Advice on painting calipers?

[StoneGuy]

Anyone painted up their rusty calipers? What is the best way for a home mechanic to go about it? Wire brush and paint or wire brush, prime and paint? Any other recommendations to make it easier. I know sand blasting would work great but I don't have access to one and I need the truck for work so I need to turn the work around in a day or an afternoon. Thanks for your help.
Regards,

Dwight

[Meat12]

Allow yourself as much time as possible. Rushed work shows anytime you paint something, as the time is in the prep. You are painting them to bring attention to them, so you want them to look good for a long time. I have used the combination of wire brush, tooth brush, die grinder, sand paper, and most importantly degreaser and soapy water. Get em as CLEAN as possible. If my memory serves me correct the caliper paint I used didnt need primer and could be applied directly on bare metal.

[StoneGuy]

Dammit, I knew it would be time consuming but anything worth doing is worth doing right. I might just invest in a sandblaster. There are so many times I could use it especially restoring parts on my trucks and cars, but what to do with the mess. I don't think my 2 car garage is ready for sand blasting just yet so I guess its wire brush and die grinder time. Thanks,
Regards,

Dwight

[Brew_WY]

Originally Posted by StoneGuy

Dammit, I knew it would be time consuming but anything worth doing is worth doing right. I might just invest in a sandblaster. There are so many times I could use it especially restoring parts on my trucks and cars, but what to do with the mess. I don't think my 2 car garage is ready for sand blasting just yet so I guess its wire brush and die grinder time. Thanks,
Regards,

Dwight

You might consider getting a small bench top(or larger if you have the room and $$) media blasting cabinet. Everyone from Harbor Freight to Snap-On sells them. They are excellent for cleaning rusty parts, I use them at work all the time.

HF Media Blasting Cabinet


The above link is an example. I personally would spend more on a nicer cabinet if you have a use for it. Just remember with tools, you get what you pay for.

Cheers,

Brew

[gblauf]

i just saw a caliper paint kit at auto zone or oreillys made by rustoleum. looked like it had everything one needs to do this.

[StoneGuy]

Originally Posted by Brew_WY

You might consider getting a small bench top(or larger if you have the room and $$) media blasting cabinet. Everyone from Harbor Freight to Snap-On sells them. They are excellent for cleaning rusty parts, I use them at work all the time.

HF Media Blasting Cabinet


The above link is an example. I personally would spend more on a nicer cabinet if you have a use for it. Just remember with tools, you get what you pay for.

Cheers,

Brew

Good idea, I hadn't thought of that. Harbor Freight tools scare me but I didn't think I could go wrong with a ball joint press. It's basically just a 'C' clamp with a hole in the end for the ball joint stud to move through. I wouldn't buy much else from them because I really can't stand cheap chinese crap. The press worked me out of a corner though.

Originally Posted by gblauf

i just saw a caliper paint kit at auto zone or oreillys made by rustoleum. looked like it had everything one needs to do this.

I will look into that as well, thanks.
Regards,

Dwight