Manx Club

What did you guys use to coat/paint these supports. I will be using the padded covers but still want them to look good. This the first of many ? Thanks GAry and Annie

Gary, At the direct recommendation of Bruce himself, when I asked the very same exact question, Bruce simply stated to me to use a simple canned spray paint called Hamme-Rite, which is what he called it. Not sure who actually made it but I found and personally used RUST-OLEUM brand HAMMERED which is the same thing and available at just about any home supply outlet like LOWES or HOME DEPOT. It is also available in several different colors of which I used two different colors on mine. Silver and Black. Silver for any exposed interior sections and the Black for all of the exterior bars as this made them less noticable especially in the wheel well areas where they are not covered by the side pods. When dry it has the same apperance as power coat and can be applied right over rust... which Bruce also said for me to do but I still surface cleaned all of my roof support braces first with light sanding and then a tack cloth and then sprayed everything with a couple of coats of the RUST-OLEUM HAMMERED spray paint. Once it drys it is really tough and even with my feet against it for the last couple of years where it comes down along the front inside areas I have not marked or scratched these braces yet. I also have the tube padding and covers on my Manxter but still wanted to know that I had a good rust preventitive paint covering on all of this roof support tubing and exterior braces before I started the assembly process. I hung all of the metal cage components from my garage roof with suspended ceiling track wire and tied to them via the mounting points so I could get everything covered with paint really well. Sure made things really easy for me. HAMMERED spray paint also hides any surface inperfections and no primer needed. Just spray and go. Hope this helps.

I am thinking of going the powder coat route. Might be hard to find a place here in NJ that has a big enough oven though. So I might have to trailer the cage out of state. Olli

Olli - we have a local (Airborne Coatings, East Hartford, CT) powder coating shop than can easily handle a Manxter roof support system. They can do a complete chassis for ERA Cobra's and NASCAR Modifieds. They did my Fiber Fab 8 point cage for $200. Tom

Tom, Yes, I know about Airborne. I have had some headers ceramic coated by them. They were the ones that I had in mind when I said, "...out of state.." I have heard though that there may be some doubt as to wether or not they are still open.(?) I'll look into it... Olli

I found a powder coater in NJ....He has a 15' oven. Olli

Olli, So what's for dinner? Great find for you with someone in NJ having a 15' Oven. How is the progress coming along on your Manxter?

I picked up the roll cage, side bars, and all the misc. brackets from the powder coater this afternoon. I am now doing a cut n' buff on the paint. Saturday I will take the body and the roof over to Tijuana Kustoms. Tom will be making some side panels and covering the roof. I will also be getting one of his molded carpets. After that I need to make the rear bumper center section, then paint the rear and front bumper cages. Then it will be reassembly time.... Did you get my e-mail about Stewart Transport? Olli

Olli, YES...I got your email in regard to Stewart Transport on 18-Sept. Thank You for your time and contacting Colin for us. Still waiting to hear back from Kathleen but she was waiting to hear back from Winnie the last time it was posted here so we all know which way to proceed and time frame thereof. I guess once Kathleen hears something then she will post again or call. I left all of my contact information in the other post. Can't wait to see your finished Manxter. Sure have put a lot of extra time and effort into that one and you will certainly have the BIGGEST Smile on your face the first time you finally get it fired up and on the road for the first time. I know I certainly did. :hello:

Olli, It's just like the they said @ the briss, "It won't be long now!" Now comes the best part...putting everything together for the last time!! YEAH!!!! Do you have a date for the DMV? You have already brought a composite thru so you should be well prepared. Next spring, you will will be out on the road with the wind in your hair!! There's no better feeling!! I want to see your side panels. I cut out articles on how to create them. I had discussed this with Tom way back when we first put the Manxter together. I had even looked into how to put a raised pattern into the panel. I was going to make them on my own. I would really like to have side curtains to protect the interior before hand. SIDE CURTAINS: I was told by Winnie that these are still in the works!! Woohoo! I spoke with Winnie and my pods could be ready to ship as soon as 2 -3 weeks. Stewart Transport will be out there for a shipment. Hopefully they won't have a problem with the paint. hehe. Jim, check you PM Kathleen