[STCxB]

Long story short, I hit a deer and only managed to dent and scratch my hood. I now have the DV Seibon Carbon Fiber Hood and the OEM steel one collecting dust in my garage. I want to keep it for winters in Colorado so I don't snow up my engine bay, but I don't want to pay to paint it when I repaint my box.

Any ideas on what to do? I was thinking about rusting it or painting it with chalkboard paint or just plain flat black.

 

[The_Doctor]

Rust it then flat clear it! Trust me it'll be sick!

 

[xseveredveganx]

http://www.clubxb.com/forums/showthread.php?t=41317

 

[STCxB]

I just got home from buying LEDs to make some custom running lights and saw my stainless steel fridge and it hit me! Strip it down to the metal, sand it to make it look like stainless then give it a flat clear coat. yay? nay?

 

[The_Doctor]

I say go for it, just remember when sanding for the stainless look to pick a direction and stay with it. Don't go side to side in some parts and up and down in other parts. It should look quite cool!

 

[STCxB]

Yeah. I read that it's best to use 60 grit or lower with paint stripper or acetone to remove the paint and then use 600-800 grit wet sanding with rubbing alcohol to get the brushed effect. Sound about right?

 

[STCxB]

Alright, first coat of paint stripper went on, didn't do too much. I used the spray can version (don't remember the brand) hoping it would be quicker but I ended up having to do it twice so I'm gonna go buy the paste/liquid today. But I have a diabolical plan that hopefully I can get knocked out today or tomorrow.

 

[The_Doctor]

In for pics. Take pics of your progress on it.

 

[STCxB]

I'll get some up when it's all done and installed! I might run with this and not my CF hood for a while just to see how I like it.

 

[STCxB]

Ok so this is my progress so far. I think they uploaded out of order so the third image is after the first round of paint stripper, the fourth is after round 2, the second image is after I started sanding with 60 grit, and the first is after sanding with 180 then 320. After this I wet sanded with 600 grit, then resanded with 60 grit cuz I couldn't get the finish how I wanted it.

 

[STCxB]

oh, nevermind they are in order. The upload box lied. so again, 1st round of stripper, second round, 60 grit, 180 and 320 grit.

 

[The_Doctor]

Looking good, the paint stripped off nicely

 

[STCxB]

Yeah I just used a metal caulk scraper after that second round of stripper and it only took me maybe 15 minutes to get almost every little bit off. Anything I missed came off by the time i was done with the 180 grit.

 

[xseveredveganx]

Definitely looks good!
What color is your xB? I've seen an F150 in a magazine a while ago where they had a graphic on the hood painted with candy over the bare metal.
So it was translucent so you could still see the raw swirlled metal. Looked sick.

 

[STCxB]

Mine's classic silver for hopefully only a month more. Then I'm painting it Speedway Blue, the same color as the tC RS6. So it'll definitely be more subtle on the silver than it will be on the blue.

 

[STCxB]

Ok, hood is going on as soon as I wake up tomorrow, So I'll have pics soon after. The clear coat is drying now, but it takes three hours to dry to handle, and I don't wanna install and take pictures of my hood at 11 tonight. =]

 

[STCxB]

Alright, it's coated, installed and ready to go! Closed is first, open is second. Tell me what you think!

 

[The_Doctor]

It actually flows with your color quite well. I like it

 

[STCxB]

Well thank you! The only issue is that the red hasn't fully cured yet, so I accidentally left some finger and palm prints in a couple spots while installing. But i suppose that's the price I pay doing this by myself!