Automotive Custom Painting

Ice-T’s Bentley GT

A car with a custom paint job is one of life’s true pleasures. It’s like being the kid with the best bike in the neighborhood or the biggest piece of birthday cake. Whether you drive a 64 Impala, a Bentley GT or a Lamborghini Murcielago, a great paint job will take your vehicle from ho-hum to head turner.

Actually creating a great custom paint job takes skill and finesse. Automotive painting is one of the most arduous and painstaking tasks in crafting an automobile. It can also be one of the most costly. If you are on a budget, there are options for you. Some paint shops can deliver a good paint job for a fair price. Your other option is to take on the task yourself. If the paint job is a success, you’ll have even more to brag about: a hot set of wheels AND a “do it yourself” tale to tell.

Achieving a great paint job is a step-by-step process. You simply can’t rush automotive painting. Follow the basic steps of preparation, primer application, blocking, final paint coat and detail application. This can seem like a daunting task for any beginner, but the entire job can be completed in just a few days.

Prepare

Before you begin, check with local bylaws and regulations regarding the use of spray paint in homes and enclosed areas. The last thing you need is a legal holdup delaying your painting job.

Cleaning the car is your next crucial step. The car must be spotlessly clean and free of dirt. Use detergents to clean the car top to bottom, and then follow up with grease removers. After the car has been cleaned, it’s time to begin sanding. An air sander (preferably a dual-action sander) should be used to remove the old paint from the car. This kind of sander will not cause body damage because it removes paint without digging like other sanders and grinders. Every trace of paint must be removed to create a perfect palette for your new paint job. Automotive detailing tape or even duct tape can be used to cover and protect other parts of the car, including plastic moldings and windows. In addition to removing the old paint, all traces of rust have to be sanded off. Rust will spread if ignored or untreated, and the last thing you want is body rot happening beneath your new paint job. You can repair minor body flaws on the car’s surface using fillers. Shape the compound with care using a sanding board, then follow up with a glazing compound. This step will help to ensure a smooth-as-glass finish on your ride.

Mask

KMK DJ Bobby B “High Rider”

After the whole car has been initially cleaned, then sanded, a final cleaning takes place and the vehicle is ready to be masked. In this step, every part of the car that shouldn’t be touched by paint is covered and protected. Remember, you will be using high-grade automotive paint that doesn’t wash off with water. Cover your windows, every light and reflector, all window rubbers, all chrome, tires, wheels, door handles, wipers.. take a good look and what needs to be masked. If you don’t want even the tiniest bit of over spray on it, cover it up! The tools and materials needed for masking are available at automotive supply warehouses and hardware stores.

Prime

Priming is an essential step to providing a good foundation for your new paint. A flawless prime coat will help you to achieve a perfect paint job. Valspar epoxy is a good primer choice, combining dependable filling capabilities with minimal shrinking. After the primer has been applied, a second coat in a contrasting color should be applied on top of the first layer. This will serve as a sanding guide. The primer should be sanded to a smooth finish, but don’t sand too vigorously or you could actually damage the body of the car. When the priming is complete, a sealer is applied and a final sanding takes place.

Finishing off

50 Cent Chrome Lamborghini

In finishing off the automotive painting, it is essential to achieve uniform color. The spray gun should be held ten to twelve inches away from the body to avoid streaks and runs. This is necessary when applying the basecoat, final coat and clear coat.

Regardless of the type of car you drive, a new custom paint job can turn it into a real showstopper. Automotive painting can be a time consuming task, but you can do it if you take it step by step.
For the latest custom paint products you can use with your project check out www.hardlifestyle.com/paints.html.

The Alternative to Chrome Plating

There is a new technology taking the place of chrome plating with the ability to chrome metal as well as non-metal surfaces (plastic, fiberglass, wood, glass, virtually any surface).

Used in a wide range of industries chrome plating has become increasingly difficult in recent years. Regulations designed to protect against the safety and environmental hazards of hexavalent chrome have increased the cost of chrome plating and burdened facilities performing plating services. Conventional chrome plating has several limitations and cannot be used to chrome plate many surfaces. While industry downsizing and consolidation has led to the closure or offshore relocation of as many as half of the chrome plating shops in North America due to EPA regulations. Europe is ambivalent and Asia is largely unconcerned with regulating chrome plating pushing much of North America chrome plating overseas. The need has arisen for an alternative to chrome plating that does not have the environmental and safety issues of conventional chrome plating.

The Gemini Chrome System is one such custom coating alternative that offers a new and evolving technology based on chemical metalizing. Chemical metalizing uses a chemical process instead of an electrical process to attach metal to a substrate. One advantage is nonmetal as well as metal can be chrome plated (plastic, fiberglass, wood, virtually any surface). There is also more flexibility in the parts making for fewer failures due to flex. The added flexibility is due to the thinness of the coating. With conventional chrome plating the thickness of the different layers of metals applied does not allow for flexibility this can result in a failure of the part. The process does not use hexavalent chromium the main environmental problem of conventional chrome. It can also be tinted to achieve colors such as gold, black chrome, even red, blue or green. This revolutionary chrome process has the durability comparable to that of a high-end industrial or automotive finish.

The Gemini Chrome System is a viable solution for most chroming needs. To learn more or find out if our process could work for you please contact us at www.hardlifestyle.com or email at info@hardlifestyle.com.
Gemini Chrome System Video

http://www.hardlifestyle.com/imperial_chrome_star_wars_video.html

Fire! Fire! Fieldy’s 64 Impala Catches Fire

See Fieldy (Korn’s bass player) in our New Issue of Celebrity Projects Ezine

Fieldy, the bass player for the band Korn, is shown with his fire damaged 1964 Chevy Impala. The car caught on fire soon after getting a sweet Rootbeer Candy paintjob by Jeff Mersey of HARD Lifestyle. We’re sorry to see it all charred up Fieldy, she was certainly a beauty before all that.

Check out Fieldy’s 64 Impala project images right before the mishap.
www.hardlifestyle.com/fieldy_impala.html

More Celebrity projects
www.hardlifestyle.com/projects.html

212 MPH Lamborghini

The NEW Lamborghini Murcielago LP 670-4 SV SuperVeloce had its debut at the Geneva Auto Show and after watching the video they presented we felt it was only fitting to label it HARD. With its 6.5-litre V12 tweaked to 670 horsepower engine it will devour concreter for breakfast and asphalt for lunch. The LP 670-4 SV model is loaded with super light weight materials all around and can go from 0-62mph in only 3.2 seconds and reach an incredible top speed of 212 mph.
The look of the car is more aggressive than its predecessor, with a more angular front fascia, hood vents near the A-pillars, gloss-black wheels, large rear bumper protrusions, and a choice of two rear wings.

Lamborghini Murcielago LP 670-4 SV SuperVeloce Video Presentation

The exterior will feature a lot of carbon fiber, with the whole lower body being comprised of matte-black CF to offset by the upper body’s gloss black paint.

A big “SV” vinyl will be an option, but carbon ceramic brakes are standard and sit behind unique 18-inch wheels wearing Pirelli P Zero Corsa tires.

There’s also an all-new ultra-light exhaust system, complete with a wider tailpipe for an even louder sound.

The interior of the Murcielago SV is dressed in Alcantara and comes with a set of lightweight carbon-fiber bucket seats. The door panels are also clad in carbon fiber, as is the wide center tunnel.

HARD Lifestyle
www.hardlifestyle.com

Fieldy’s 64 Impala on Fire

Fieldy, the bass player for the band Korn, is shown with his fire damaged 1964 Chevy Impala. The car caught on fire soon after getting a sweet Rootbeer Candy paintjob by Jeff Mersey of HARD Lifestyle. We’re sorry to see it all charred up Fieldy, she was certainly a beauty before all that.

Check out Fieldy’s 64 Impala project images right before the mishap.
www.hardlifestyle.com/fieldy_impala.html

More Celebrity projects
www.hardlifestyle.com/projects.html

212 MPH Lamborghini

The NEW Lamborghini Murcielago LP 670-4 SV SuperVeloce had its debut at the Geneva Auto Show and after watching the video they presented we felt it was only fitting to label it HARD. With its 6.5-liter V12 tweaked to 670 horsepower engine it will devour concrete for breakfast and asphalt for lunch. The LP 670-4 SV model is loaded with super light weight materials all around and can go from 0-62mph in only 3.2 seconds and reach an incredible top speed of 212 mph.
The look of the car is more aggressive than its predecessor, with a more angular front fascia, hood vents near the A-pillars, gloss-black wheels, large rear bumper protrusions, and a choice of two rear wings.

Lamborghini Murcielago LP 670-4 SV SuperVeloce Video Presentation

The exterior will feature a lot of carbon fiber, with the whole lower body being comprised of matte-black CF to offset by the upper body’s gloss black paint.

A big “SV” vinyl will be an option, but carbon ceramic brakes are standard and sit behind unique 18-inch wheels wearing Pirelli P Zero Corsa tires.

There’s also an all-new ultra-light exhaust system, complete with a wider tailpipe for an even louder sound.

The interior of the Murcielago SV is dressed in Alcantara and comes with a set of lightweight carbon-fiber bucket seats. The door panels are also clad in carbon fiber, as is the wide center tunnel.

Lamborghini Murcielago LP 670-4 SV SuperVeloce Video Presentation

HARD Lifestyle
www.hardlifestyle.com

3-D Addition to the Gallery

As promised here is the latest addition (Carmella Decesare Garcia) to the 3D images section of the page.

More 3D Pics

http://www.hardlifestyle.com/3d_hardlifestyle_images.html

Go HARD or Go HOME!!!

www.hardlifestyle.com

HARD Cartoon

The boys at HARD Lifestyle have invaded “Toontown”. That’s right they are now animated! Watch for this and MANY more animations coming soon. Full length Cartoons and animated skits will be debuted right here on the blog so stay tuned!

More Videos here
http://www.hardlifestyle.com/hard-tv.html

Go HARD or Go HOME!!!

Bikini Girls in 3-D

HARD Lifestyle Goes 3-D

We have now started a complete 3-D section of our website making images, desktops, wallpapers etc. Hot Chicks, Fast Cars, and everything HARD! We will post up a new 3-D picture in this blog each day.

More 3D Pics

http://www.hardlifestyle.com/3d_hardlifestyle_images.html

Go HARD or Go HOME!!!