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Old 03-01-2021, 06:55 PM   #1
Crazy Dazz
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Default Why are cars Painted?

It's one of those weird "facts of life" that often leaves me puzzled.
Is there anything more pointless than turning out a new car with a bright shiny paint job??

First thing they do is cover the car in plastic, because otherwise it wouldn't even make it to the dealership unscathed.

Is there anything more disheartening, than having your new car for a few days, and some oxygen thief doors it in the carpark?
Then there's all the stonechips, bird****, bugs, cats, etc. And that's before we start talking about actual crashes.

Surely by now we could have come up with a better, more resilient coating?

I actually wonder if maybe cars shouldn't just come with a plastic coating from the factory?
Or maybe even entire panels made from Coloured plastic?
(The crazy thing is that even parts that are made from plastics, we paint them anyway.)
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Old 03-01-2021, 07:02 PM   #2
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Default Re: Why are cars Painted?

I always thought a coloured rubberised coating would be a good idea.

Thicker on the doors, front and bumpers to resist stone chips, and car park door dings.
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Old 03-01-2021, 07:04 PM   #3
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Default Re: Why are cars Painted?

If your car always looked new and didnt deteriorate, they would not be able to sell new cars, thats why more parts break on a new car compared to a 40 year old car and the clearcoat fails just out of warranty
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Old 03-01-2021, 07:47 PM   #4
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Thumbs up Re: Why are cars Painted?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Crazy Dazz View Post
It's one of those weird "facts of life" that often leaves me puzzled.
Is there anything more pointless than turning out a new car with a bright shiny paint job??

First thing they do is cover the car in plastic, because otherwise it wouldn't even make it to the dealership unscathed.

Is there anything more disheartening, than having your new car for a few days, and some oxygen thief doors it in the carpark?
Then there's all the stonechips, bird****, bugs, cats, etc. And that's before we start talking about actual crashes.
thats one reason why i don,t drive a nice car, and mine's white 2pack , which is easy to paint and hides imperfects and dirt, better than a darker colour.

but elons got the right idea with a stainless body , yeah.
he even makes rocket out of the stuff.
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Old 03-01-2021, 08:14 PM   #5
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Default Re: Why are cars Painted?

Why are cars painted ?
Back in the old days, so you can find them easily in a car park.
These days, 50 shades of grey on identical looking SUVs.
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Old 03-01-2021, 08:15 PM   #6
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Default Re: Why are cars Painted?

Straight hot dip galv might not be a very attractive finish. I bet someone's tried it somewhere, though.
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Old 03-01-2021, 08:19 PM   #7
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Default Re: Why are cars Painted?

I've noticed a few Mini Mokes being done at my powdercoater, great idea I thought, much tougher than paint. Size of the oven permitting I can't see why you couldn't do a whole car.
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Old 03-01-2021, 08:36 PM   #8
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Default Re: Why are cars Painted?

They have tried plastic panels with limited success. They can't get the colour uniform throughout the panel if I recall.

Then there is the fact that a scratch can't be easily repaired.

When you think about it, paint is about the best option if you take into consideration all factors.

I'm sure if the manufacturers found a better yet cost effective option they would have gone with it.

Rubberised coatings don't look good and probably play on the aerodynamics.

Stainless steel body would be a nightmare come repair time. And the cost??

Powder coating?? Don't know enough about it? Can it be polished? Repaired? Clear coat? Metallic and pearl finishes?



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Old 03-01-2021, 09:07 PM   #9
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Old 03-01-2021, 09:10 PM   #10
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Default Re: Why are cars Painted?

Self Healing Paint is not too far away.

Until then you could try Lichen as a self healing alternative.

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Old 03-01-2021, 10:23 PM   #11
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Default Re: Why are cars Painted?

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=srgE6Tzi3Lg
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Old 04-01-2021, 01:50 AM   #12
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Default Re: Why are cars Painted?

..and http://theangryhistorian.blogspot.co...th-busted.html
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Old 04-01-2021, 08:54 AM   #13
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Default Re: Why are cars Painted?

Beauty of an all aluminium cab with a fibreglass roof. Polish it.
Would love to try it one day.

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Old 04-01-2021, 10:32 PM   #14
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Default Re: Why are cars Painted?

Quote:
Originally Posted by roKWiz View Post
Beauty of an all aluminium cab with a fibreglass roof. Polish it.
Would love to try it one day.

image

Hate to know how much all that aluminium cost...
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Old 05-01-2021, 12:27 AM   #15
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Default Re: Why are cars Painted?

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Originally Posted by roKWiz View Post
Beauty of an all aluminium cab with a fibreglass roof. Polish it.
Would love to try it one day.

image
Crikey, it hurts my eyes just looking at the photo.
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Old 05-01-2021, 12:32 AM   #16
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Default Re: Why are cars Painted?

Quote:
Originally Posted by CyberWasp View Post
Self Healing Paint is not too far away.

Until then you could try Lichen as a self healing alternative.

image
I'm not sure I'm lichen that...
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Old 05-01-2021, 05:29 AM   #17
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Default Re: Why are cars Painted?

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=car+covere...ages&ia=images

here you go, fluffy green cars
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Old 05-01-2021, 10:56 AM   #18
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Default Re: Why are cars Painted?

a page on henry fords , full bodied stainless steel model A, and others.

https://www.hemmings.com/stories/art...936-ford-tudor
https://www.justcars.com.au/news-and...l-fords/888032
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Old 05-01-2021, 11:14 AM   #19
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Default Re: Why are cars Painted?

Quote:
Originally Posted by aussiblue View Post
maybe something like this could be in the future, cheech and chongs weed van.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9S7AMveTOLQ
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Old 05-01-2021, 11:33 AM   #20
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Default Re: Why are cars Painted?

I remember seeing a car that had a coloured gel coat instead of paint. But it was also probably a fibreglass body.
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Old 05-01-2021, 04:20 PM   #21
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Default Re: Why are cars Painted?

Quote:
Originally Posted by fnp View Post
Hate to know how much all that aluminium cost...
Freightliners, Kenworths, Petes are built with aluminium cabs, fibereglass roofs OEM and some with aluminium frames too. Reduces tare and they last well with no cab rust, some suffer rom corrosion around some steel fasteners.

That's why there are plenty of old ones still on the road and so few Ford Louiseybuilts kicking around being (edit....badly made) steel cabbed.
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Last edited by roKWiz; 05-01-2021 at 04:23 PM. Reason: words added
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