I had noticed some of the cans rusting in our flammable storage cabinet but kept telling myself, “that is a tomorrow problem.” Well today is tomorrow… or something like that. I opened up the cabinet to grab some spray paint and saw a mess. One of the black enamel cans rusted through and leaked all over. I opened it up to let everything dry and started to google why. It did not take long to find a Stack Exchange post for a similar issue. A reply said “HCI stored in plastic will off gas HCI and will rust anything near by”. It might be time to invest in a separate acid cabinet, but for now I will store it in the shed.
The iconic Hootie V2’s motor was looking rather worse for wear after the thrilling escapade at the 2021 Burning Man. The harsh desert conditions had taken their toll, leaving the motor needing more than just a little TLC.
It was high time for a paint job!
But first, we needed to strip it back to its original state. The journey began with an intensive media blasting session, meticulously clearing away every hint of old paint and grime to reveal the bare, raw metal underneath. This critical step ensured a clean slate – an ideal base for the exciting transformation that lay ahead.
With a pristine surface to work on, out came the painter’s tape, meticulously outlining the areas to protect. This was followed by the first layer of paint – a coat of VHT Flame Proof black spray paint. This served as a robust and visually appealing base for what was to come next.
Then came the most exciting part of the project – the inclusion of mica powders. And not just any mica powders, but color-shifting ones from Eye Candy! Fortuitously, I had a stash left over from a previous epoxy project. I was thrilled at the prospect of putting them to good use. So, I stirred up a custom blend using the leftovers and mixed it with KBS Coating’s XTC clear coat. But before committing it to the motor, I conducted several tests to ensure the final appearance would meet my vision.
The outcome was simply extraordinary – surpassing even my wildest expectations! The dazzling play of colors was like nothing I had ever seen. What’s more, the mica admirably withstood the extreme heat of the motor and even the exhaust without showing a single blemish – a testament to its durability.
Stay tuned to see the Hootie V2 with its fabulous new look, ready to take on more adventures!
So….. we have this cable box on the property line between our house and the neighbors. I have always wanted to beautify it, so one night I did. Really it was about a week from the idea to design, 3D print, paint, and installation.
