<<< My Custom Paint Job >>>

[Maestro Nalbandian]

My first try at a custom paint job. Thanks to the sticky: http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=172828 Very helpful and very well written instructions. What's lacking was step by step pictorial illustrations and that is what I'm hoping to contribute with the thread.

I will update and add photos as I progress through the stages.

(UPDATE: see post #107 for pictures of the finished product)

The donor. As you can see it's pretty much beat-up. Perfect for a first timer to trial and error.

[Maestro Nalbandian]

All the supplies you need for the project.



Paint stripper.
Paint stripper wash (for cleaning before the primer)
Paint brush.
Steel wool.
Sand papers of various grites.
Sugarsoap.

[Maestro Nalbandian]

Masking the bare handle (or with grip)


High gloss and extra tough automotive spray paint. Metallic red will be the main color.


After apply the paint stripper with a brush, I let it work on the paint for 8 hours. (I found the longer you leave it the better/easier the paint will come off ). Then use steel wool to scrape off the paint. It all came off quite easily so I didn't need to reapply the second time. The key is to be patient and let the remover work on the paint.

[Maestro Nalbandian]

[Love2AceYou]

keep us posted, i'm going to do this with an older ncode of mine that i've beat up pretty well. excited for your outcome/final product!!

[Maestro Nalbandian]

Originally Posted by Love2AceYou

keep us posted, i'm going to do this with an older ncode of mine that i've beat up pretty well. excited for your outcome/final product!!

Thanks. The primer is done. Looking good so far. I will upload some more pics later on.

[D. Dokas]

cant wait to see the final product nice job so far

[armsty]

Definately going to do this to my old stick, making it orange and blue for sure.

[Loco4Tennis]

good luck with it, please dont do what i did, i forgot to take pictrure sof every step i latter tought to myself, man i should have taken a picture of that
anyways keep it up, looks good thus far, i am really interested in seeing the car spray paint go on and what you think about it afterwards, my spray paint was too soft, the stuff your using should give you a better result

[Mansewerz]

Wow, this is exactly what I wanted in the original thread. Nice! Keep em coming. Can we see pics from others as well?

[Maestro Nalbandian]

Thanks for the support guys. I will upload some pics of the "primed" stage when I get home.

Loco4Tennis, thats exactly the reason I choose automotive spray paint, they usually have better heat resistance and drys harder.

[Maestro Nalbandian]

Here they are

[Maestro Nalbandian]

[m1stuhxsp4rk5]

looking pretty good keep up the good work

[blackfrido]

terrific job, congratulations!

[RM05]

hm...

i hope there is some primer painted underneath that silver. its not too important but the base paint will usually adhere and protect the stick better with a primer.

i used some reddish primer for my project (pog mid) to give it that st. vincent-like quality. heh theres also gray auto primer. which ever one you want to use is fine.

As for the base coat...those will do fine. you can actually buy real number-coded auto paint from a place called paintscratch dot com. just look for the brand, year, model make (honda s2000 ), and it'll give you the list of the exact colors for that car. For a 12oz can goes for $25 (expensive...I know). they also sell clearcoat for around 12 bucks.

Don't forget to sand (1000 grit) any rough parts on the base coat and reapply the base paint. You get the rough patches from spraying a little too far back. Let it dry.

For the clearcoat,you want to keep the stick clean. Have the can close the the racquet and not to far back (it'll get rough). Apply your first coat and wait a minute or two. Then coat again. It might get a little murky but it'll dry clear. Let it dry for a week before you fit your grommets in.

I've painted my old road bike and an old Prostaff Hyper Carbon Tour 95 and it worked out well.

O yeah...and for people who have kevlar braided racquets...do not sand your racquet all the way. Just rough up the paint or use paint stripper. Don't wanna mess with the fibers or whatever. Thats is what I've head for carbon fiber bike frames...so i'm guessing it might apply to tennis racquets as well. I dunno.

[Maestro Nalbandian]

Originally Posted by RM05

hm...

i hope there is some primer painted underneath that silver. its not too important but the base paint will usually adhere and protect the stick better with a primer.

Actually, the silver IS the primer if you read all previous posts. The rest all good advice

[blackfrido]

Maestro, the primer was applied with brush?

[Maestro Nalbandian]

blackfrido, the primer was spray-on. See post 3, its the silver can.

[Maestro Nalbandian]

Originally Posted by RM05

i used some reddish primer for my project (pog mid) to give it that st. vincent-like quality. heh theres also gray auto primer. which ever one you want to use is fine.

As for the base coat...those will do fine. you can actually buy real number-coded auto paint from a place called paintscratch dot com. just look for the brand, year, model make (honda s2000 ), and it'll give you the list of the exact colors for that car. For a 12oz can goes for $25 (expensive...I know). they also sell clearcoat for around 12 bucks.

Don't forget to sand (1000 grit) any rough parts on the base coat and reapply the base paint. You get the rough patches from spraying a little too far back. Let it dry.

For the clearcoat,you want to keep the stick clean. Have the can close the the racquet and not to far back (it'll get rough). Apply your first coat and wait a minute or two. Then coat again. It might get a little murky but it'll dry clear. Let it dry for a week before you fit your grommets in.

I've painted my old road bike and an old Prostaff Hyper Carbon Tour 95 and it worked out well.

O yeah...and for people who have kevlar braided racquets...do not sand your racquet all the way. Just rough up the paint or use paint stripper. Don't wanna mess with the fibers or whatever. Thats is what I've head for carbon fiber bike frames...so i'm guessing it might apply to tennis racquets as well. I dunno.

Do you have any pictures of the painted POG mid and Prostaff Tour 95? Would love see them.