Rat look

macky_6 · Post by **macky_6** » Wed May 21, 2014 7:33 pm

Thought this would go nicely in the detailing section

Ok, after another accident the Lude really is in a desperate condition

Every panel is scraped / bent/ rusting.

The car is gonna be treated to a full respray later in the year.

What I wanna do in the short term is rat look the car. Any suggestions that I might do?

I want to be able to do this in a couple of evenings before modified Live on Sunday

on a very tight budget

Secondly, with a slightly longer term outlook, would it be worthwhile prepping the car in some way for the respray? Potentially saving myself some cash in the process?

Combining the two approaches would be ideal

Post by **newkid** » Wed May 21, 2014 7:37 pm

Prep is key to a good respray, personally I'd leave that part to whoever is painting the car for you as they will sort out any rust/dings etc.

Ive always been off the view and I'm sure @rattymcclelland will agree, for a good respray/paintjob its 90% prep 10% paint.

Cant help out on the rat look but IMO its more a VW thing.

Post by **Gayno** » Wed May 21, 2014 7:41 pm

Easiest way to a rat look is to polish the car to remove any waxes/sealants, then matt black it with a rattle can!

Another option is use blackboard paint (if that's different to normal matt black) and let people draw their own designs on it! You could leave the box of chalk on the car at the show, and see what Joe Public does to your car.....there will undoubtedly be at least 1 penis!!

The "S" express · Post by **honda-hardy** » Wed May 21, 2014 7:42 pm

In my opinion don't do the rat look. Any paint you put on the car now cheaply is a potential for the new paint to peal again year down the line. As for prep. You would do better leaving it to the professional.

Post by **Donald** » Wed May 21, 2014 7:49 pm

Well how bad do you want it to look?

Could get some of this: https://www.google.co.uk/?gfe_rd=cr&ei= ... e&tbm=shop
Make a solution as strong as you dare, add some cornstarch and you'll have quite a strong gelly paint stripper for under a tenner. (gel so it's easier to control where it goes) Wait for it to rain and hey presto.

mercutio · Post by **mercutio** » Wed May 21, 2014 7:52 pm

go all graffiti lude

JMBW · Post by **JMBW** » Wed May 21, 2014 9:19 pm

Yes, all Graffiti + stickerbomb is the least invasive rat-look you can go for.. second option is buying 5 odd coloured Cardip aerosols and go mad with different coloured panel's

This will preserve the still intact paintwork/finish.

Post by **RattyMcClelland** » Wed May 21, 2014 9:51 pm

Oh dear. Where do i start.

By all means go for the Rat look but all you are doing is adding more prep work to be done for a respray. Rattle cans, quick made rust etc etc all are absolute bitchs to work around in the prep. SO do it but you will add labour costs.

Also if i go to a customer and they say they will prep the car for me to respray so they save costs i just turn the job down because
a - I dont know what they have done
b - What products they used so mine might react
c - what was under the prep work in the 1st place to cause nasty problems in the future
d - casuing my repair to sink becasue they have not cured it off propperly
e - because they dont look like Nitin
f - They dont provide bacon good

IMO just wait, save and get it sorted propperly.

macky_6 · Post by **macky_6** » Wed May 21, 2014 10:09 pm

Hmmm, some interesting comments

And also, some really good advice!

I wasn't aware that by trying to help my situation, that I might actually be doing harm, causing problems and perhaps costing me more money. Guess I will just have to live with it for a couple of months

Just not used to my car looking like a bag of shiiite

Thanks for taking the trouble to reply, as always, a good discussion gets tom the bottom of the problem

Post by **NafemanNathan** » Wed May 21, 2014 10:24 pm

The rat look in my mind is rust, dents and shody paint... So sounds like you're already there

Maybe just slam it right down and slap some steelies on there