repaint outdrive

[alexr254]

I am going to repaint my outdrives.

I hope i can get some advice. I am looking for a decently priced sand blaster, one which sells at local stores like HD or Lowes... I also am looking for the best paint to use?

 

[Fordiesel69]

Re: repaint outdrive

Do not waste your time doing it, if you do not want to pay about 200 in materials minumum to do it right. If you half ***** prepare the surface and cheat on the chemicals it will peel right off.

 

[Fordiesel69]

Re: repaint outdrive

You can use a sandblaster from harbor freight, however you should use a glass media instead of sand.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: repaint outdrive

The best paint was used by the factory. Unless your drive is corroded a lot, do NOT completely repaint it. It is a pain to do right, and even if you do it right, it still might not stick like the factory's did.
So if your drive just isn't pretty, leave it alone. If it's corroded in spots, just touch up the spots.

 

[Bondo]

Re: repaint outdrive

Ayuh,.... I scrape the crud off mine once a year, 'n shoot it with a rattlecan of Rustoleum, Black...

I agree, sandblastin' is a huge Waste of time, 'n effort...

 

[mohead1]

Re: repaint outdrive

I bought a can of the black that the factory uses, cant remember the name right off (Westmarine had it), masked the hydraulic cylinder shafts, removed the long faded decals, scuffed everything lightly with some 400 grit, cleaned with acetone, and shot the paint.....it looks really good and has held up for the last couple of months anyway....i just got a decal kit a few days ago and this weekend gonna put them on, and waa-laa, just like new!!

 

[Fordiesel69]

Re: repaint outdrive

If you trailer it, by all means decal it up. If you slip it, forget the decals, they get ruined in no time.

 

[arks]

Re: repaint outdrive

Just my opinion (and we all know what THEY'RE like...) but don't remove the old paint, just rough it up.
I had an outdrive professionally re-painted a few years back and learned a lot about the subject.
Unprotected aluminium will oxidize almost immediately and, unless properly primed, will create adhesion problems with the topcoat.
Here's a shot of the newly painted outdrive. They used a 2 part PPG paint similar to Imron.
I'd love to tell you the paint lasted a long time, but I blew up that drive 9 months later.
Lesson learned!

 

[fishrdan]

Re: repaint outdrive

That is (was) a pretty drive arks.

I wouldn't sand blast the drive. 1- you will loose the factory surface prep. 2- you could get the grit down into the drive and cause BAD problems.

If you do sandblast make sure you treat the raw aluminum with a surface prep like Alodine or an aluminum specific primer that will bond tendentiously. My drive has some type of yellow/green primer as a first coat, it's probably outlawed and banned now....

I agree with the Rusto guys. Scuff it, prime the bare spots with an etching primer, then shoot it with some Rustoleum. I use a small cup gun and some black out of a gallon can instead of the rattle cans though.

 

[alexr254]

Re: repaint outdrive

Thanks for the replies.

I will need to decide what to do here. I am now leaning towards skipping the blaster and just overcoating what i got, to at least last me several months in the water.

 

[mohead1]

Re: repaint outdrive

Hey Arks, nice job on the paint, too bad you blew er up! I grew up in Harford County so I know your area well. Dad had a 36' Chris Craft when we were kids, slipped at Havre de Grace, been on the Chesapeake for many many good times. Where did you get the drive spray from, Im looking for one on my Alpha but want a clean looking job. That one looks exactly what I want......PM me

 

[Volphin]

Re: repaint outdrive

Just my opinion (and we all know what THEY'RE like...) but don't remove the old paint, just rough it up.
I had an outdrive professionally re-painted a few years back and learned a lot about the subject.
Unprotected aluminium will oxidize almost immediately and, unless properly primed, will create adhesion problems with the topcoat.
Here's a shot of the newly painted outdrive. They used a 2 part PPG paint similar to Imron.
I'd love to tell you the paint lasted a long time, but I blew up that drive 9 months later.
Lesson learned!

Man that out drive looks (um looked) good! Sorry to hear of her demise.

V

 

[arks]

Re: repaint outdrive

Yeah, I thought so too!! Mercruiser HI Performance Blue!
Outdrives seemed to be my achillies heel- that's one of the reasons I bought an inboard boat.
mohead1- come'on- bring Big Mo up here!
Our local iboats gang loves Wellcrafts.
That drive shower was an original Simrek.
Don't know if they still make 'em.

 

[Thalasso]

Re: repaint outdrive

Clean the area with acetone before sanding. Take 80 grit wet and dry sandpaper and scuff surface to be painted. Do not sand to bare aluminum Make sure there is no shine. Wipe down again with acetone and primer with Zinc Cromate.And then paint. Acetone can be bought at HD and Zinc Cromate at WM. (Molnar brand)