Adding Some Style With BASF, L&G Enterprises and Stylin’ Trucks
We brought our Project Greystone truck, a 2007 Chevrolet Silverado Classic crew cab, to L&G Enterprises in San Dimas, California, to begin the paint process using BASF R-M Onyx HD waterborne materials. Our goal is to keep the clean, monochromatic look with a subtle two-tone broken up with highly detailed graphics that bring a few tricks and different textures to the plate. Finishing it all off are a few custom-painted parts and a Street Scene EQ Gen I front bumper cover and RECON Smoked LED taillights supplied by the folks at Stylin’ Trucks.
We determined the colors needed that would complement or match our factory Greystone Metallic (213M) base. Lexus Smoky Granite Mica (TOY1G0) offers a great darker tone for the top color so that all of the metallic and pearl components we wanted would really pop in the sun. Millennium Silver and Black toner will be mixed with the main base colors to complete the graphics designed by Theresa Contreras at L&G Enterprises.
Last month we covered the preparation of the components and the truck for paint. We also covered the design and mapping process for the two-tone and graphics. This time, we will showcase the application of the custom graphics, including the masking steps needed to ensure the paint doesn’t overlap or leave harsh lines. The airbrushing and custom texture touches are the icing on the cake that will be encapsulated in clearcoat from BASF’s R-M line. All of the BASF R-M paint colors are compliant with current VOC (volatile organic compound) restriction levels. The system has been developed and tested over the course of several years because the chemicals and mixing procedures are different from conventional solvent-based paint systems. Drying times are slower, and the climate where you live will have an effect on drying times and mixing procedures. The BASF R-M Onyx HD line includes everything necessary for custom or repair paint jobs. From primer/sealer to basecoat colors to final clearcoat and everything in between, including varied levels of reducers and hardeners are available. The line is VOC compliant with waterborne paints and solvent-based clearcoats for the same protection. The Color Match feature of the line ensures that color-matching components will produce the desired results.
Once the truck is sealed in clear, following the custom graphics, the final step will be to reassemble the truck and get it ready for the shows. But, that won’t happen without a few custom tricks, including smoked lights, painted custom bumpers and color-matched handles.
| Sources | Gaylord’s Bed Lids | |
| BASF Automotive Refinish | 562.529.7543 | |
| 800.201.1605 | www.gaylordslids.com (http://www NULL.gaylordslids NULL.com) | |
| www.basfrefinish.com (http://www NULL.basfrefinish NULL.com) | ||
| Grant Products | ||
| L&G Enterprises | www.grantproducts.com (http://www NULL.grantproducts NULL.com) | |
| Dept. STTR | ||
| 882 W Cienega Ave. | Grillcraft | |
| San Dimas, CA 91773 | www.grillcraft.com (http://www NULL.grillcraft NULL.com) | |
| 909.599.2203 | ||
| www.landgenterprises.com (http://www NULL.landgenterprises NULL.com) | Magnuson Products Inc. | |
| 805.642.8833 | ||
| RECON Accessories | Magnacharger.com (http://www NULL.magnacharger NULL.com) | |
| 877.37.RECON | ||
| www.gorecon.com (http://www NULL.gorecon NULL.com) | McGaughys Suspension Parts | |
| 559.226.8196 | ||
| Street Scene EQ | www.mcgaughys.com (http://www NULL.mcgaughys NULL.com) | |
| 888.477.0707 | ||
| www.streetsceneeq.com (http://www NULL.streetsceneeq NULL.com) | Snow Performance | |
| www.snowperformance.com (http://www NULL.snowperformance NULL.com) | ||
| Stylin’ Trucks | ||
| www.stylintrucks.com (http://www NULL.stylintrucks NULL.com) | Stainless Steel Brake Company | |
| 800.448.7722 | ||
| www.ssbrakes.com (http://www NULL.ssbrakes NULL.com) | ||
| Project Greystone | ||
| Toyo Tires | ||
| Bassani Exhaust | 800.953.8696 | |
| www.bassani.com (http://www NULL.bassani NULL.com) | www.toyotires.com (http://www NULL.toyotires NULL.com) | |
| Energy Suspension | Verde Custom Wheels | |
| 949.361.3935 | www.tradeunion.com (http://www NULL.tradeunion NULL.com) | |
| www.energysuspension.com (http://www NULL.energysuspension NULL.com) |
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- With the crew cab prepped, rebased and the foundation of the two-tone and graphics masked off, it is time for some magic in the form of pigment and air. Theresa Contreras at L&G Enterprises handles the custom paintwork, and now that the pattern has been selected it’s time to begin. The first step is to mix up the paint and spray the break line for the two-tone. We want a color that is in between the dark and light colors of the two-tone. This is achieved by mixing the dark Lexus Smoky Granite Mica (TOY1G0) with some Millennium Silver to lighten it up.
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- The BASF R-M Onyx HD paint is mixed with the Hydromix HB020 waterborne reducer at a 4:1 ratio as is compliant in California (dependant on climate).
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- The paint is poured through a fresh strainer cone into Theresa’s spray gun.
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- After cleaning the truck with a tack rag, the paint is applied to the truck covering a few inches above the tape line to ensure full coverage for the break line. A flash coat followed by a wet coat is used before a drying time of five minutes is observed before any more painting or taping is done.
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- A ¼-inch line of vinyl tape is applied just above the masking tape and will remain in place throughout the entire graphic process to keep the break line intact.
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- A few small sections of the graphic on the doors will be outlined in the same break line color. To mask these line portions, tape off the graphics (reapplying the pounce pattern can help). The tape lines are cut off where the break line would be covered up by the other graphics.
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- The pounce chalk is removed using grease and wax remover and a tack rag.
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- The first graphic, the swoosh, is going to be sprayed in straight Millennium Silver. Mix with the BASF R-M Onyx HD Hydromix at a 4:1 ratio and apply.
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- The swoosh is taped off with the ¼-inch vinyl tape to leave an outline of pure silver paint. The goal is to outline the two-tone and each graphic with a different shade so that no element blends together.
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- Tape the overlapping graphic and trim it to match up. Apply masking tape to the entire overlapping graphic element to avoid any scratches and overspray.
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- There are few simple steps to achieve a brushed aluminum effect in paint. The first is to carefully scratch the silver paint inside of the swoosh with a Scotch Brite pad. Follow the direction of the graphic and only go in one direction.
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- We will be adding similar brushed effects to the tailgate and sides of the bed near the taillights to tie everything together.
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- To add extra depth, black paint is over-reduced and poured into a double-action airbrush so that subtle streaks and shading can be added to the brushed graphics.
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- Scuff the graphic again after the black is applied to add depth and a realistic, brushed appearance.
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- The masking tape covering the overlapping graphic element is removed and the outside of the graphic is fully covered and masked off.
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- The graphic will be sprayed with a lightened version of the Lexus Smoky Granite Mica with shading and a flat clear on top. Mix this paint at the same 4:1 ratio with the Hydromix. Waterborne paints tend to appear darker in pigment before being reduced and sprayed.
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- The graphic is fully covered in two coats before the outline is taped off and the straight Lexus color can be applied.
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- Subtle airbrushed shadows and highlights are added to the graphic. Use a piece of poster board to produce a sharp edge to the shadows where needed.
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- The next step is to tape off the completed graphics for preservation. This is done first with vinyl striping tape for a clean and crisp edge before using masking tape to cover the inside sections.
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- The bottom graphic will consist of a fade from dark to light to help tie all of the varied monochromatic tones together. We start by feathering the Lexus color that’s still in the paint gun over the upper portion of the graphic.
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- Millennium Silver is used to lighten up the Greystone Metallic color to provide the lighter portion of the fade.
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- This cocktail is mixed with the Hydromix once again before being lightly applied to the lower portion of the graphic.
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- To provide an overlapping quality to the graphics, the areas in between, or “below,” the overlapping graphic elements is hit with some black mixed with Greystone Metallic color.
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- All of the graphic elements are then masked off before Luis preps the upper portion of the truck for Lexus Smoky Granite Mica.
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- The BASF R-M Onyx HD Lexus Smoky Granite Mica is mixed with the Hydromix HB020 reducer at a 4:1 ratio.
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- The paint is strained into a disposable, compliant container and placed into the paint cup on the spray gun before being applied. Apply a wet coat, a normal coat and a final mist coat. A flash time of five minutes is observed.
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- Once dry, all of the masking tape and paper for the graphics are removed. Some excess paint might have built up on the edges of the graphics during the process. A quick trick to remove this is to apply masking tape over the edges to peel off the buildup. Of course, do this only after the paint has dried, otherwise you will remove the paint itself.
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- A few touch-ups may be needed before the clearcoat can be applied. This is done easily by masking the sections off and feathering in matching paint using the airbrush for control.
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- We wanted to showcase the BASF, L&G Enterprises and Street Trucks logos on the tailgate. The crew at L&G makes stencils from vinyl die-cut stickers. The logos are eyeballed and centered before being applied to the tailgate and masked off.
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- Portions of the BASF, Street Trucks and L&G Enterprises logos are hit with Millennium Silver.
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- Black is airbrushed onto the logos for more depth.
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- A second stencil for the L&G logo is applied so that the darker shadow color can be added.
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- Lexus Smoky Granite Mica is sprayed from the gun over the logos.
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- Once all of the graphics and paint are completed, the truck is moved out of the paint booth into a heated spray booth where the clearcoat will be applied. The BASF R-M DC98 clearcoat is solvent-based but VOC compliant with a level of 2.0.
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- DH200 Hardener and UR60 High Temp Reducer are poured into the clear with a 3:1 ratio of clear to hardener with a 10 percent addition of the reducer.
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- Luis applies the clearcoat evenly by spraying several wet coats, allowing for a flash time of 10 minutes between coats.
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- After curing in the heated booth overnight, the truck is ready to be wet sanded smooth and cut and buffed to a perfect shine. Carefully wet sand the clearcoat using 1500- and 2000-grit wet sandpaper, being careful near bodylines and edges because clear can be thin in those regions.
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- To bring the shine back, we buff using a cutting pad and compound before a final polish and compound are done. Doing small sections at a time ensures that no areas or steps are missed.
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- Small pinholes or fisheyes are marked and resanded by hand before being buffed out again.
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- We had a few tricks up our sleeves. The large graphic that overlaps all of the others is masked off once the truck has been fully buffed to a shine. To provide a different look and texture, we will be covering this graphic with a flat clear. For the flat clear to bite, the graphic is scuffed with a Scotch Brite pad.
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- The BASF R-M DC5775 Ultra Flat Clear is mixed at a 4:1:2 ratio with the DH100 Hardener and VR29 Reducer.
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- The flat clear is applied in the same manner using a couple of coats. No buffing is needed; just pull the tape and plastic back and you are ready to roll.
Tags: custom trucks, Graphics, L&G Enterprises, Texture tricks
