I picked up some coil springs at the junkyard from a Ford work van to transplant into my challenge build Jetta. I can cut them down to make the dimensions work, but would like them to look better than their current rusty finish. Has anyone tried to paint old rusty springs with any luck? What was your method?
I'm assuming it would be best to sandblast the rust off first then find a durable paint that can flex on the spring without cracking. I'm wondering if spray on Plasti-Dip would hold up, or perhaps one of the durable Rust-Oleum hammered finish paints? Maybe a bed-liner sprayed on? If possible I'd like to paint them a color other than black (probably red), but would do a black coating if it is the best DIY approach. I'd prefer not to pay to have them powdercoated to save some budget.
Let's hear what you have done and how it turned out!
I'd rattle can them with whatever is on the closest shelf.
jhaas
Reader
4/14/12 4:30 p.m.
^^^ agreed, they dont flex enough to crack paint, you dont need anything special.
jhaas wrote:
^^^ agreed, they dont flex enough to crack paint, you dont need anything special.
Uhhh what??? For a challenge build I would use a rattle can, but to say they don't flex enough for cracking isn't something I would agree with.
If you use a urethane paint, prep the surface well, you should have enough adhesion and flexibility on the paint not to crack.
But remember even the factory paint cracks over time, and stress concentrators (read rust pitts) are the #1 reason properly designed springs fail.
What about a rust-type paint (like Tremclad up here in Canada) that doesn't really become "solid"? Might be flexible enough....
I've used rattle cans in the past with no issues.
ncjay
Reader
4/15/12 12:49 a.m.
Sandblasting, a wire brush, or just using sandpaper are all good ways to get rid of the rust. I have springs on my car I painted over 10 years ago with a can and they still look decent. Nothing fancy is required.
dip in muriatic acid, it'll burn out every last bit o rust, coat w/ yur fav topping
You know that plastic that you dip your tool handles in? Can you thin that enough to spray? Brush?
Dan
How about Plasti-Dip, have you considered that?
Or perhaps Plasti-Dip?
Maybe Plasti-Dip will work... but if it doesn't, you may have to resort to that stuff you dip your tool handles in. I forget what it's called.
You really think that will work ?
SkinnyG wrote:
What about a rust-type paint (like Tremclad up here in Canada) that doesn't really become "solid"? Might be flexible enough....
Works fine. Done it many times. If you think about it, springs don't really flex all that much.
