Brush-on Caliper Paint

[Cab0oze]

Hey guys

I've always done spray-on paint for my calipers but since I don't have a garage anymore it is a bit of a pain. Also, people always say good things about G2/Duplicolor kits, both which use brush on paint. I've searched all over the place for brush on high-temp paint, but all that is sold outside of kits is aerosolized. Since I already have everything else in the kit, I'd rather not waste money buying one.

So... does anyone have any idea why no one seems to sell brush on caliper paint? Is there another alternative, or am I really just going to be stuck using a rattle can again?

-edit-
and oh yeah, why can't I seem to find any red caliper paint that is actually a normal bright red at canadian tire? They have a color that judging by the cap is the exact same as True Red, but on the label fine print it is called "Real Orange". Of course I didn't notice that until I started spraying. They have one that has a dark red cap, but I'm hesitant to buy that in case it actually IS dark red.

[Hyperion]

Why do you need a garage?
I've done probably 4 this year outside.

[Cab0oze]

Why do you need a garage?
I've done probably 4 this year outside.
It is ridiculously windy where I live ALL THE TIME. It is like living in a wind tunnel. I can only do oil changes if I block off the entire area with cardboard boxes. But even so, I still have not found a red caliper spray paint at CT (see the OP, edited it)

-edit again-
OK so just to make it clear why I was confused about the spray-out colors, this is the dark red cap:
http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL166/13567593/24403189/408019444.jpg

and this is the real orange (which looks red!!!)
http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NjAwWDMwMQ==/$T2eC16NHJHoE9n3Kd234BP61u,qT2!~~60_35.JPG

VHT is seriously color blind or something.

[Hyperion]

It is ridiculously windy where I live ALL THE TIME. It is like living in a wind tunnel. I can only do oil changes if I block off the entire area with cardboard boxes. But even so, I still have not found a red spray paint at CT (see the OP, edited it)

Ah that sucks.

I was hesitant about the darker red cap too, but that is indeed the red you are looking for. It's a very nice red.
This is it http://i.imgur.com/RZ5530l.jpg

Do not get the orange that looks like the red you want, it's the orange you don't want lol.

[Cab0oze]

Ah that sucks.

I was hesitant about the darker red cap too, but that is indeed the red you are looking for. It's a very nice red.

Do not get the orange that looks like the red you want, it's the orange you don't want lol.haha well that is good to know, thanks!! Wish I'd known that before I went and wasted my money. I wonder if that is their marketing tactic to get people to buy more paint?

Ok... so that is now my fallback plan. But the original question still stands... is there any brush-on caliper paint available that is not in a kit?

[crasth]

-edit-
and oh yeah, why can't I seem to find any red caliper paint that is actually a normal bright red at canadian tire? They have a color that judging by the cap is the exact same as True Red, but on the label fine print it is called "Real Orange". Of course I didn't notice that until I started spraying. They have one that has a dark red cap, but I'm hesitant to buy that in case it actually IS dark red.

lol same thing happened to me but im quite happy with the orange.u could barely tell the diff unless u get close

[Tom17]

I'm very apprehensive of ricing up my car, but I do love a painted caliper (Or rather, I hate plain/rusty ones). Do you think this red would work on a Soul Red car? I'm thinking possibly too much red.. :/

I also hate single-piston calipers so maybe my solution is some nice Brembos/AP or something lol :)

[Scottobot]

I'm very apprehensive of ricing up my car, but I do love a painted caliper (Or rather, I hate plain/rusty ones). Do you think this red would work on a Soul Red car? I'm thinking possibly too much red.. :/

I'd suggest black or gold if your car is red.

[mazdabetty]

Did you try part source? I recall purchasing a box of the dupli colour paint, wasn't very expensive and I think it just included a brush... If you call that a "kit" that's all you might be able to find. Unless you buy the spray and spray it into a cup and do it that way haha, could get messy though... :P

[Cab0oze]

Did you try part source? I recall purchasing a box of the dupli colour paint, wasn't very expensive and I think it just included a brush... If you call that a "kit" that's all you might be able to find. Unless you buy the spray and spray it into a cup and do it that way haha, could get messy though... :P
That is what I did the first time I painted my calipers back 7 years ago or something. It was a foolish decision lol...

And no, that was my next step, but the box you're talking about is the kit. Comes with brushes and caliper cleaner. It's 25 bucks, I would rather pay 10-15 and just get the paint (and not pay for the other stuff and the 'convenience)

[Default User]

You could always spray the paint into a styrofoam cup and use a brush to apply it

[midnightfxgt]

If you want brush on, grab some Tremclad, and a brush. Seriously :)

[Cab0oze]

If you want brush on, grab some Tremclad, and a brush. Seriously :)Do they have red tremclad? Does it need to be the special "high heat" stuff?

[midnightfxgt]

Do they have red tremclad? Does it need to be the special "high heat" stuff?

They have red. No need for high heat, calipers don't get that hot. I painted mine the first time, and didnt do it again for like 5yrs

[Cab0oze]

They have red. No need for high heat, calipers don't get that hot. I painted mine the first time, and didnt do it again for like 5yrsThanks, that's what I was thinking. I did check real quick and I saw regular tremclad is good to something like 350C which is pretty good anyhow! One last thing - could you show me a pic of the color (final result)?

If it is indeed nice bright red, then you have saved the day :)

[midnightfxgt]

Thanks, that's what I was thinking. I did check real quick and I saw regular tremclad is good to something like 350C which is pretty good anyhow! One last thing - could you show me a pic of the color (final result)?

If it is indeed nice bright red, then you have saved the day :)

Sorry, I did them silver back in the day. Most recently was a custom rattle can colour from Napa (trying to match front powdercoated calipers). Try Tremclad Fire Red: https://www.google.ca/search?q=tremclad+fire+red&safe=off&client=firefox-a&hs=Buc&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&channel=sb&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=k9qRU_miDoyNqgaMmIKYDw&ved=0CAgQ_AUoAQ&biw=1920&bih=969

-John

[Cab0oze]

Thanks John. Picked up some fire red... My new concern is the long drying time they recommend between coats. Didn't realize it was so long (24h), doesn't really work very well for a daily driven car. Hopefully I can make it work...

[m_bisson]

Why not head to a real paint store and get some direct-to-metal acrylic enamel? They'll even be able to mix up whatever colour you want. Brushing it on will be much better than spraying.

[midnightfxgt]

Thanks John. Picked up some fire red... My new concern is the long drying time they recommend between coats. Didn't realize it was so long (24h), doesn't really work very well for a daily driven car. Hopefully I can make it work...

i just slap a coat on in am, and maybe one later. It's a slow dry, but thick stuff :)

[Cab0oze]

Why not head to a real paint store and get some direct-to-metal acrylic enamel? They'll even be able to mix up whatever colour you want. Brushing it on will be much better than spraying.
Yeah that would have been a good idea but I live in quebec. Everything is closed on weekends or after 5 during the week and that's the only time I have time to go looking for this stuff lol


i just slap a coat on in am, and maybe one later. It's a slow dry, but thick stuff :)
Yeah I re-read the instructions and came to the same conclusion. I'm looking forward to this, think it will be much easier than the normal spray on :)
Will post results when done!

[m_bisson]

i just slap a coat on in am, and maybe one later. It's a slow dry, but thick stuff :)

If you're spraying, you want multiple thin coats, not one or two heavy coats. Give it a day between coats. You can still drive if it's not pouring rain, but if it is raining, wait until the paint is no longer 'tacky' feeling.
Source: I'm a painter :)

[Cab0oze]

If you're spraying, you want multiple thin coats, not one or two heavy coats. Give it a day between coats. You can still drive if it's not pouring rain, but if it is raining, wait until the paint is no longer 'tacky' feeling.
Source: I'm a painter :)
Nope this is brush on, I wanted to give it a try instead of spraying for a change. Thanks for the tip though

[Cab0oze]

Ok guys, so Fire Red Tremclad is THE WAY TO GO. This is so easy to do... I imagine that it is like G2 paint except instead of costing $60 it costs $6. I just wish I had more time to really do a perfect job.

First coat:
http://i1233.photobucket.com/albums/ff399/Cab0oze/MS3%20Projets/Calipers1_zps591136e4.jpg

http://i1233.photobucket.com/albums/ff399/Cab0oze/MS3%20Projets/calilpers2_zps428a09f5.jpg

http://i1233.photobucket.com/albums/ff399/Cab0oze/MS3%20Projets/calipers_fire_red_zps50d3d3c2.jpg


Let me talk about the benefits over spray-on:

- Zero mess and no overspray
- Don't find out you missed spots after removing all your masking tape
- No lengthy making/prep procedure
- Can be done in high wind- it was very windy when I did it today
- Is dirt cheap - costs less than half as much as caliper spray paint. 6$ for my container there and after 2 calipers it is still almost full
- And best - if you get a rockchip or something you can just sand and touch up the one spot... no need to redo the whole caliper.

The end! Hope this helps you guys.

[midnightfxgt]

Funny enough, I may paint our new CX5's calipers, and want the darker red you posted, since it is Mazda's Soul Red :)

Glad it turned out the colour you wanted!

[Cab0oze]

Funny enough, I may paint our new CX5's calipers, and want the darker red you posted, since it is Mazda's Soul Red :)

Glad it turned out the colour you wanted!Me too haha :)
btw, the darker red is actually the same bright red (see earlier discussion, in case you missed it).
I accidentally achieved a dark red (similar to soul red) by using the orange and spraying duplicolor anodizing red on top of it (since I already bought the orange accidentally, and had some of the red stuff left over).

This is what it looks like (maybe a little lighter if you use orange as a base, this was what it looked like with metalcast (silver) as the base on my old 3:
http://www.engsoc.org/~caboose/upload/Mz3Projects/Brakes/Mz_Brakes.jpg

[midnightfxgt]

http://www.engsoc.org/~caboose/upload/Mz3Projects/Brakes/Mz_Brakes.jpg

So this is Real Orange over Metalcast Silver? Looks close to Soul Red.. NICE!

[m_bisson]

$6 is expensive for the amount you get.

For anyone else doing this, check with a real pain to store first. You could even go with a waterborne epoxy and never have to repaint again :)

[Cab0oze]

So this is Real Orange over Metalcast Silver? Looks close to Soul Red.. NICE!
No that is Anodizing Red over Metalcast Silver (which means, if your calipers are new and still look metallic, you can skip this step probably). Anodizing red over Real Orange loses the sparkle but is pretty much the same color.


$6 is expensive for the amount you get.
Its cheaper than aerosolized caliper paint that everyone else buys, and landslides cheaper than the G2/Duplicolor kit, so that's worth something...