Crinkle finish paint for my heater?

[rolesyboy]

Anybody any suggestions on a suitable crinkle paint to finish my heater box and best way to apply it?Also the stickers that say car, off etc. Cheers

[alexdenevers]

I've tried "Hycote" Wrinkle finish with success on several parts, from the rocker cover to the dashboard.

[JanWulf]

I've tried VHT wrinkle spray cans. With variing results. Smal parts are OK, but I found it difficult to get an even wrinckeling effect on large surfaces. Also it seems to be very dependent on how many layers you applie and how fast it dryes (temperature) and how strong the layers are. And the time between layers.

3-4 coats and low temps (winter):
http://img375.imageshack.us/img375/5237/wrinckle3.jpg

5 coats, spring:
http://img203.imageshack.us/img203/7683/wrinckle2.jpg
http://img130.imageshack.us/img130/7691/wrinckle5.jpg
(not satisfied with that, very uneven)

5-6 very thick coats, room temperture - took over a month to fully dry (without artificial heat):
http://img686.imageshack.us/img686/9516/wrinckle1.jpg

2 thin coats in hot summer day:
http://img130.imageshack.us/img130/3439/wrinckle4.jpg

None of these were put in the oven to dry. So i'm in for hints & tipps as well

[coop12g295]

Hy cote I had different results probably due to temp and patience for the letters my mate has just done his using letraset

[ricardo]

I also used VHT wrinkle plus paint and controlled the wrinkles with heat. I tried the oven, but you get the wrinkles too tight, but if you use an heat gun (used to remove stickers or similar) you can control it well and make a similar look to original paint. An air dryer will work too I guess, but will take longer...
Normally I apply 2 to 3 light coats of paint and then warm the parts a little bit. After 1 or 2 hours I heat them again until the desired wrinkle finish appears. Here is my wiper motor:

[newtune]

I use the textured paint they use on bumper repairs

James

[mini13]

I've had good success with using a heat gun too,

not a great pic unfortunatly, but this in my intake plenum done in wrinkle,

[rolesyboy]

WTF is that??? It looks wild

[newtune]

Looks like a Akm 7 port with a big, make that bloody big turbo !

[mini13]

LOL

yeah thats about the size of it....

for anyone interested its a minisport 7 port head, 37x31 valves, home made injection intake and exhaust manifolds, garret GT25v turbo (variable vane so it boosts from sub 2000 rpm), bottom end is a 1380 with a billet crank, powermax pistons dished to 17cc, piston oiljets from a Zetec, straight cut box, ATB diff, megasquirt ECU.

it was quite brisk on 18psi, but due to a broken cam belt its currently out of action

[mk1]

Mini13,

That is one wild motor! I hope the broken cam belt didn't do too much damage, although I can't imagine how it didn't.

I hope you manage to get it going again soon so we can see some images, or even better see it in the flesh one day.

As far as Wrinkle finish paint is concerned. I have used VHT & Hycote. I get on fine with the former & have never had any success with the latter. As Jan has said, it is very much dependant on the finish you are looking for & it can be enhanced or altered with judicious use of heat & more paint.

I used to reccon I had a "magic formula" for crackling, but after a few partial failures I reccon the best method is to do a few test runs each time.

Also, make sure you wash the nozzle out with thinners after EACH TIME you stop spraying as the paint sets in the nozzle very easily & will stop he can from working!