Paint for DPV

[Comm]

I have an older Cuda DPV that has lived a life. The paint is flaking off in places (particularly at the nose) and so I figured that I should repaint it to protect against corrosion. I was planning on sanding off the flaking bits, and wanted to know if anyone had any experience with this? Any idea on what type of paint I should use? thanks!

 

[happy-diver]

You can use anti corrosion paint to clean up its appearance like a steel gate or with two pack like you paint a car

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

What is the DPV made out of? Aluminum, plastic, fiberglass?
And if you know what type of finish was used on it before, the brand of paint or if it is possibly powder coat?
If you could research it a little it would be a great help. maybe call the manufacturer and glean some info. A new paint job is only as good as what you put it over.

I have many years in auto body refinishing - industrial refinishing, and I had a marine repair business for several years too involving all sorts of refinishing.

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

Can you post a few pics?

 

[rjack321]

I have an older Cuda DPV that has lived a life. The paint is flaking off in places (particularly at the nose) and so I figured that I should repaint it to protect against corrosion. I was planning on sanding off the flaking bits, and wanted to know if anyone had any experience with this? Any idea on what type of paint I should use? thanks!

Sandblast the hole thing with glass beads or ali oxide. Then your best bet is to leave it bare. The paint (like on an Al80) does nothing to prevent corrosion and actually makes it worse in most cases. Although bare ali tends to be pretty ugly.

 

[rjack321]

What is the DPV made out of? Aluminum, plastic, fiberglass?
And if you know what type of finish was used on it before, the brand of paint or if it is possibly powder coat?
If you could research it a little it would be a great help. maybe call the manufacturer and glean some info. A new paint job is only as good as what you put it over.

I have many years in auto body refinishing - industrial refinishing, and I had a marine repair business for several years too involving all sorts of refinishing.

The Cuda is 6000 series aluminum with a variety of SS fasteners in it.

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

The Cuda is 6000 series aluminum with a variety of SS fasteners in it.

I don't know for sure without looking at it, but I'll bet they powder coated them out of the factory.
It's quicker and cheaper than properly painting and it has good abrasion resistance and reasonable impact resistance but powder coat is not ideal on aluminum that's destined to be soaked in salt water or moderate immersion service because it has a tendency to allow corrosion to creep under the film and cause blisters.
I second the comment about stripping off all the coating and leaving it bare to breathe. Even polish it if you have time.
If not that then bead blast off all the paint or abrade removal of the powdercoat since it's too rubbery to effectively sand blast, then epoxy primer (real epoxy-DTM-two part, there are some faux ones out there they call epoxy but aren't really. They mimic epoxy but the molecular structure is nowhere close to real epoxy), and then two part polyurethane topcoat (color of your choice).
Let me know if you want recommendation on brand.

 

[rjack321]

Yep out of the factory they are powered coated

Shiny polished like a P51 is actually pretty nice although the aluminum tends to have some pits in it by the time someone decides to refurbish

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

Those can be blasted out and filled with JB weld (which is a true epoxy) and finished off like bondo, then prime the whole thing with Awl Grip 545 epoxy primer (three coats) then prep sand with 320 and shoot on the top color coat (Awl Grip Polyurethane).
And that's about as good as it gets.