Well, As I completed the body work on my 1980 MGB 5.0 V8, I began to search for a paint shop. After finding out that a "decent" paint job was over $5K, to equip myself and paint it at home was $2500 and that I was going to be laid off in January; I decided to dip my car.
If your not familiar with dipping, its a liquid wrap, if you will, that is sprayed on the car. Finish is usually matte or satin; although there are some crazy metalflake, pearl and chameleon colors coming out.
Advantages are:
Inexpensive: less than $500 for a complete set up including dip.
Easy to spray: Much more forgiving than paint and doesnt need a paint booth
Color changes: Once dipped the color can be changed in 1/2 day in the garage for about $125 or just peeled off when your tired of dip.
Dusadvantages:
Durability: It is not fuel resistant and less scratch resistant than paint. Only lasts about 3 years.
Finish: The finish is not glossy and can have a texture feel to it, although the newer dips, well applied are pretty smooth.
I had been driving my car in 2K black primer and I was getting a lot of compliments about its sinister look, so I went with a Anthracite Metallic Gray with some glossifier mixed in the last 2 coats to gibe it a satin finish. ow that I have begun dipping I really like the process. Some will like this and most probably wont; but i will document my progress for all those interested.
some of the pics are fuzzy. My phone sometimes doesnt take the best of pics.
Pic of the car in primer
(http://i1118.photobucket.com/albums/k618/Brownwood1/20141003_155045.jpg) (http://s1118.photobucket.com/user/Brownwood1/media/20141003_155045.jpg.html)
Sanding with 220 that will be followed by 400, 800 and 1000. The wheels have been painted a Graphite color.
(http://i1118.photobucket.com/albums/k618/Brownwood1/20141031_121706.jpg) (http://s1118.photobucket.com/user/Brownwood1/media/20141031_121706.jpg.html)
Underside dipped for practice:
(http://i1118.photobucket.com/albums/k618/Brownwood1/20141108_164059.jpg) (http://s1118.photobucket.com/user/Brownwood1/media/20141108_164059.jpg.html)
(http://i1118.photobucket.com/albums/k618/Brownwood1/20141108_164108.jpg) (http://s1118.photobucket.com/user/Brownwood1/media/20141108_164108.jpg.html)
Hood and trunk. I shot another coat of glossifier/anthracite mixed 5050 on the hood to get rid of very light tiger striping and got a big sag. The dip has now been peeled off to start over again. I found my bodywork lacking so I will get it fixed and re-dip.
(http://i1118.photobucket.com/albums/k618/Brownwood1/20141109_151247.jpg) (http://s1118.photobucket.com/user/Brownwood1/media/20141109_151247.jpg.html)
(http://i1118.photobucket.com/albums/k618/Brownwood1/20141109_160624.jpg) (http://s1118.photobucket.com/user/Brownwood1/media/20141109_160624.jpg.html)
(http://i1118.photobucket.com/albums/k618/Brownwood1/20141109_172058.jpg) (http://s1118.photobucket.com/user/Brownwood1/media/20141109_172058.jpg.html)
Door jambs and fron air dam in basecoat of gray
(http://i1118.photobucket.com/albums/k618/Brownwood1/20141113_134105.jpg) (http://s1118.photobucket.com/user/Brownwood1/media/20141113_134105.jpg.html)
(http://i1118.photobucket.com/albums/k618/Brownwood1/20141113_134229.jpg) (http://s1118.photobucket.com/user/Brownwood1/media/20141113_134229.jpg.html)
(http://i1118.photobucket.com/albums/k618/Brownwood1/20141113_135519.jpg) (http://s1118.photobucket.com/user/Brownwood1/media/20141113_135519.jpg.html)
I have finished the door jambs a front air dam in anthracite but no pics yet.
Door jambs, boot and front air dam finished last night (the weirdness around the boot latch is my shadow):
(http://i1118.photobucket.com/albums/k618/Brownwood1/20141114_090217.jpg) (http://s1118.photobucket.com/user/Brownwood1/media/20141114_090217.jpg.html)
(http://i1118.photobucket.com/albums/k618/Brownwood1/20141114_090320.jpg) (http://s1118.photobucket.com/user/Brownwood1/media/20141114_090320.jpg.html)
(http://i1118.photobucket.com/albums/k618/Brownwood1/20141114_090354.jpg) (http://s1118.photobucket.com/user/Brownwood1/media/20141114_090354.jpg.html)
I can see where that would be very useful, especially if you aren't finished with your body mods just yet. Wonder how a fresh application would blend with an older layer?
Jim
It looks great in the pics. I've seen a few plastic-dipped cars at shows and some are pretty impressive. Hadn't thought about repairability, can it be blended if needed?
It can be blended pretty easilly and once youv'e done your 1st dip a color change is just a few hours of work as you cna spray 3 or 4 dips over your 1st one before peeling. The one thing I have found is that there aren't any do overs. I peeled and re-dipped my hood because of some perceived striping in certain light. It came out perfect until the 2nd coat of the 50/50 clear/anthracite where I got a sag. There is quite a learning curve on spraying clear. haven't found a way to fix it since you cant just sand and respray.
I am really starting to like the look and new wild colors are coming out every day including some crazy color changing pearls. What I have realized though is that after several months of work, I still only have my MGBs body about 90% perfect. Even dip don't cover that! :).
I am starting to look at this as a part time business so the MGB V8 may become my mule for testing and learning the craft. Kind of an expensive mule....
If you have any interest in this, check out this video of a dipped color changing Porsche. The finished product starts at about 2:20 on the video. Crazy!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFrpJ1IYGH0&list=UUsqsjtd902RLo8peD11olPw
This is the way I am going to do my car. I love this idea, Low cost, changablity, and gives you an idea of paint colors and look of your car. I am like you, I want a good paint job but it will take years to save the money for the paint job I want, and when you talk about how much it cost I want to make sure I love the color. I recently used it do the wheels on my wifes jeep, and was really easy and only cost about 10.00 for four tires, not to metion totaly reversable. Just to give her car a different look. So many ideas and so many possibilities.
jeepwheel2.jpg
Im with you Nick. This started out as a cheap way to "finish" my car as I was out of money but now its gotten kind of addictive. New colors seem to come out daily.
So many dip colors so few cars.
FYI, I am having trouble spraying the gloss/anthracite mix. I love the richness of the satin color but out of 3 panels I have sprayed, only 1 has been perfect with no sags and these panels have been laying horizontal when i dipped them. My dips have been perfect until I spray the gloss/base mix, then i get into trouble. The gloss is runny stuff, thinner than most clear coats. My suggestion is to stick with the matte until you get good.
OK her is the finished dip, Satin metallic anthracite. The dip came out almost perfect but as you can see, my body work is far from perfect. Hopefully I can use my bonus in the spring to have her professionally straightened out before my spring dip color, Sazuka Blue.
Inside the garage
(http://i1118.photobucket.com/albums/k618/Brownwood1/20141130_151742.jpg) (http://s1118.photobucket.com/user/Brownwood1/media/20141130_151742.jpg.html)
(http://i1118.photobucket.com/albums/k618/Brownwood1/20141130_151804.jpg) (http://s1118.photobucket.com/user/Brownwood1/media/20141130_151804.jpg.html)
(http://i1118.photobucket.com/albums/k618/Brownwood1/20141130_151820.jpg) (http://s1118.photobucket.com/user/Brownwood1/media/20141130_151820.jpg.html)
Outside in the sun
(http://i1118.photobucket.com/albums/k618/Brownwood1/20141130_152443.jpg) (http://s1118.photobucket.com/user/Brownwood1/media/20141130_152443.jpg.html)
(http://i1118.photobucket.com/albums/k618/Brownwood1/20141130_152453.jpg) (http://s1118.photobucket.com/user/Brownwood1/media/20141130_152453.jpg.html)
(http://i1118.photobucket.com/albums/k618/Brownwood1/20141130_152510.jpg) (http://s1118.photobucket.com/user/Brownwood1/media/20141130_152510.jpg.html)
(http://i1118.photobucket.com/albums/k618/Brownwood1/20141130_152521.jpg) (http://s1118.photobucket.com/user/Brownwood1/media/20141130_152521.jpg.html)
Added some stripes:
(http://i1118.photobucket.com/albums/k618/Brownwood1/20141213_103137.jpg) (http://s1118.photobucket.com/user/Brownwood1/media/20141213_103137.jpg.html)
(http://i1118.photobucket.com/albums/k618/Brownwood1/20141210_105015.jpg) (http://s1118.photobucket.com/user/Brownwood1/media/20141210_105015.jpg.html)
(http://i1118.photobucket.com/albums/k618/Brownwood1/20141209_170116.jpg) (http://s1118.photobucket.com/user/Brownwood1/media/20141209_170116.jpg.html)
I don't get it,,, if you are planning to paint your car with normal automotive paints, you would have to remove all the rubberized substrate, if it only lasts 3 years what actually happens to the stuff as it ages ? this seems more like something you would put on lawn furniture,,, please advise.
Dave
The stripes do set it off nicely and the matte finish looks good. It will be interesting to see how it weathers.
Jim
I will probably never paint a car again with base coat clear coat. Its just too expensive and with all of the cool color changing pearls coming out in dip, I cant see going back to $5000 to $10000 dollar paint jobs when I can change my car color every 3 months for a hundred bucks or so.
As Jim noted, durability is an issue with dip. It only lasts a couple of years with good care. Most guys change their car color like they change their undies so who cares about durability! :)
I am going to get the bodywork professionally finished and then dip her again in Sazuka blue pearl this spring, then maybe burnt copper for the summer and then....
Keith, You like,I like. Like Jim stated the red stripes make it. I have done some DIP on some formed plastic panels I have placed in front of the radiator and the slam panel. I will be doing some of the carbon fiber look-a-like soon.
charles
panelsoffcar.jpg
panels after dip
panelsbeforeDip.jpg
panels before dip on car
panelsoncar.jpg
panels after dip on car
Here are some pics of the dipped wheels. I used a red basecoat, 4 coats followed by 3 coats of a copper metalizer. I was looking for the color of a new penny and got pretty close.
Finished wheel
(http://i1118.photobucket.com/albums/k618/Brownwood1/20150106_154259.jpg) (http://s1118.photobucket.com/user/Brownwood1/media/20150106_154259.jpg.html)
In the sun, it looks less red in person
(http://i1118.photobucket.com/albums/k618/Brownwood1/20150106_160341.jpg) (http://s1118.photobucket.com/user/Brownwood1/media/20150106_160341.jpg.html)
On the car
(http://i1118.photobucket.com/albums/k618/Brownwood1/20150106_191647.jpg) (http://s1118.photobucket.com/user/Brownwood1/media/20150106_191647.jpg.html)
(http://i1118.photobucket.com/albums/k618/Brownwood1/20150106_191710.jpg) (http://s1118.photobucket.com/user/Brownwood1/media/20150106_191710.jpg.html)
I take it the dip strips off the wheels with no trouble?
Jim
Yes, it just peels off if applied correctly. I peeled my hood twice as I was learning to spray the stuff. You can also do 2 to 3 color changes before you need to peel.
It primarily appeals to the 18 to 35 crowd because its fairly inexpensive. Some view it as an accessory of sorts, like a mobile device cover, something ti be changed often. I believe it will be the next big thing in exterior automotive treatments. I've seen the colors and interest explode in the 3 months Iv'e been fooling with it. The President of Dipyourcar is a genius at social media and youtube marketing.
Probably more info than you were looking for. :)
Yeah. I meant to say "tires". :-)
Jim