Re: 1969 Short Wide
 

Nice spray work!!! I'm jealous you have like no dirt or specs in there at all. :lol:

Re: 1969 Short Wide
 

I'm envious! Any scuffin between the clear coats? Are you still going to cut and buff that?

Re: 1969 Short Wide
 

:metal:

Thanks Eddie. It has it's share of issues. trust me It's not as good as I wanted but it will work for the inside of the bed. The outside needs to be better. I have literally hundreds of hours in my metal panels. not including the cab repairs.
Thanks Ryan. Not so, they are there very small nibs they will easily sand out with 2000 or 1500. My old camera doesn't pick up all the small details:)
I also think photobucket is killing the resolution on the pics when I upload them.

Re: 1969 Short Wide
 

Hey Mike! I'm fixin' to get ready on choppin my bed sides and wondered if you could sneak me a couple photos of them square holes along the bottom (spacing). Up at #1353 there's a good view of the row in front of the wheel tubs but I can't quite make out the ones behind. I'd like to take my sections where I can cut out some crud in the skin but want them holes to wind up where they oughta be. Not that I couldn't fill any wrong ones and make new ones, but it'd sure be easier to just section it just so. Paint is really looking good man. My eyes are peeled on the assembly and final. I think you've changed my way of thinking on how to go about it.

Re: 1969 Short Wide
 

Sorry, missed this last night. Yes it will be sanded and buffed. I'm going t let it cure for a while though. That was most likely the reason for the sand through in the first place. The clear blocks out quick while it's still green.

No scuffing between coats on the clear. "Most" activated paints and clears can be top coated up to 24 hours before scuffing is required.

Thanks for the props. I can take some pics tonight. I hope to get some assembly done on the bed.

Re: 1969 Short Wide
 

Definitely like the raptor liner on the bottom side in these pics. Did you use this on the cab and front inner fenders as well?

What prep did you do?

Love what I am seeing on your thread!

Re: 1969 Short Wide
 

Thanks for checking out my build. I apologize for the length in advance....HERE is where I did the cab floor. Notice I added some heat insulating spheres to the Raptor on the bottom of the cab floor. The inner fenders up front will get the plain black treatment. Also, for reference I reduced the Raptor on the bottom surfaces so it doesn't build so high. On the top surfaces it's reduced just not as much. It will spatter big chunks if you leave it just as mixed.

As far as prep goes, I used 220 grit on a DA sander where I could reach and the red 3m scotch brite everywhere else. The light gray primer is Matrix epoxy and the dark gray is Omni epoxy.

On the bed floor (top side) I painted it with the same bc/cc that I'm using everywhere else. I did this so there would be no issue with gray spots. I know now the tinted covers good enough to skip this step.

Re: 1969 Short Wide
 

Holy cow! Its not even funny how jealous I am of your machines and machining skills. I gotta find someone in Utah who can help with with customized brackets when I need them on my build, but will probably farm it out. Ugh. :waah:

Re: 1969 Short Wide
 

Thanks.
Awe, bringing back some good memories of my exhaust fabrication.
On the custom parts, It is a fringe benefit that comes with the this job. I don't like farming out anything I can make for the most part. Sometimes I just buy parts that are easily made. Sometimes I make things that are cheap to buy.

Re: 1969 Short Wide
 

You just showed me a use for the hardened, unground V-block I have had in the bottom of my tool box since college! :lol:

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...n/chevy331.jpg

Seriously, you do nice work and come up with some nice solutions to problems! I enjoy watching and learning!

Re: 1969 Short Wide
 

X2! Nice fab work!

What do you reduce Raptor with? Do you need to do that where you want it "pretty"?

Re: 1969 Short Wide
 

Thanks, I don't have a press brake so I made a small one. It's handy on small brackets.

Thanks. I used standard urethane reducer. Not very much maybe 5-7%?
I think, and I may be wrong but it seems temperature sensitive too. The cooler temps like we have had lately make it less "pretty". It's pretty thick anyway but when it's 95 in the summer it seems to flow and lay prettier. Ya know.

Re: 1969 Short Wide
 

I'm almost sure I did, but if I didn't comment back when you posted them exhaust fab photos - stellar work!

Re: 1969 Short Wide
 

Awesome exhaust mounting idea! Wanna come to the Houston area and do mine? :lol:

Re: 1969 Short Wide
 

X2 to that, i have unground and also my good ones.

Re: 1969 Short Wide
 

It sure would be nice to have a mil and a lathe in the shop. A guy could make all kinds of things with those 2 (expensive) tools. :lol:

Re: 1969 Short Wide
 

Thanks. Good to see those pictures again.
Thanks and Sure I like the Houston area.

Thanks. I have some big ones 6" I think, those would bend some longer parts.

I have a nice little lathe in my shop still looking for a bridgeport or copy to stick in there. No where to put it right now even I did find one. But I have access to about any kind of machining center at work:)

Re: 1969 Short Wide
 

Those custom hangers are nice :metal: looks super

Re: 1969 Short Wide
 

Thanks.

Re: 1969 Short Wide
 

Finally got past the backward steps.

Had to touch up some more sand through and re-clear on the bedside.
Warning: don't sand through your clear coat, it's a pain to fix.....

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...psb147b1b7.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...ps6eced57d.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...ps1fa7ad40.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...ps9dc2a12c.jpg

Bed assembly begins:
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...ps9de488df.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...ps8fdf454d.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...psac578fdb.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...ps49231553.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...ps6bc7f5b5.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...psbfb74137.jpg

Fitting the tailgate:
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...ps71906806.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...ps97d41f06.jpg

Prepping the tailgate for paint:

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...ps6e7d64ea.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...ps60d366d0.jpg
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...ps3be3d56c.jpg

Re: 1969 Short Wide
 

Great work mike!

Re: 1969 Short Wide
 

Lots of little things add up to a lot. Love seeing it come together.

Re: 1969 Short Wide
 

I am loving that bed!!!

Re: 1969 Short Wide
 

I guess a lot of these paints can be sprayed right over the clear and then be re cleared again, so i hear anyway.. Your doing great work!

Re: 1969 Short Wide
 

Looks awesome Mike