550 Build for the girlfriend - Need help w/ paint!!

[scott07]

I bought a 550 for my gf to ride this summer and she loved it and now wants to paint it so we started stripping it down getting ready for paint last night. Im thinkin about putting footholes in but my main concern what what kind of paint to use on it and what to fill in any little cracks and dings that it has. Any other ideas and some help with paint would be much appreciated. Thanks

 

[Waternut]

Paint really depends on how much you want to sink into the ski. A decent automotive paint looks really nice if you spray it. I've used spray paint before but it only held up for a year or two.

 

[scott07]

well I have a gun to spray and i dont relly have a problem buying good paint considering i dont want to have to do this again... Just wondering if it needs to be epoxy paint or anything special to hold up to water.. I have also seen Duplicolor's "Paint shop" paint that you can buy at any autoparts store, i was thinking of trying that.

 

[Waternut]

I've painted my jeep and my ski with tcpglobals acrylic enamel. It's the cheapest line of paint they have and so far it's held up really well. You can see more pics in my SN build if you want.

 

[madscientist]

any single stage urethane will work great. they all contain uv protectant.

 

[scott07]

What should i fill in little nicks and scratches with????

 

[scott07]

updated pics

 

[scott07]

Found a few spots where repairs have been made...

 

[Waternut]

The best I've heard to fill scratches and missing fiberglass is epoxy resin with micro balloons to add thickness. However, since all of that requires ordering much larger quantities than you need, I've used the bondo hair from the local auto store. Mine is still going strong with it. I wouldn't recommend it if you have large repairs as you need the fabric to give those strength.

 

[Motorheads5]

Just use Bondo unless you are dealing with fractures where the hull is cracked all the way through.

 

[grezzmky]

Hey man, Its Lou's buddy Jared. Regular body filler is fine for non structural repairs. The key to bodywork is making sure everything you use has a hardener or catalyst that YOU mix in, PERIOD. That goes for paint, primer, filler... everything. Get it ready for primer, lets do 220 grit and let me know. Ill come help you with the painting. Ill bring the paint, it wont cost you much. I'm in Ofallon MO. If you wait till after Daytona we can do it at my house but Ive got some construction going on now. Don't put some crap spray paint on there.

http://www.herroncustompaint.com/other.aspx?category=JETSKI+"Jared"
This is my first ski

 

[Polish jet pilot]

Your girl will really appreciate a set of front sponsons! Trust me!

 

[WFO Speedracer]

The thing with paint is that each brand sprays differently,if your buddy is willing to help you paint it and can spray something he is familar with shooting then I would go with it because the learning curve on automotive paints is pretty steep,slippery and costly.I think a blind man with arthritis could spray PPG..

 

[Smokin'FX-1]

I think a blind man with arthritis could spray PPG..

hahaha so true.

What most people say above holds true, learning curve with each individual paint, if you know somebody familiar with a brand try and find colors you like in that brand.

 

[madscientist]

PPG has their SHOPLINE product that is cost effective and comes base clear or single stage.

 

[Sanoman]

well I have a gun to spray and i dont relly have a problem buying good paint considering i dont want to have to do this again... Just wondering if it needs to be epoxy paint or anything special to hold up to water.. I have also seen Duplicolor's "Paint shop" paint that you can buy at any autoparts store, i was thinking of trying that.

After all repairs are made and you are ready to paint,use an epoxy sealer on the ski.Then spray what ever colors you plan to use.l've painted several skis over the years and the only way to keep the paint on was the epoxy.My first ski was an x2 and l spent hours getting it smooth.Like a dumb a$$ l used gray primer,then sprayed over it.Pearl white!!! 3 stage paint($$$) SOB was beautiful till the paint came off.Anytime you scratched it,the paint would come off.Two weekends of running it up on the shore and the bottom was gray again.Somewhat of an expensive lesson.

 

[grezzmky]

After all repairs are made and you are ready to paint,use an epoxy sealer on the ski.Then spray what ever colors you plan to use.l've painted several skis over the years and the only way to keep the paint on was the epoxy.My first ski was an x2 and l spent hours getting it smooth.Like a dumb a$$ l used gray primer,then sprayed over it.Pearl white!!! 3 stage paint($$$) SOB was beautiful till the paint came off.Anytime you scratched it,the paint would come off.Two weekends of running it up on the shore and the bottom was gray again.Somewhat of an expensive lesson.

Did you SAND the primer.....?

 

[Sanoman]

Yes,sand it down but don't get it too smooth.Probably 180 grid would be about it.Leaveing something for the epoxy to hook to.

 

[grezzmky]

Yes,sand it down but don't get it too smooth.Probably 180 grid would be about it.Leaveing something for the epoxy to hook to.

HAHAHA, dude you may need to leave it to the pros...

 

[Sanoman]

HAHAHA, dude you may need to leave it to the pros...

Man,that is a sweet a$$ paint job from your pics! Be hard to take that one out and abuse.Tell me what l'm doing wrong, since you wrote this above? Not smart a$$in ya either...