Shockwave, I totally know where you're coming from....Soju and I have fought with rub 'n buff for weeks...we tried everything...sanding, primering, over and over, and over...layering...nothing worked....it DOESN'T look like dirty, damaged metal...it just streaks. We tried rubbing it on with different things...fingers, soft cloths, rubber gloves, tissue paper...no luck. Then we tried brush and leaf...that didn't work, either...it really looked just like the chrome spray paint we'd used before, and would streak if we didn't paint it on all over the armor before it dried, which took about 3 seconds...we've given up. So if you do figure out how to get it looking good, please, PLEASE let me know. Good luck.
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Star Wars Chick
Sr Hunter
Wow! I'm very surprised by how many have had problems with Rub-n-buff. I wonder if maybe there are some old tubes out there or what??? Honestly, if anyone wants to send me something to rub-n-buff for them, I'd be happy to try it for them.
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ShocKWavE
Well-Known Hunter
Okay everyone, I worked on it more before taking the pics because I only had limited time, but I finally got it!
These are the 3 things that ended up helping me.
1) Although there is often debate on whether or not Rub n Buff dries, one thing that I think was a big factor was the time between the coats of Rub n Buff. Yesterday, it was looking crappy and uneven. When I say uneven, I mean flat in some areas, shiney in others. I went to bed mad. Tick tock tick tock. Then, tonight about 24 hours later, I did another coat (thanks Mirax!) and although it would not even out last night, it DID tonight.
2) (Mirax! again
) Use a tiny amount at a time. I thought I was using a little before, but realized that I was using too much tonight. I squeezed the tube JUST to the point that it started coming out of the tube...barely....then put that on my index finger and blended it as wide as possible. Very thin. Then, when it was fully spread, I used soft tissue to buff it out. That coat from yesterday now seemed like an important base, and these thin layers went on well. If you use your finger and it clumps up at all, you are using too much. Huge thanks to Mirax for the help and to SEEKER for posting his helmet (that helped too).
3) The base....surface prep sanded with 220 grit, primered (Krylon grey) and wet sanded with 320 grit, then top layer with the Krylon Dull Aluminum #1403. I had to order the Dull aluminum online because I couldn't find it anywhere (well worth it). I used three other types of paints before this base, and this was the best for sure. Any of the other metallics or silvers gave me problems for one reason of another.
This first picture is of the second paint I tried and the first picture I posted here. Looks cool as #$%@, but it ended up being too thick, too shiney, and NEVER dried.
I ended up striping it all the way down again and did the primer with dull aluminum. Here it is with the Rub n Buff. A few things to say...the colors are slightly less saturated in these pictures then they actually are. Also, the Rub n Buff is NOT as even as it looks in these pictures, but it looks very good now and like SEEKER said it shouldn't be perfect. Also, yes SEEKER, I know it needs weathering. I'll make you proud in that , just wanted to get some pictures up. Okay blah blah here are the pictures!
More to come! Thanks again to all of you for being on my side.
These are the 3 things that ended up helping me.
1) Although there is often debate on whether or not Rub n Buff dries, one thing that I think was a big factor was the time between the coats of Rub n Buff. Yesterday, it was looking crappy and uneven. When I say uneven, I mean flat in some areas, shiney in others. I went to bed mad. Tick tock tick tock. Then, tonight about 24 hours later, I did another coat (thanks Mirax!) and although it would not even out last night, it DID tonight.
2) (Mirax! again
) Use a tiny amount at a time. I thought I was using a little before, but realized that I was using too much tonight. I squeezed the tube JUST to the point that it started coming out of the tube...barely....then put that on my index finger and blended it as wide as possible. Very thin. Then, when it was fully spread, I used soft tissue to buff it out. That coat from yesterday now seemed like an important base, and these thin layers went on well. If you use your finger and it clumps up at all, you are using too much. Huge thanks to Mirax for the help and to SEEKER for posting his helmet (that helped too). 3) The base....surface prep sanded with 220 grit, primered (Krylon grey) and wet sanded with 320 grit, then top layer with the Krylon Dull Aluminum #1403. I had to order the Dull aluminum online because I couldn't find it anywhere (well worth it). I used three other types of paints before this base, and this was the best for sure. Any of the other metallics or silvers gave me problems for one reason of another.
This first picture is of the second paint I tried and the first picture I posted here. Looks cool as #$%@, but it ended up being too thick, too shiney, and NEVER dried.
I ended up striping it all the way down again and did the primer with dull aluminum. Here it is with the Rub n Buff. A few things to say...the colors are slightly less saturated in these pictures then they actually are. Also, the Rub n Buff is NOT as even as it looks in these pictures, but it looks very good now and like SEEKER said it shouldn't be perfect. Also, yes SEEKER, I know it needs weathering. I'll make you proud in that
, just wanted to get some pictures up. Okay blah blah here are the pictures!
More to come! Thanks again to all of you for being on my side.
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Han Hunter
Active Hunter
Hey shockwave, glad you got a result after yesterday's worries.
Looks really good!
I did spend a couple of minutes thinking either my eyes or my screen were screwed, though. I'd forgotten you were doing a custom and thought they were the worst Jango Blues I'd ever seen
Looking forward to seeing the weathering!
Get some sleep!
Si
Looks really good!
I did spend a couple of minutes thinking either my eyes or my screen were screwed, though. I'd forgotten you were doing a custom and thought they were the worst Jango Blues I'd ever seen
Looking forward to seeing the weathering!
Get some sleep!
Si
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Star Wars Chick
Sr Hunter
It looks fantastic! I'm so glad you didn't give up. I had a feeling that the "uneven" look you were talking about was what I had until I recoated. So glad it worked for you!
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Star Wars Chick
Sr Hunter
Be sure to buff real good where you are going to apply the pinstripes or it won't stick well since Rub-n-buff is a wax.
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sith camaro
Active Hunter
As for the brush n' leaf, I used it all over my new helmet, and gauntlets. The only time I used RNB at all, was to fill in any spaces that the BNL didn't cover.
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Bountys Hunted
Well-Known Hunter
Bravo!!! Glad to hear and see that you conquered Rub n Buff!
:cheers
:cheers
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BountyHunter185
Active Hunter
ShocKWavE, your helmet is awesome so far. :cheers
I tell you i was starting to get worried because i planned on using R&B on my armor and helmet. Now after hearing all the advice and seeing you figured out what the problem was and fixed it to make that sweet helmet, i'm getting more confident.
awesome job man
I tell you i was starting to get worried because i planned on using R&B on my armor and helmet. Now after hearing all the advice and seeing you figured out what the problem was and fixed it to make that sweet helmet, i'm getting more confident.
awesome job man
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ShocKWavE
Well-Known Hunter
Thanks for the all the comments and advice. I can't wait to work more on it. BountyHunter185, be sure to mess around with the Rub n Buff on some test material a few times so that you get a feel for it's texture. Also, the test material should be prepared as your parts will be (including drying time). Just my opinion. It can definetely be a pain in the @ss to work with, but I was lucky to get the feel for it last night.
Oh and don't forget, if you had any areas where masking tape was, be sure to clean them well. Eventually I was able to make it all blend together, but those tape lines were mad news and not immediately evident.
Oh and don't forget, if you had any areas where masking tape was, be sure to clean them well. Eventually I was able to make it all blend together, but those tape lines were mad news and not immediately evident.
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Star Wars Chick
Sr Hunter
Saw your other post first but will say it here- really awesome job you did! Congrats
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BountyHunter185
Active Hunter
Just wanted to say again how Awesome of a job you did on your Helmet.
Keep up the great work.
Keep up the great work.
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darksidedesign
Active Hunter
Looks Fantastic!
What did you use to weather it?
That's a Rubies helmet, right?
Outstanding job!
What did you use to weather it?
That's a Rubies helmet, right?
Outstanding job!
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