PeteB
GT40s Supporter
There's been some discussion in other threads about Plasti Dip, so I thought I'd start a thread on the subject.
I've "dipped" four cars now, so I've got some experience with it. I used the standard DipYourCar.com sprayer on all four: https://www.dipyourcar.com/collections/sprayers-and-spray-guns/products/dyc-dipsprayer
They do sell an "advanced" system with a more powerful turbine. I haven't used it, but it supposedly will have less orange peel than the standard sprayer. If I keep doing this, I may have to buy the advanced turbine.
Pros of Plastidip:
Cons of Plastidip:
Dipping process:
1) Dewax and clean car
2) Tape off places you don't want dipped and would be difficult to peel. I didn't tape off the windows or headlights on the SLC, just peeled them after I was done.
3) Apply base coat, 3-5 coats. Most pearls use black as a base, but different base coats yield different results with the same pearl. Number of gallons of base color required depends on the size of the car. My Dakota took 4 gallons, the Miata was 2.5 gallons, SLC took 2.5 gallons, and my G8 took 3 gallons.
Here's my Pontiac G8 with the basecoat applied:
4) Apply pearls. The pearls are mixed into DipPearl Topcoat. I've had the best luck using 25g of pearl per gallon of Topcoat and applying more coats to get the full pearl effect. 3-5 coats depending on the pearl. This required 3 gallons on the Dakota, 1.5 gallons on the Miata and SLC, and 2 gallons on the G8.
5) Apply topcoat. The topcoat layer is the critical layer in getting a nice gloss. The thicker you apply each coat, the better it levels out, so less orange peel. However, too thick and it will run, so it's a bit of a delicate balance. I used 2 gallons on the Dakota and one gallon on the Miata, SLC, and G8.
6) If you have any tape that is touching a dipped area, pull the tape before the last coat is dry. This has to be done within a couple minutes so plan ahead.
7) After it's dry, wipe down the entire car with Dip Coat. This hardens the dip and reduces the rubber feel.
Some tips and tricks I've discovered:
1) Texture can be leveled out a bit by spraying straight thinner (naptha) over the surface. Again, this is a bit of a delicate balance - the more you spray on the smoother it gets, but too much and it will run.
2) When making repairs or re-spraying a small area with topcoat, the edges will be less shiny that the rest of the area. This can be evened out by spraying with straight naptha
3) Turtle Wax Ice works really well to wax the dip after spraying with Dip Coat. After waxing with the Ice, the rubber feel is pretty much gone.
Places to buy materials
Dipyourcar.com is the main place to buy materials http://www.dipyourcar.com
Lots of additional color choices available from KP Pigments (KP Pigments - Pearls for use in Plasti Dip and other paints – KP Pigments) and Didspade (Metal Flake & Plasti Dip Custom Paint Additives).
Here's the cars I've done:
Dakota in Bora Bora colorshift over a blue basecoat:
Mazda Miata in Atlantic Colorshift over black:
SLC:
Flash colorshift over black:
G8 in Black Hole over black:
Questions?
I've "dipped" four cars now, so I've got some experience with it. I used the standard DipYourCar.com sprayer on all four: https://www.dipyourcar.com/collections/sprayers-and-spray-guns/products/dyc-dipsprayer
They do sell an "advanced" system with a more powerful turbine. I haven't used it, but it supposedly will have less orange peel than the standard sprayer. If I keep doing this, I may have to buy the advanced turbine.
Pros of Plastidip:
- Cheap - $300-$500 in materials to dip a car
- Thick enough to hide flaws - on the SLC I only sanded to 400 grit and there's no sanding marks
- Much less prep work than a paint job
- Easily removable if you want to change the color
- Lots of color choices including some crazy colorshifts
- Takes some practice, but it can be repaired easily
Cons of Plastidip:
- Does have some orange peel
- Doesn't hold up well on places that get touched or rubbed a lot
- Can't be wet sanded, so it will never be as smooth and shiny as a really good paint job
Dipping process:
1) Dewax and clean car
2) Tape off places you don't want dipped and would be difficult to peel. I didn't tape off the windows or headlights on the SLC, just peeled them after I was done.
3) Apply base coat, 3-5 coats. Most pearls use black as a base, but different base coats yield different results with the same pearl. Number of gallons of base color required depends on the size of the car. My Dakota took 4 gallons, the Miata was 2.5 gallons, SLC took 2.5 gallons, and my G8 took 3 gallons.
Here's my Pontiac G8 with the basecoat applied:
4) Apply pearls. The pearls are mixed into DipPearl Topcoat. I've had the best luck using 25g of pearl per gallon of Topcoat and applying more coats to get the full pearl effect. 3-5 coats depending on the pearl. This required 3 gallons on the Dakota, 1.5 gallons on the Miata and SLC, and 2 gallons on the G8.
5) Apply topcoat. The topcoat layer is the critical layer in getting a nice gloss. The thicker you apply each coat, the better it levels out, so less orange peel. However, too thick and it will run, so it's a bit of a delicate balance. I used 2 gallons on the Dakota and one gallon on the Miata, SLC, and G8.
6) If you have any tape that is touching a dipped area, pull the tape before the last coat is dry. This has to be done within a couple minutes so plan ahead.
7) After it's dry, wipe down the entire car with Dip Coat. This hardens the dip and reduces the rubber feel.
Some tips and tricks I've discovered:
1) Texture can be leveled out a bit by spraying straight thinner (naptha) over the surface. Again, this is a bit of a delicate balance - the more you spray on the smoother it gets, but too much and it will run.
2) When making repairs or re-spraying a small area with topcoat, the edges will be less shiny that the rest of the area. This can be evened out by spraying with straight naptha
3) Turtle Wax Ice works really well to wax the dip after spraying with Dip Coat. After waxing with the Ice, the rubber feel is pretty much gone.
Places to buy materials
Dipyourcar.com is the main place to buy materials http://www.dipyourcar.com
Lots of additional color choices available from KP Pigments (KP Pigments - Pearls for use in Plasti Dip and other paints – KP Pigments) and Didspade (Metal Flake & Plasti Dip Custom Paint Additives).
Here's the cars I've done:
Dakota in Bora Bora colorshift over a blue basecoat:
Mazda Miata in Atlantic Colorshift over black:
SLC:
Flash colorshift over black:
G8 in Black Hole over black:
Questions?
I love the stuff, still undecided if the SLC will get dipped but when the time comes I think it will end up being done temporarily. 
