Gatorback'd my cladding

I was a fan of Refinish Restorer but it seemed to fade on me and need to be reapplied about once a year. I would start seeing lighter areas and you could see how I applied it, almost like brush strokes showing up. This time I decided to try Gatorback. I wiped the cladding down with denatured alcohol and spent a couple hours taping up the paint. I also hit the cladding screws with some shiney paint. I've seen this look on a couple other VX's on the forum so I didn't come up with it on my own, but I must say I couldn't be happier with the outcome...

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/da...20818-1714.jpg
http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/da...20818-1839.jpg
http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/da...20818-1839.jpg
http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/da...20818-1838.jpg
http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/da...20818-1715.jpg

Couple more pics of finished product.

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/da...20818-1839.jpg
http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/da...20818-1839.jpg
http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/da...20818-1824.jpg

Looks great! Thanks for posting pics of the final outcome. Did one can do all the cladding?

Sorry, I should have included that info. I ordered 4 cans and used 2 and about 2/3rds of the third can. I put on two good coats. The first was blotchy, with places you could see through. After the second coat it is pretty well blacked out. I went with the black but they offer gray as well.

The fourth can will be used to coat my mirrors and for touch-ups if necessary. I might even pull the wing off the back and coat it...

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Originally Posted by samneil2000

Sorry, I should have included that info. I ordered 4 cans and used 2 and about 2/3rds of the third can. I put on two good coats. The first was blotchy, with places you could see through. After the second coat it is pretty well blacked out. I went with the black but they offer gray as well.

The fourth can will be used to coat my mirrors and for touch-ups if necessary. I might even pull the wing off the back and coat it...

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Looks great! Where did you buy from? I found it on the gatorbackcoating site for $22.95 a can.

That's where I got it, straight from the source.

How much did it change the texture of the cladding? I think it looks great!

That looks fantastic, and I really like the touch with the cladding screws.

Very nice looking. I may consider doing the same to mine. I like the touch of silver for the screws. I have an Astral silver as well so I can see just what mine would look like it I did the black like you did.

it looks awesome but by reading the title i was hoping it was actual alligator skin cladding

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Originally Posted by Mile High VX

How much did it change the texture of the cladding? I think it looks great!

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If you look real close in the daylight you can still see the grain in the stock plastic but it seems less noticeable. I'm not sure if that is because it is somewhat covered up or just because it is much darker now. When I rub my hand across the plastic it has this satin like feel to it, almost velvety. I really like it though and think the flat black looks perfect. For the finish, think of an unburned piece of charcoal.
Thanks for all the compliments guys.

How's the GB holding up a year later? I'm thinking about treating my cladding soon, interested to hear about how it holds up.

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Originally Posted by VXorado

How's the GB holding up a year later? I'm thinking about treating my cladding soon, interested to hear about how it holds up.

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Good question. I was outside in the driveway the other day and noticed a few specs missing here and there, mostly towards the rear and near where the tires would throw up rocks and other debris. The specks are small, like less than a half inch. I need to get the cladding really clean so I can see how much damage there is. I don't think it's that bad but it is pretty dirty on the underside of the curve so it is hard to tell for sure. Hopefully I can re-spray the areas without taping the entire vehicle off and it will be good as new.

I'll try to get it cleaned up and take a few pics to post here to update this thread. It doesn't seem to have the same pop as it did but that could also be due to being dirty. Overall I'm still pretty happy with it.

That would be great if you could post updated pics...

My cladding needs refinishing again and it was previously SN. My cladding is still dark from the treatment, but I've notice my brush strokes have become much more noticeable. My cladding took several big hits this summer on rocks and I like the idea of Gatorback adding a concealing layer of coverage to cladding. For the $80 price tag, I want to make sure the GB will hold up and if future touch ups are easy.

Thanks. :_beer:

Is gatorback just paint? or like an undercoating w/o the grit?

looks great

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Originally Posted by vxnewb

Is gatorback just paint? or like an undercoating w/o the grit?

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This might help. :yeso:

Thanks for the link Knigh7s

I haven't had time to clean it up and take multiple pictures, but I believe this pic of the rear right corner is enough to prove that GB does in fact suffer the same bleed-through issues as other coatings. I believe one of our forum members (can't remember who) used to work in the plastic industry, and said that bleed would always happen, eventually.

Overall I'm happy with the look still, and would likely do it all again but I'm not sure of that. The prep-work took a lot of time. The other coatings/coverings that are hand applied do not have all the masking work that an aerosol application has. Also, one should consider the other treatment used by Sue (VX Kat) and others that was said to be a dye of some sort. If it holds up better than GB, maybe it is the way to go.

I'll likely try to clean mine up and re-spray the faded areas here and there, but I'll have to see what I've got to work with first.

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/da...ck_1_year1.jpg

turtle was trim restorer - $8 - used 1/3 of bottle on 2 applications and its lasted 2 months and 5 car washes so far - compared to the mothers back to black that ran if it got wet and needed to be reapplied every other week this stuff is way better - wont give any scratch protection though

i looked at the pics of the before and after for this month's winner of the gatorback avalanche restoration contest and can hardly tell she did anything - looked like a LOT of work though

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Originally Posted by samneil2000

I haven't had time to clean it up and take multiple pictures, but I believe this pic of the rear right corner is enough to prove that GB does in fact suffer the same bleed-through issues as other coatings. I believe one of our forum members (can't remember who) used to work in the plastic industry, and said that bleed would always happen, eventually.

Overall I'm happy with the look still, and would likely do it all again but I'm not sure of that. The prep-work took a lot of time. The other coatings/coverings that are hand applied do not have all the masking work that an aerosol application has. Also, one should consider the other treatment used by Sue (VX Kat) and others that was said to be a dye of some sort. If it holds up better than GB, maybe it is the way to go.

I'll likely try to clean mine up and re-spray the faded areas here and there, but I'll have to see what I've got to work with first.

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/da...ck_1_year1.jpg

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Thanks for the update... I may still give it a go. I like that it puts a coating on the cladding vs other products that dye or condition.

I wonder how well the roll on GB works. Seems like you could skip a lot of the prep work by rolling it on...

Back to Black still working like a charm for me. Looks like new everytime I wash the LittleBeast.

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Originally Posted by VXorado

I wonder how well the roll on GB works. Seems like you could skip a lot of the prep work by rolling it on...

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I haven't seen that type but I agree that it sounds like it would save a lot of work. Taping off the cladding while trying to make sure you get around the lip of it, right against the body, is a job! Especially with all the curves.

Back to black wears out ... I found Mequirs Black works better. Plus found a spray at auto zone that works great on wiper blades. Going to replace my bra with it. It's a coating that goes on before uncoating. Armor something. Now why does everyone paint cladding while on VX?