. fully sanded, ketone to remove oils, self etching primer if bare metal, Then rustolium or Krylon. a Semi - gloss textured or hammered might look good.

 

[MDV39]

wonder if plasti dip would work? I am waiting to find a cheap reo in the classies to try it out

 

[Rhapsodies Fire]

wonder if plasti dip would work? I am waiting to find a cheap reo in the classies to try it out

Someone else tried that recently....too sticky. Picks up all manner of hair and dirt. I wouldn't recommend it. If I can find the post, I'll link it here.

 

[Crash Moses]

Quote Originally Posted by MDV39 View Post
wonder if plasti dip would work? I am waiting to find a cheap reo in the classies to try it out

Originally posted by Rhapsodies Fire:
Someone else tried that recently....too sticky. Picks up all manner of hair and dirt. I wouldn't recommend it. If I can find the post, I'll link it here.

That would be me...and, no, it didn't work out very well. It held up good for about a week and then the corners started to go and then around the door (gave it a pretty cool look though). Not that it couldn't be done but I think one would have to put more than the five coats I laid on (and maybe use some etching primer).

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/reos-mods/461156-my-olive-drab-reo-sgt-stryker.html

If I had to do it again I would've gone with some good automotive paint, etching primer, and a good automotive clear coat.

Polishing it makes for a beautiful Reo if you don't mind all the scratches and fingerprints. You could always keep it raw and use nail polish to decorate (props to pdib for that).

Also, J-wraps makes some Reo wraps for the grand. Probably wouldn't be too hard to trim them to fit the mini.

But whatever you do...don't glue military emblems to the front. That's my schtick...

 

[Racehorse]

If you can't do stuff yourself, it helps to have useful neighbors.
(wait til he steps underneath at about 0:19)


Don't mind giving the Street Performance guys a shout out here, but also brings me to say this:

I read and chuckle sometimes when some folks say REOs are pricey, they haven't been around any tradesmen or anybody that makes stuff with their hands.....or they would understand the amazing VALUE they are getting when they buy a REO. It's okay, I forgive them.

(in the meantime I dunno what it is with me and gearheads. My hometown is where the guys at East Coast Chopper are.....stopped in there last month...no matter where I go I'm in close proximity to gearheads. And I'm not one myself )

 

[davewuvswaffles]

I would guess automotive paint would work fine, but I'm no expert. Hope you get some answers.

I found some touch-up paint I used on my Civic recently and will give it a try soon. I'll just do a little section to see how the finish and evenness come out and report back.

Not sure here either but I do know one thing because I got it straight from the Master after inquiring about him doing a baked on finish, his doing it, Clear Coat on two of my pristine tumbleds. He said the magnets and pressed in atty fitting would have to be removed or they would be ruined by his oven. So best to consult Robert if you are going to be baking the finish.

Thanks for the heads up, I don't think I'll be using anything that will require it to be baked like a powder-coat finish but if I do I'll make sure to grab some extra magnets.

With all the steel and aluminum after market stuff I put on my jeeps I have to paint a lot of it and often repaint it after scraping through rocks and stuff. Prep is the key. fully sanded, ketone to remove oils, self etching primer if bare metal, Then rustolium or Krylon. a Semi - gloss textured or hammered might look good.

Definitely, I'll probably doing a real thorough sanding regardless of the direction I end up taking. I hadn't thought about Rustolium/Krylon, it definitely would be easier to get an even coat and there should be a wide selection to choose from.

wonder if plasti dip would work? I am waiting to find a cheap reo in the classies to try it out

Someone else tried that recently....too sticky. Picks up all manner of hair and dirt. I wouldn't recommend it. If I can find the post, I'll link it here.

That would be me...and, no, it didn't work out very well. It held up good for about a week and then the corners started to go and then around the door (gave it a pretty cool look though). Not that it couldn't be done but I think one would have to put more than the five coats I laid on (and maybe use some etching primer).

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/reos-mods/461156-my-olive-drab-reo-sgt-stryker.html

If I had to do it again I would've gone with some good automotive paint, etching primer, and a good automotive clear coat.

Polishing it makes for a beautiful Reo if you don't mind all the scratches and fingerprints. You could always keep it raw and use nail polish to decorate (props to pdib for that).

Also, J-wraps makes some Reo wraps for the grand. Probably wouldn't be too hard to trim them to fit the mini.

But whatever you do...don't glue military emblems to the front. That's my schtick...

Ah that's too bad about the Plasti-dip, it sure would be rugged and easy to re-do if it stayed on a bit better.

I've been looking more into aluminum polishing and might try it out first and see how I like it. Even if I do end up painting it, the majority of the work will be out of the way and it might open up some nice options for stencil work.

This seems like an easy guide and would probably only set me back a few bucks.

If you can't do stuff yourself, it helps to have useful neighbors.
(wait til he steps underneath at about 0:19)


Don't mind giving the Street Performance guys a shout out here, but also brings me to say this:

I read and chuckle sometimes when some folks say REOs are pricey, they haven't been around any tradesmen or anybody that makes stuff with their hands.....or they would understand the amazing VALUE they are getting when they buy a REO. It's okay, I forgive them.

(in the meantime I dunno what it is with me and gearheads. My hometown is where the guys at East Coast Chopper are.....stopped in there last month...no matter where I go I'm in close proximity to gearheads. And I'm not one myself )

Great now I'm thinking about how hard it'd be to chrome my Reo

Awesome video though, hanging out with them must be pretty cool though. Their passion is really enviable and the stuff they come up with is amazing. If I hadn't gotten into computers and electronics, I would like to imagine I'd have ended up being a mechanic enthusiast.

 

[davewuvswaffles]

Ok so I picked up some sandpaper yesterday and got to work today.

Using 320, 1200, and 2000 grit I got this much done in an hour or two of wet sanding. I'm debating whether I put it through a few more runs or if I should just use a polish and see how that turns out.

The inside still needs a lot of work, but I don't think I'll be trying too hard to finish that as well as the exterior.

It feels completely different in hand now compared to when I first got it in mint condition. The sanded aluminum almost feels like a space-age metal and the smoothness around the edges almost feels organic.

Loving it right now, hopefully a nice polish will really make this shine.

 

[supertrunker]

i polished my raw grand with nothing more than a soft cloth and some Mother's aluminium paste. One of Karen's covers keeps it looking shiny and my greasy pawprints off it.
My battered black grand got a j-wrap so it didn't feel neglected.

I have toyed with the idea of a clear coat of something for the polished one, but idleness has prevailed.

T

 

[Crash Moses]

Ok so I picked up some sandpaper yesterday and got to work today.

Using 320, 1200, and 2000 grit I got this much done in an hour or two of wet sanding. I'm debating whether I put it through a few more runs or if I should just use a polish and see how that turns out.

The inside still needs a lot of work, but I don't think I'll be trying too hard to finish that as well as the exterior.

It feels completely different in hand now compared to when I first got it in mint condition. The sanded aluminum almost feels like a space-age metal and the smoothness around the edges almost feels organic.

Loving it right now, hopefully a nice polish will really make this shine.

Now get some Never Dull or similar ta finish it off! It'll be as close to being a mirror without actually being a mirror. I use mine to trim my nose hairs...

 

[pdib]

I use mine to trim my nose hairs...

thank you, CM, eversomuch, for sharing!

 

[Crash Moses]

thank you, CM, eversomuch, for sharing!

Oh sure...and neither you nor that damned silly ape have ever crossed boundaries in polite company with all yer peein' and poopin'...harrumph!

















(to be sure the pee does bring out the shine a bit more than the poo)


(I've borrowed your literary device.)


(Hope you don't mind.)

 

[davewuvswaffles]

i polished my raw grand with nothing more than a soft cloth and some Mother's aluminium paste. One of Karen's covers keeps it looking shiny and my greasy pawprints off it.
My battered black grand got a j-wrap so it didn't feel neglected.

I have toyed with the idea of a clear coat of something for the polished one, but idleness has prevailed.

T

I might have to give the clear coat idea a shot, it's already collecting fingerprints. I can't imagine how much more it'd pick up after being polished.

Now get some Never Dull or similar ta finish it off! It'll be as close to being a mirror without actually being a mirror. I use mine to trim my nose hairs...

Haha looks like it'll have some extra utility then