Car Insurance

Everybody is talking about the process of powder coating automotive parts. Powder coating has grown in popularity over the past few years for a number of reasons. How many of us see powder coating being used on shows like “American Chopper” or “Overhaulin’”? The general public knows from watching these shows that powder coating is out there. But what is powder coating and how exactly is it done? Anybody know?

Preparation is imperative in achieving a quality finish. The item being coated must be completely bare of any paint, dirt, oil, or any other substance. To achieve this, sandblasting equipment is used. If it is not possible to use this equipment, it must be done with chemicals or by hand. The items are then baked to remove any moisture from the metal. After all materials have been stripped off, the item is treated with a degreasing solution to help prevent corrosion.

Powder coating is a process by which selected items are coated with a fine powder of ground resin and pigment, which is basically ground up paint particles that form a powder-like substance. The items being coated are placed on a rack, which grounds the items. A gun is used to spray the powder onto the items. A large oven is then used to heat and cure the coating. Temperatures used to cure the items typically are between 400 and 450 degrees. Heating the items makes the pigments melt, gel, and then cure to form a durable finish. The finished product is a uniform coating. Powder coating can be used on steel, zinc, and aluminum as well as other materials. The quality of the finished product has the ability to outlast and outperform painted parts. A variety of up to a few hundred different colors are available to choose from. It also exceeds paint in resisting acids, solvents, impact, and abrasions.

Powder coating can be used to coat items such as valve covers, wheels, bumpers, trim parts, engine parts, sway bars, coil springs, strut bars, and many items in between. There are many options as to who does the powder coating for you. There are companies in most metropolitan areas that either exclusively powder coat or companies that offer it along with their other services. Online companies also play into the equation with a number offering services as well. There are normally two systems for purchasing powder coated parts. For popular parts, companies may stock core parts available to be coated in a variety of colors. You order the part and ship yours back for a core. For more custom jobs, you must remove the part and ship it to the powder coater. Companies such as Eastwood also sell do-it-yourself kits. These kits start at $99 and you can use an electric oven or toaster oven to bake and cure the finish. An air compressor capable of a 5-10 PSI output is also required.

If your auto has been damaged by hail or has a some pressure dents you no doubt have been shocked by the smash repairers quote.

“What? $5000.00! But it’s only a little bit of hail”, you say.

“Yes, but we have to cut back the paint on the roof, the hood and give it a complete respray, including baking and also redo the clear coat. It’s the only way we can do it”

Well not any more!

One of the best ways to handle hail damage is paintless dent removal.

Usually repairs can be completed on the same day. There is no paint matching necessary and the factory finish remains intact.

Specially trained operators with a few tools can straighten out doors, fenders, the roof so you wouldn’t even know there was a ding.

There is know drilling, putty or painting required. It can be used on dents, creases, protrusions and even difficult to get at areas.

And the great thing is the cost. Because it’s mostly labour, you are not paying for materials. Costs are usually 1/3 to 1/2 the price of traditional methods.

Make sure you go with a provider that will give you a warranty on their work.

Summary So if you are thinking about fixing dents - think paintless dent removal - as an alternative to the traditional smash repair shop.

When I purchased my first truck, a showroom new 1985 Ford F-150,
it was a basic offering needing some serious upgrades. One of the
first products I purchased was a snap-on tonneau cover that
adequately covered the truck’s eight foot bed. Although I did not
have the truck for long, it proved to be one of my favorite
“add-ons” and it actually saved me some money. If you’re shopping
for a new tonneau cover there are some important things for you
to keep in mind before finalizing your purchase. Let’s take a
look at five of them.

You get what you pay for! A tonneau cover can be had cheaply or
it can cost you a small fortune. In the middle area, where most
consumers shop, there are several reasonably priced models that
are durable, long lasting, and attractive. Some covers look cheap
– and they are, while others look expensive — but they really
are not. Generally, you will pay less for a soft-top tonneau
cover than for a hard-top cover, so it becomes a matter of
personal preference which style you decide to buy.

They are easy to maintain. Quite true! For the most part, if you
are washing your truck, you will clean your cover the same way.
However, do not use the car tire or dashboard cleaning agents on
your cover. Manufacturers such as for the Extang Tonneau Cover
will have specific care instructions for you to follow. Your
local auto supply store should carry products specifically
designed to help you clean and shine your tonneau cover.

You will reap security dividends. Even a soft, non-locking
tonneau cover is better to have on your truck bed than no cover
at all, as tempting items are kept away from thieves’ eyes.
Still, if you carry valuable merchandise, consider a locking,
hard cover version. Covers such as those offered by Truxedo
Tonneau Cover can meet your security requirements.

Resale value will be strong. If you take good care of your truck
and outfit it with a premium tonneau cover, you will be able to
command a good resale value when it is time for you to sell your
truck.

Decent fuel savings. With gas prices surging, one way you can
save as much as 10-15% at the pump is to have a tonneau cover
installed. Wind drag is greatly reduced when your tonneau cover
is securely in place.

Most tonneau covers come with a one year limited warranty, which
should be adequate for you. Your online auto parts supplier can
provide detailed information about product offerings,
care/maintenance, prices, shipping/handling information, and
more.

I hope you enjoy your new tonneau cover as much as I enjoyed
mine!

The winter months can be tough on your body… your car body that is. Salt and chemicals used in the colder climates can wreak havoc on your cars precious sheet metal. By doing a few simple things this winter, you can keep your car’s body looking it’s best. Put a good heavy coat of wax on your car before the winter storms hit. This heavy coat will protect your paint from the corrosive salt and cold temperatures. Wash the underside of your car often during the winter months. Salt and chemicals will collect under the vehicle and slowly start eating away at your car. Skip the undercoating unless you are buying a new car. Applying undercoating after a car has been on the road for a year or two is pointless. The metal has already started to rust and there is bound to be water stuck in places it does not belong. Once you undercoat, you trap that water or rust and allow it to destroy your car. Avoid driving through large puddles of standing water. This water is loaded with salt and will get thrown into all the cracks and crevices of your car. When springtime rolls around, treat your car to a good wax job again. Make sure to get all of the road grime and salt off of the car before you begin waxing. With proper care and love, you body will stay in shape for years to come.

Before we talk about the different auto pinstriping methods we
need to cover a couple of basic points :

1) Pinstripes are usually done in two colors: one that
compliments the body color, and another, thin line, which
contrasts to make the stripe stand out. There are no rules: color
choice is a matter of personal preference …. and imagination
!!!

2) Make sure the surface to pinstripe is absolutely clean. Get
rid of all residue with a good pre-surface preparation product

OK, now to the different auto pinstriping techniques :

Mechanical Pinstriping

A mechanical auto pinstriping is the best for striping long areas
like trucks, vans, or station wagons. The main advantage is that
it puts down stripes of consistent width, letting you concentrate
more on keeping the contour of the stripe aligned along your work
surface. The Buegler pinstriper and accessories are one of the
preferred by body shops and pinstripers for their high quality
construction and consistent operation. The easiest way to use a
Buegler striper is to set up your stripe line using a magnetic
auto pinstriping strip. It adheres firmly to steel surfaces,
forms mild curves, and has a center groove designed with the
Buegler’s guide arm in mind. The strip can also act as a guide
for your hand.

Striping with Stencil Tape

There are several different stencil tapes that are suitable for
almost any auto pinstriping application. Stencil tapes let you
lay down stripes of different colors without waiting for the
other stripes to dry.

Stencil tape striping requires brushes: the pinstriping brush is
the most important element for an excellent final result.

Freehand Striping

This auto pinstriping method is the most advanced one and
requires the most practice to master, but offers unlimited
flexibility. The easiest method for the freehand striping novice
is to lay down a strip of masking tape about ¼ inch from where
you would like the line to be. Use the tape as a visual guide for
your stripes. Do not use standard masking tape for edging
pinstripes. the pinstriping paint will seep and bleed under the
edge of standard masking tape. The pinstriping can be as plain or
as fancy as your patience and level of skill allows.

Regardless of the design, pinstriping is one of the best ways to
make your vehicle very unique. Like anything worth doing right,
practice will make worthwhile results …. and having the best
possible supplies is critical too.