Fisheyes when painting calipers - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

Cincy10SSRS · 03-30-2014, 09:26 PM

Finally tackled painting my calipers today; actually only got the fronts done so far. Prep-wise I wiped them down real well with a wet cloth, then sprayed them down with brake cleaner, then wiped most areas with rubbing alcohol and let dry. After all that when I was spraying them with the red caliper paint I still kept getting "fisheyes" in certain areas, little round dots where paint just seemed to be repelled. What did I do wrong???

Krajkerjac · 03-30-2014, 09:27 PM

Did you use a primer?

SSmokinSS · 03-30-2014, 10:08 PM

caused by oil or grease. its pretty hard to get the calipers extremely clean.

Cincy10SSRS · 03-31-2014, 08:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Krajkerjac

Did you use a primer?

Quote:

caused by oil or grease. its pretty hard to get the calipers extremely clean.

Didn't use a primer. I was painting over the factory dark grey and decals (CHEVROLET & Brembo). Also, I believe it when you say it was oil/grease but hard to think there'd be any left after all the cleaning (water, brake cleaner, alcohol) I did.

13blackLS · 03-31-2014, 09:38 AM

Maybe scrub them with a brush? Or use a scotchbrite to scuff them up a bit? Thats what i did when i intiallu painted them and didnt have a problem...

ROD_SS · 03-31-2014, 10:34 AM

I just painted mine a few weeks ago. The steps I did was-- clean with brake cleaner, scuff with sandpaper, clean with brake cleaner again. Put a primer on, the red, and finally a clear coat. Not a single fisheye

camguynj · 04-05-2014, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ROD_SS

I just painted mine a few weeks ago. The steps I did was-- clean with brake cleaner, scuff with sandpaper, clean with brake cleaner again. Put a primer on, the red, and finally a clear coat. Not a single fisheye

What paint did you use?

camguynj · 04-05-2014, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cincy10SSRS

Didn't use a primer. I was painting over the factory dark grey and decals (CHEVROLET & Brembo). Also, I believe it when you say it was oil/grease but hard to think there'd be any left after all the cleaning (water, brake cleaner, alcohol) I did.

What paint did you use?

ROD_SS · 04-05-2014, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by camguynj

What paint did you use?

VHT paint

Michaels2011 · 04-05-2014, 08:29 PM

Pics???

1KillerSS · 04-05-2014, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cincy10SSRS

Finally tackled painting my calipers today; actually only got the fronts done so far. Prep-wise I wiped them down real well with a wet cloth, then sprayed them down with brake cleaner, then wiped most areas with rubbing alcohol and let dry. After all that when I was spraying them with the red caliper paint I still kept getting "fisheyes" in certain areas, little round dots where paint just seemed to be repelled. What did I do wrong???

brake cleaner alone can cause fisheyes its a petroleum based product and rubbing alcohol is not the best degreaser

thkfast · 04-06-2014, 05:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by camguynj

What paint did you use?

I used a lot of what I learned from other Camaro5 members to do my calipers. I think scuffing them with RED Scotchbrite pads and shooting them with primer would prevent fisheye. Here's my DIY including the VHT primer, paint and clear I used.

http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=344735

camguynj · 04-06-2014, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thkfast

I used a lot of what I learned from other Camaro5 members to do my calipers. I think scuffing them with RED Scotchbrite pads and shooting them with primer would prevent fisheye. Here's my DIY including the VHT primer, paint and clear I used.

http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=344735

Terrific DYI writeup, pics & tips (professional quailty, really better than most sponsor product instrructions ) as was the finished product. Calipers & car look great! Just curious about leakage when you removed the brake lines?

Cincy10SSRS · 04-06-2014, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1KillerSS

brake cleaner alone can cause fisheyes its a petroleum based product and rubbing alcohol is not the best degreaser

Then what kinds of stuff is a better choice?

03-30-2014, 09:26 PM	#1
Cincy10SSRS Drives: 2010 2SS RS M6 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Cincinnati area Posts: 1,522	Fisheyes when painting calipers Finally tackled painting my calipers today; actually only got the fronts done so far. Prep-wise I wiped them down real well with a wet cloth, then sprayed them down with brake cleaner, then wiped most areas with rubbing alcohol and let dry. After all that when I was spraying them with the red caliper paint I still kept getting "fisheyes" in certain areas, little round dots where paint just seemed to be repelled. What did I do wrong??? __________________ Traded-in car: K&N Typhoon intake, JBA Shorty headers, Solo mid-pipes/hi-flow cats, GMPP Track Pack axle-back, Vmax ported TB, Billet Custom catch can, billet tensioner pulley, Hines Hex Vents, Z/TA rear spoiler, ProCustom headlight covers, Drake black/riveted quarter window covers, GM satin fuel door, chrome and brushed caps/covers under the hood, EmblemPros underhood bowtie & fuel rail "Camaro" plates, chrome "SS" door kick-panels, chrome trunk latch plate & strut rods, Street Scene lower grille ducts w/LED lights, front bowtie-delete, Yates Performance pedals, 35% tint, etc.

03-30-2014, 10:08 PM	#3
SSmokinSS Get Some Drives: 2014 ZL1 6Speed Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: The Wood's Edge, NM Posts: 712	caused by oil or grease. its pretty hard to get the calipers extremely clean. __________________ BUILD THREAD

03-31-2014, 10:34 AM	#6
ROD_SS Drives: 2013 1SS Camaro and a truck Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: San Antonio,TX Posts: 1,081	I just painted mine a few weeks ago. The steps I did was-- clean with brake cleaner, scuff with sandpaper, clean with brake cleaner again. Put a primer on, the red, and finally a clear coat. Not a single fisheye __________________ ADM tuned (465 rwhp / 442 torque) Mods- CAI, kooks long tube headers, & ADM stage 2 cam

04-05-2014, 08:29 PM	#10
Michaels2011 Drives: 2014 2lt/RS Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: St Augustine Posts: 564 View My Garage	Pics??? __________________ K&N cai..... WCC underhood lighting.... 1LE strut tower brace.... Custom painted Fuse box/engine covers & strut tower brace.... Pfadt 1.25 lowering springs.....Ghosted side markers.....

03-30-2014, 09:27 PM	#2
Krajkerjac Drives: 2011 SS Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Arizona Posts: 317	Did you use a primer?

03-31-2014, 09:38 AM	#5
13blackLS Drives: 2013 camaro ls; 2005 rx8 Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Houston Posts: 577	Maybe scrub them with a brush? Or use a scotchbrite to scuff them up a bit? Thats what i did when i intiallu painted them and didnt have a problem...