Special Paint...

[RitchieTheBrit]

Okay guys, I've hit a brick wall with my cab.

I'm busy sanding it at the moment, and I really need to work out what finish to use!  The most vunerable parts are going to be finished with some neat aluminium trim, with a chequered footplate, and t-moulding around the screen area!   

My problem is, I want something with a really hard finish, and it's a little late to be laminating.  What I was thinking of was a paint that I saw a long time ago, normally used on walls, real heavy duty stuff.  The wall was primed, then a base coat either sprayed are brushed on, and on top of that a kind of fleck pattern was made using a spray canister with a special nozzle.

Does anybody know what this paint is, and availabilty in the UK?  I've asked around the DIY shops, but I normally just get a blank stare from spotty 17yr old ASSistants!   

Thanks guys!

[Stingray]

Is this the type of finish you're talking about? If so it's called spatter paint and you can buy it at most auto parts supply places.

Edit: although it's entirely possible that it's called something else in the UK.

-S

[NoOne=NBA=]

That's how I sprayed the kickplate of my cab.

It's a "stone" paint, that is supposed to simulate granite/sandstone/etc...

You spray the base coat with a compatible color (I used flat black), then spray the speckle paint, then put a few coats of clear over the top to anchor the speckles.

If you don't use the clear over the top, the speckles will rub off, as they are lightly adhered to the carrier paint that comes out of the can with them.

I used American Accents Stone Creations paint.
Specifically, I used the black granite color.

Here is a link to a paint ideas site that shows the different colors available.

[gw71mgb]

I bought a couple of cans of "Spatter Paint" made by Krylon from Happ Controls.  It comes in several different colors.  As stated above, it's generally used for automobile trunks (or, in the UK, the boot.)

Haven't tried it yet. 

-gary

[rdagger]

If you want tough you could get a spray on bedliner kit for trucks.  That would be a cool finish.  Probably not worth the expense unless you also have a truck that you wanted to spray too.

[hatrick]

Check out Hammerite "Hammered Finish" paint too. It creates a nice Hammered (very slightly textured) finish and is pretty strong stuff. I painted my custom built Jeep bumpers with it, and my foosball table.

[DrewKaree]

*edit*
hatrick beat me to it!  I'd have thought I was the only person on this board that had EVER heard of the stuff, since it DEFINITELY ain't cheap!

Indeed I can offer a suggestion!

The stuff is similar to the Rust-Oleum hammered finish, but this stuff is used on lots of tools (think big table saws/drill presses/shaper tables etc).  I know it sounds like it's made for metal, but I've used it on wood, MDF, and LAMINATE!

The stuff is called "Hammerite", and seems to me to be a cross between epoxy and paint, and is tough as friggen nails.  It's a two-part paint, IIRC, and you'd better make sure you like the color, because I haven't figured out a way to strip it short of a hammer and a cold chisel

Offhand, though, I dunno if they have a distributor in the U.K. but if they do, after you've "experienced" it, I guarantee you'll find other uses for it.

I'm not positive, but it appears as if Grizzly Tool Manufacturing uses the stuff on all of their tools.

[clanggedin]

I use Rustoleum's Hammered paint on my coin doors. It gives them a great texture and they look as good as new.

I thought about doing a cab with either a hammered finish or the "rock" type texture that can be applied.

[RitchieTheBrit]

Thanks for the suggestions, dudes.

We do indeed have Hammerite in the UK, in fact they're bloody huge! (Yaaboo sucks to you Drew!  )

I was thinking about this a while back, and I might do a few test paints on some old MDF.  I'm going for a real grungy industrial feel for my cab anyway, and I think a touch of this may look real neat!

Now, what paint will I use to make rust patches... 

[NoOne=NBA=]

How about Spray Rust?

They make THAT too.