Painting a car with liquid rubber
Content
Many car owners dream of standing out from the background of others by changing the color of their iron horse. In most cases, a complete repainting of the car will cost a round sum, and it will also require registration with the traffic police. The application of a special coating on its body or individual parts - liquid rubber, which, in addition to a great stylistic solution, will protect the car from many harmful factors, can help to radically change the appearance of the car.
What type of paint is this
Liquid rubber (rubber paint, liquid vinyl, plastidip) is a special type of rubber-based coating that is resistant to shock, moisture, UV, and significant temperature changes.
In fact, liquid rubber is a seamless waterproofing for application to various surfaces.
The main components of plastidip are bitumen and water, chemically brought to a state of a homogeneous liquid consistency.
The main advantage of this coating is the possibility of its application without streaks on any surface, including uneven, horizontal or vertical.
Advantages of liquid paint:
- does not depend on the ambient temperature, including when in the sun;
- not damaged by active chemicals, including brake fluids, coolants, oils, fuels or car chemicals;
- protects body parts from minor damage due to the ingress of pebbles and other solid substances on the coating;
- protects the body from corrosion;
- if necessary, such a coating can be easily removed.
Types of liquid rubber
Rubber paint can be classified according to different criteria.
The main gradations of liquid rubber:
- according to the form of release (aerosol or cans of paint);
- by manufacturer (the best quality products from the following manufacturers - Plasta Dip, Rubber Dip, Arizona, Mibenco, Rubber paint, Kudo, Runway);
- by colors (standard, chameleon, camouflage, mother-of-pearl);
- by type of coating (transparent, matte, glossy, metallic, fluorescent, tinted).
Matte finish
Matte rubber paint will radically change the look of the car, adding to its elegance and in many cases aggressiveness. The car will catch the eye from afar, emphasizing the taste of the owner and his ambition.
With the help of matte liquid rubber, you can significantly change the appearance without making changes to the TCP in the traffic police, for example, by simply repainting the entire body in a matte shade of the original color, or by focusing on an area of no more than 40%.
Gloss
Mostly colored liquid rubber paints are matte, then transparent liquid rubber or a special varnish is used to give them shine, which is harder to remove than transparent rubber.
Gloss is preferable to use when painting a car in colors:
- metallic;
- nacre;
- chameleon;
- luminescent paints.
The glossy rubber coating catches the eye in any weather, but it looks especially advantageous in rainy weather, highlighting the car from the mass of others.
transparent rubber
Transparent rubber paint, firstly, is used to protect the body and other parts of the machine, and secondly, it covers the applied plastidip to give it a gloss and protect it from damage.
With a transparent coating, it is convenient to protect the radiator grille, rims and other parts that are most at risk of damage.
Advantages and disadvantages of rubber paint
The innovative coating has a lot of advantages and only a few disadvantages, which mainly boil down to a lack of experience with liquid rubber.
The main advantages of rubber paint:
- can be applied without complete disassembly of the car by spraying;
- applied to any material, including plastic, paint, chrome;
- for applying liquid rubber, it is not necessary to clean and prime body parts before painting;
- small damage can be removed by applying an additional layer of rubber paint;
- the ability to select any color (if necessary, tinting standard shades) and type of coating;
- painting the entire body takes 12-14 hours;
- drying time of the coating - from half an hour to an hour;
- rubber paint is applied and removed without leaving marks on the old surface, liquid vinyl is removed in one layer, leaving no marks on the car body;
- you can apply plastidip both on one part of the car, and on the entire body and rims;
- the cost of material and work is acceptable for regular updating of the appearance of the car;
- seamless coverage unlike vinyl film;
- you can apply liquid rubber with your own hands;
- protects the paintwork from cracks and delamination;
- after plastidip it is easy to return the car to its original appearance;
- after applying the second layer, the coating becomes uniform and durable;
- protects the body when small stones, sand and salt hit;
- liquid vinyl can handle even the smallest and most embossed surfaces.
There are few drawbacks to such a coating, you can get used to them and avoid them, then the rubber paint will last a long time.
Cons of liquid rubber:
- the complexity of self-application, especially for the first time;
- it is necessary to avoid getting asphalt and bitumen on the surface during road works;
- at the sink, it is advisable to warn about the presence of a coating on the body so that they do not show excessive zeal and do not damage the rubber paint;
- the difficulty of washing off dirt from the coating, it is necessary to check whether there are stains after each soaping;
- avoid contact with chemicals, as some of them can dissolve the rubber coating;
- it is undesirable to apply wax and other substances with its content over liquid rubber;
- it is necessary to be careful not only when washing, but also when leaving the car, and warn passengers, since damage to the plastidip layer is possible on the thresholds.
How to paint your car with liquid rubber
Self-application of rubber paint requires careful surface preparation and compliance with the entire painting technology. In this case, the coverage of the car will last more than one year.
Prepare
Before applying rubber paint, the car must be thoroughly washed and dried. The surface to be painted must be degreased and all foreign substances (dirt, bitumen, wax, etc.) must be removed from it.
It is necessary to protect all parts of the car that do not require painting with liquid rubber.
It is especially necessary to close the following places from getting plastidip:
- bumper grilles, air intakes and radiator of the cooling system (thick paper or masking tape);
- it is advisable to remove license plate numbers and frames for their fastening;
- it is better to close the glasses with a film, and seal their seals with masking tape;
- close tires and rims to avoid their staining;
- when painting wheel rims with plastidip, it is necessary to carefully protect the brake system from paint ingress.
Although it is possible to treat machine rubber paint indiscriminately, for the best possible coverage, it is highly recommended to remove and paint separately door handles, deflectors, mirrors, spoilers and others ...
Painting process
Before applying liquid rubber in cans, it must be diluted with a special solvent in the proportions recommended by the plastidip manufacturer. Proportions and recommended solvents are indicated in the instructions for the product on each can.
It is necessary to paint the car either with an aerosol or using an airbrush through a standard filter with a mesh to remove coarse particles and uniform spray. It is desirable to fill in the sprayer no more than 2/3 of the volume, and preferably half.
After pouring rubber paint into the spray gun, it must be tested at a minimum supply of solution on any convenient surface. By adjusting the flow, it is necessary to achieve an even layer of coating without smudges.
When applying plastidip, it is necessary to unconditionally follow the instructions and wishes of the manufacturer. Work should be carried out in a well-ventilated area with a respirator.
Basic requirements for painting a car with liquid rubber:
- painting the car must be carried out in a warm room without drafts and sunlight at a temperature of at least 18 degrees;
- the spray gun must be held perpendicular to the surface to be treated at a distance of 14-17 cm;
- the coating should be applied smoothly in 2-3 layers;
- do not try to paint the whole car in one go;
- for stronger adhesion of liquid rubber, the first layer must be made very thin, paying increased attention to corners, ends and other relief details;
- the transparency of the first coating layer up to 50% is normal;
- each applied layer of rubber paint must be allowed to dry for 15-30 minutes;
- the second layer of the coating must be applied identically to the first, only even more carefully, after its application, transitions and stripes will still be visible - this is normal;
- each layer must be dried;
- the saturation of the final color depends on the number of layers - the brighter the final color should be, the more layers will have to be applied;
- to facilitate the removal of the rubber coating, according to the manufacturer's recommendations, it is necessary to apply at least 10 layers;
- after applying the last layer, the car must be dried for at least 60 minutes;
- after the rubber paint has dried, it is necessary to carefully remove the masking tape and the rubber coating from those places where it should not be (door locks, headlights, etc.), until the plastidip has completely hardened - it can be easily removed;
- the final hardening of the rubber paint occurs after 16-24 hours, during which time the car must be left in a protected room.
Owner feedback
Despite the growing popularity of liquid rubber, there are both positive and negative reviews about it.
Andrei, Yekaterinburg:
Ilya, Moscow:
Natalia, St. Petersburg:
Liquid rubber is an inexpensive and effective way to protect the paintwork and bright changes in the appearance of the car. With due diligence and a minimum of tools, it is not difficult to make such changes on your own, which will allow you to change the color of the car more often, saving a considerable amount.
