Merc paint

[Skoontz]

Question for those who have done this before....Had allot of experience with OMC's, and of years past, castings came in Zinc Chromeate, or raw aluminum.

Raw would get painted with ZC, painted would get cleaned and touched up, then shot with Tempo lacquer. Assemble the motor, bill it and out the door it goes...

Now comes the Merc. I got the new exhaust housing and it came in a coating almost like an anodized coating or translucent black.

So, what do I prime this with? Will Zinc Chromeate be the stuff? And black is black, Ii can shoot some of the lacquer I have in a can and clear it if necessary.

Thanks again!

[ram95]

I have had excellent results using Merc Phantom black in the spray can. I find it much better than Tempo - it seems to dry harder. It really covers good and the gloss is great. Use a couple 100watt bulbs to keep things warm and prevent blush. Best of all, it seems to go on good without primer. I know that probably doesn't sit well with the purists reading this, BUT... I've resprayed a pile of lower units after sanding or grinding the crap out of them due to corrosion and then wiped them with a clean cloth wet with laquer thinner then tackragged them. They look great, and the paint does hold up.
Alex

[snyder]

As I remember when I worked at Merc, zinc chromate was on the enviormental black list (an endangered species) and that was back in the 90's.

[Skoontz]

Yeah it called Zinc Phosphate now, low VOC...So, then i guess the Q is, do I use the Zinc over the coating on the housing, or, is this paint ready with cleaning and sanding?

[mercguy]

[QUOTE=Skoontz;121837]Yeah it called Zinc Phosphate now, low VOC...So, then i guess the Q is, do I use the Zinc over the coating on the housing, or, is this paint ready with cleaning and sanding?[/QUOT

scuff it up and shoot it with Phantom Black...................it is the best black spray paint available........................

Mercury has a process for repainting.................first, primer, then the Phantom black, then clearcoat, then leveler..................all available in spray cans from Mercury...............

unless there is bare metal showing, there is no need for zinc phosphate.......... a better self-etching primer is my choice.

[MN1]

I just bought some Merc Black Enamel paint today. Also got a can of the Zinc Phosphate. I like to use a sandable primer over the Zinc Phosphate to get it as smooth as possible before the black goes on. After drying the paint can be wet sanded and buffed out too.
Should have some OPC stuff up on ebay for sale soon.
Mark N

[Skoontz]

Thanks for the advice. I have some epoxy self etching primer, dark gray, I got rattle cans of ZP...Far as the black goes, I can get a Merc paint, but clear, I got heat resistant and regular H.O.K. clear in gallon cans. I could do the rattle can thing though, it's such a small piece, kind of a waste to even fill a trim gun.....

[mercguy]

Thanks for the advice. I have some epoxy self etching primer, dark gray, I got rattle cans of ZP...Far as the black goes, I can get a Merc paint, but clear, I got heat resistant and regular H.O.K. clear in gallon cans. I could do the rattle can thing though, it's such a small piece, kind of a waste to even fill a trim gun.....

I have been painting for a long time and I were you (yikes!!) I would just use the Mercury Phantom Black spray paint and be done with it..................scuff the item, spray the Merc black (use the factory stuff........only $8), go racing, it will be just fine..............if you are good at using rattle cans.

[ram95]

repeat after me.... SHAKE SHAKE SHAKE..... shake yer bootie... SHAKE SHAKE SHAKE... Ssssshake yer boooootie.... sssshhhhaaa***keee sssaa.... spray it man!!!

Shake rattle and RRRRROLLLLLLLLLLLLL ya gotta hand it to Merc Marine.. they know how to make that paint!!

Alex
Mad Russian Racing - we luv that phantom black.... when looking back!

[Skoontz]

Done.

Stopped at Boatland in Escondodo, got a can of Phanton, scuffed, painted. Good paint!

While between coats I put the throttle and mag clamp on the motor, tomorrow I'll peel off the long housing and install the short one and the nylon motor mounts.

Gear case in route, we will be testing next weekend!