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mmandley
03-05-2013, 12:30 PM
Thought Id write up a how to on Plasti Dipping your boat letters.

I did this recently and learned a few good and bad things. Figure ill share this so others will be on the Goods only LOL.

First watch a couple You Tube videos on it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNY9Dx617N8 long but shows you everything you need to know.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvkq-qyY9aY shorter and answers a lot of questions

First Plasti Dip creates no heat while curing so it wont hurt your Gel Coat
Second Plasti Dip is not traditional paint, so dont treat it like it is with your masking and upkeep
Third Dont worry if you get a little run, or heavy on 1 spot versus another
Forth Small dust and dirt that land on the wet paint cant be removed and the finish will still look good


On to the process.
I tried to really screw this up when painting because i wanted to know the limits of the product.
I sprayed thick spots, thin spots, touched it when it was wet, and by the end you would never know you made these mistakes so dont worry. Best of all if its messed up, let it dry and peel it off.

Ok Prep. The more Prep you do the easier clean up is.

First Clean the area. I recommend Waxing around the area you don't want plasti dip on. This will make removal even easier. Use glass cleaner, or some kind of cleaner on the Letters you want plasti dip on. This makes the Plasti Dip grip better

Masking.

I recommend masking apx 2 inches away from the lettering. Any closer and its hard to peel the plasti dip, any farther and you get spray splatter and this wont peel. You have to rub it off.

Once you get your area taped off. Grab your can, i recommend 2 cans for the lettering. This is what i used, and i did 8 coats. Choose how much you want to coat but its better to have extra cans to return then not enough cans to finish.

Once you got everything masked the way you want it. Shake the can for at least 1 minute. The more you shake it the better it works. Also i noticed the can seems to spray best from full to 1/4 ish, after that it wants to splatter and that is a bad thing.

When spraying, just start your spray before the letters and spray at a continuous rate, distance and movement across the letters. Dont spray a heave coat, you want it to take a couple coats to blacken the letters.

I did 2 coats across the letters.
Then i went back on the 3rd and sprayed all the letter edges. This will create some runs, so just be careful and take your time.

You can tell when 1 coat is dry and its time for the next coat because the paint will look Flat when dry, its glossy when wet.

I did 2 coats across the letters, and then 1 coat to the edges, then 2 coats across and 1 to the edges, then 2 final coats, slow and a bit heavier then all the rest as my finishing coats.

Wait about 1 hour before peeling, but don't let it set over night. The longer it sits the more it cures, and curing is what makes it bond and harder to remove.

The edge coats are only needed on the big Moomba letters, the rear and corner letters are flat enough the plasti dip will get in the edges on its own.

What you want to end up with is even plasti dip coat from your letters, to the sides of the boat, and onto your masking. If you have spray pattern or splatters onto the masking but not full even coats then it makes clean up a lot harder.

Now your done spraying. This is when peeling starts, and this is why its CRITICAL you DO NOT mask the letters like traditional paint, as close as you can. If you mask to close then when you go to peel the stuff you don't want it will actually peel your lettering wasting all the work you did.

As you remove the masking take it slow, it will start to peel the unwanted plasti dip. This is where waxing the area is really handy. You can do it with out waxing and it comes off easy also.

As you peel the plasti dip it will edge its self around all the letters. You then just scratch the inside of the O B A and peel it out. If you go slow it will peel out of all the cracks. You might get edges that are stuck or tear and leave small peaces in the edges of the letters, this is where a pic tool comes in handy, Tooth picks work well too. Just careful and pick away from your letters, dont pick at the edges.

Once you peel off all the masking and around all your letters you might have some clean up left. Wax removes the plasti dip well, as well as just rubbing it with your fingers, or a towel. I recommend Micro fiber because the fibers grab it very well.

Be careful not to mess with the letters edges at this point. Let it cure over night and then you can touch it and clean it.

mmandley
03-05-2013, 12:33 PM
Heres some pics, i didnt get the clean up pics at this time but i have some video still being processed.

Here's i masked WAY to fare away and created a huge amount of extra clean up. Mask no more then 2 inches around the letters.

http://i639.photobucket.com/albums/uu114/mmandley/Moomba%20Mojo/20130220_143803_zpsee3ed84e.jpg

Here i masked it a lot better

http://i639.photobucket.com/albums/uu114/mmandley/Moomba%20Mojo/20130220_143750_zps238f32d1.jpg

http://i639.photobucket.com/albums/uu114/mmandley/Moomba%20Mojo/20130220_143743_zpse46ee455.jpg

Masked of the Best.

http://i639.photobucket.com/albums/uu114/mmandley/Moomba%20Mojo/20130220_143738_zps95ac32e7.jpg

mmandley
03-05-2013, 12:35 PM
After clean up

http://i639.photobucket.com/albums/uu114/mmandley/Moomba%20Mojo/20130225_191832_zpsa8da8b27.jpg
http://i639.photobucket.com/albums/uu114/mmandley/Moomba%20Mojo/20130225_191822_zpsc7b03058.jpg
http://i639.photobucket.com/albums/uu114/mmandley/Moomba%20Mojo/20130226_110809_zps966902fd.jpg
http://i639.photobucket.com/albums/uu114/mmandley/Moomba%20Mojo/20130226_110826_zps00cc89d3.jpg

For the local guys holler if you want help. Id be happy to come help or do it for you.

E4NASH
03-05-2013, 12:57 PM
This will be done to mine SOON.

KG's Supra24
03-05-2013, 01:05 PM
Somebody do a tower ....

E4NASH
03-05-2013, 01:06 PM
Somebody do a tower ....

Go for it!

KG's Supra24
03-05-2013, 01:07 PM
Go for it!

Ha, I'm not somebody ... I'm too scared to be somebody.

jpetty3023
03-05-2013, 01:29 PM
on that first pic of moomba being taped off it looks like you added a lot of extra work by creating such a large spray area. good "don't do" lesson for everyone. looks really great Mike, very well done sir


sent from my home phone

mcdye
03-05-2013, 02:54 PM
Mike, thanks for the detailed write up and jumping out there on the bleeding edge... :) I know we will be seeing more black trimming from others....

kaneboats
03-05-2013, 02:59 PM
Looks good, Mike. How long did it take you to do the whole boat?

jmvotto
03-05-2013, 03:12 PM
Mike, great write up Mojo looks aewsome. Ian already did the xm9s so i bet those 3 pairs are next, unless Brian got in the black grills....

rdlangston13
03-05-2013, 04:30 PM
Somebody do a tower ....


here yah go...

http://www.wakeworld.com/forum/showthread.php?t=797125

kaneboats
03-05-2013, 04:38 PM
That orange tower is pretty dang cool.

moombadaze
03-05-2013, 05:09 PM
nice write up Mike.

Looks great

moombadaze
03-05-2013, 05:27 PM
This will be done to mine SOON.


what are you waiting on ??? night time ?

get with it man. I'm waiting to see how it looks on the blue

E4NASH
03-05-2013, 05:33 PM
It's too cold!! But this weekend is promising but it would require me to bring the boat back to my house from storage (30 miles one way) and then take it back. No real interest in sitting at storage for hours while doing that. I'll do it the next time I have a reason to bring it home.

Well, Drew, looks like that's one more!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

wolfeman131
03-05-2013, 05:39 PM
Well, Drew, looks like that's one more!


you best just bring a keg over

E4NASH
03-05-2013, 05:40 PM
you best just bring a keg over

Done! Goose Island 312. I already have a tap!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

mmandley
03-05-2013, 08:39 PM
Jpetty, yes thanks, I wanted to post that pic and i did it like that on those to help show a how not to tape it off LOL. I was a great learning experience and i was glad to do it.

Kane, it took me a good 6-8 hours from starting to mask to clean up. Painting only takes about 15 minutes a coat but at 8 coats, that's still 2 hours just painting. As i got more and more coats i would let them dry a little longer.

Nash you will want a place in the 60s to paint in. If its too cold the plasti dip doesn't set well.

KG idk if you really want to do a tower in this stuff. The problem i see is, once you get a good scratch in it you will have to repaint it. Also i haven't read the WW threads but i herd it wasn't doing so well on towers.

jmvotto
03-05-2013, 10:35 PM
Done! Goose Island 312. I already have a tap!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk


They sell GI 312 in kegs, one of my favorite brews.

kaneboats
03-05-2013, 10:36 PM
Done! Goose Island 312. I already have a tap!

So, what day are we talking about? I'm pretty good at working one handed.

E4NASH
03-05-2013, 10:41 PM
They sell GI 312 in kegs, one of my favorite brews.

Mine too...unfortunately here it's not available in stores but there is a liquor store that carries it in pony kegs.


So, what day are we talking about? I'm pretty good at working one handed.

Sounds good...c'mon up. Probably will be one of the upcoming weekends this month. Have to coordinate a few things first.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

jester
03-09-2013, 01:15 AM
Mike Very well done. My friend owns a shop and they are doing whole cars. Crazy how forgiving it is and how nice it turns out. Below is the newest car they have done. I am thinking of doing my rims on both the truck and trailer with it. Did not think about doing it on the boat.

https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/426398_550880221618813_673127508_n.jpg

mmandley
03-09-2013, 09:43 AM
Thats pretty sweet Jester, not my color choice LOL. if you want any help or someone to just fetch the brews from the chiller, let me know LOL. I would love to get down there and hang out with you. On a Sunday of course LOL

maxpower220
03-09-2013, 12:06 PM
Congrats on the new look, I hope that you like it.

Sorry, I don't like it. It took years of terrible vinyl graphics on boats before manufacturers finally started using chrome lettering that look great. A few years ago, forum members were spending money to replace graphics with chrome. Now, you are making a look that you like, no problem. I don't like it. I'm glad that you, and others do.

mmandley
03-09-2013, 12:12 PM
Congrats on the new look, I hope that you like it.

Sorry, I don't like it. It took years of terrible vinyl graphics on boats before manufacturers finally started using chrome lettering that look great. A few years ago, forum members were spending money to replace graphics with chrome. Now, you are making a look that you like, no problem. I don't like it. I'm glad that you, and others do.

I can respect that bro.

I only had 2 options really, leave it Chrome or try it blacked out. I really like the Supra letters that are blacked out but Moomba wont use them.

I was specifically asked to NOT remove the Moomba lettering like i did on the LSV by people at SC.
To appease their request and to try something for the forum. I used the Plasti Dip. I honestly never thought about it till the conversation in Dec showed up on here.

I do like the look of the Blacked out letters, whats nice is if i get tired of them i can peel the black off.

I dont mind the Chrome letters, im just honestly not a chrome person.

I would much rather just remove all the decals and leave her plain and clean looking, but like i said the people at SC requested i didnt do that this time.

There was a couple conversations i had about my LSV and Moomba wanted to post some pics but because i removed all the Moomba tags they wouldnt use them.

motosno963
04-10-2013, 12:34 PM
im thinking about doing my tower..wish i had the chrome letters and not the vinyl

wolfeman131
04-10-2013, 12:56 PM
wish i had the chrome letters and not the vinyl

buy some! Call Cynde @ Atlanta Marine and see if she'll sell them to you at thet group buy price from last yr.

motosno963
04-10-2013, 01:37 PM
what was the group rate?..as of right now on my 04 i took the swirls off so all it has on the side is the moomba letters but in vinyl

wolfeman131
04-10-2013, 01:39 PM
I can't remember exactly. I think I posted it, so do a search, butit may have been around $375 for both sides and transom.

motosno963
04-10-2013, 01:40 PM
ok ill add that to the bucket list haha

wolfeman131
04-10-2013, 01:45 PM
c'mon - just rack it up on the ole' Visa card. Not too much time left before you're going to want to be styling on the water.

peel the rest of the stickers off, hit it with your new polisher and finish it off with the new chrome decals.

motosno963
04-10-2013, 02:02 PM
lol ok dad lol

kaneboats
04-10-2013, 02:49 PM
Know the feeling. If I had money for those fancy letters I'd be drinking a lot better beer right now.

mmandley
04-17-2013, 05:30 PM
Heres an update to the Plasti Dip yours letters.

If i didn't mention before, once this stuff cures a couple days its pretty tuff stuff.

How ever i was sort of purposely not being too careful with it because i wanted to know how well it will hold up in the real world of boating.

The last time we were out ti got really windy at the end of the day, and it was wind that blows you into the dock. Also makes it a pain to trailer the boat.

Anyhow i didn't use my bumpers and i got a little dock rash on my letters.
I was disappointed but at the same time i thought, well now i can do a repair and show how easy you can fix this stuff. LOL.

Before picture, you can see the scratches on the edges, This creates a lip in the plasti dip and makes it easy to peel off.

http://i639.photobucket.com/albums/uu114/mmandley/20130401_113152_zpsf5a881fe.jpg (http://s639.photobucket.com/user/mmandley/media/20130401_113152_zpsf5a881fe.jpg.html)

Preped buy masking close to the letter, i didn't want to respray all the letters.

http://i639.photobucket.com/albums/uu114/mmandley/20130417_121637_zps0a5fb907.jpg (http://s639.photobucket.com/user/mmandley/media/20130417_121637_zps0a5fb907.jpg.html)

First i took some basic paint thinner, or almost any solvent based liquid. Rub the damaged section lightly. After a few minutes it will start to desolve to a liquid. Just use your finger to smooth out the edges

http://i639.photobucket.com/albums/uu114/mmandley/20130417_121642_zpse6f54d3a.jpg (http://s639.photobucket.com/user/mmandley/media/20130417_121642_zpse6f54d3a.jpg.html)

mmandley
04-17-2013, 05:34 PM
Then i sprayed 3 coats as you normally would. First coat was light and second coat was heavy with extra attention to the damaged area.

3rd coat was light as a finish coat.

Lastly i used the solvent to clean up all the fine marks left over from the original time i did it and had over spray all over the boat LOL

http://i639.photobucket.com/albums/uu114/mmandley/20130417_125349_zpsc9f0d8f7.jpg (http://s639.photobucket.com/user/mmandley/media/20130417_125349_zpsc9f0d8f7.jpg.html)

Let it dry for 30 minutes in the sun then peeled it away.

http://i639.photobucket.com/albums/uu114/mmandley/20130417_125625_zps230b2c7c.jpg (http://s639.photobucket.com/user/mmandley/media/20130417_125625_zps230b2c7c.jpg.html)

http://i639.photobucket.com/albums/uu114/mmandley/20130417_125633_zps7acbdb5a.jpg (http://s639.photobucket.com/user/mmandley/media/20130417_125633_zps7acbdb5a.jpg.html)

kaneboats
04-17-2013, 10:17 PM
Might have to dig out the chrome letters I have in a box somewhere and give this a try.

wolfeman131
04-17-2013, 10:51 PM
Might have to dig out the chrome letters I have in a box somewhere and give this a try.

There's an idea!

motosno963
05-14-2013, 11:08 AM
i went to the extreme and did my tower..we will see how she holds up this summer

mmandley
05-14-2013, 11:37 AM
i went to the extreme and did my tower..we will see how she holds up this summer

I saw that, and a guy on Wake World did that as well. I'm curious how it will hold up. The biggest thing I'm careful about it wiping the boat down. I am extra careful around the letters. I don't want the micro towel catching an edge.

Only other thing i would worry about is people always touching it lol

motosno963
05-14-2013, 11:52 AM
i did it to my rocker panels on the truck to see how she would look and work..i power wash it all the time..only thing that make it rip so far are the rocks( and like you said, catching the edges as well)..ohh and i spilled a little gas out of the filler neck on my truck and it stained it but other then that shes good to go

mmandley
05-14-2013, 12:13 PM
sweet well as long as people arnt wearing Rings grabbing the tower, it should work pretty decently.

motosno963
05-14-2013, 12:52 PM
sweet well as long as people arnt wearing Rings grabbing the tower, it should work pretty decently.

good thing none of my friends are married

wolfeman131
05-14-2013, 02:15 PM
Only other thing i would worry about is people always touching it lol

what all you covering in plasti-dip?!?!?!

mmandley
05-14-2013, 03:54 PM
what all you covering in plasti-dip?!?!?!

HAHA i was wondering if someone would bite on that LOL.

Hey what we plasti dip is our own business, you do your thing and ill do mine LOL

motosno963
05-15-2013, 08:57 AM
oooohhhhhhhh lol..ill throw a pic up of mine when im on lunch today..i did the rims on the trailer too..my friends like it but im still iffy on it

Boatdrinks797
02-11-2014, 12:33 AM
Hey Mike....Any updates on how this lasted over the summer? I love the look, but I'm not afraid to abuse my triple stick guide rails on the boat lift! I saw your touch up to one of the letters after a landing and I'm not looking for a project every weekend. Is this a good idea for someone launching on/off a boat lift frequently?

mmandley
02-11-2014, 02:38 PM
Hey Mike....Any updates on how this lasted over the summer? I love the look, but I'm not afraid to abuse my triple stick guide rails on the boat lift! I saw your touch up to one of the letters after a landing and I'm not looking for a project every weekend. Is this a good idea for someone launching on/off a boat lift frequently?

It held up great I think. I only had to do touch up when I hit the dock. In the NW our docks are not the plastic padded sides. Its a fabric with rubber bumper, so its very durable but also very course on the side of the boat.

I don't know on your lift how the boat touches, I know trailering the boat and launching I never saw an issue with rub marks.

At Powell in the wind storm we had the back of the Mojo tied to the House boat and boey's between and I have some wear on my rear Mojo 2.5 letters but its not worn off. Its just faded looking.

My honest thoughts are, if you really want long term black letters upgrade to the new 14 Moomba letters. If you want something cost effective but might need a touch up 1-2xs a year then Plasti Dip will do it.

Now with that, I never dock on my Port side due to the way the boat steers in reverse.

With that said my Portside required no touch up at all for the entire year.