Hydro dipping

sistom · 03-12-2012, 07:39 PM

Does anyone have much experience with this process?

I'm considering doing this to my engine cover, diffuser, and maybe a few other parts in and out of the car. How well does it hold up? How much does heat affect it? Does it just look like shit in general?

They have at home kits but I can just see myself screwing it up somehow and I'd rather just pay someone. It's not terribly expensive. Thoughts?

Thanks ahead of time!

Links:

http://www.hydroimaging.com/

Satalite · 03-12-2012, 10:35 PM

Idk. It looks almost like a vinyl type material and I could see issues with longevity (UV rays, weather, washes, etc..)

Cool though. Never seen something like that.

ilikebmxbikes · 03-12-2012, 11:50 PM

it looks like the same process they use to apply real-tree camo to hunting shotguns.

i have this on my remington 870. It isnt clear coated and chips fairly easily. i imagine with clear coat it would probably be pretty durable. If it is hot enough for gun barrels, its probably more than capable of covering your engine cover -

wkndracr · 03-24-2012, 07:10 PM

I work in a car audio shop and we sent out interior pieces from a customer's camaro to a place in upstate NY for Carbon Fiber hydro dipping. When up close, you can tell it isn't real CF, but from it looked a lot better than I thought it would. Way better than the cheap "CF look" pieces that are available on ebay. The finish is real smooth and glossy, and seems to be pretty durable.

This is the place we used: http://www.tarjac.com/

The guy we dealt with seems really cool, and he has been doing this process for years. We inquired about doing stuff like spoilers and splitters and he said any piece over 5 feet in length would have a seam in the pattern but you have to look real close to see it. Turnaround time was a few weeks, but they do offer an expedited service for an additional fee. I think we charged our customer about $700 to do door inserts, dash insert, instrument cluster bezel, steering wheel insert, and center console.

I know I have better pics somewhere, but here are some pics we have on Facebook.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?...4313076&type=3

ken1137 · 03-24-2012, 11:57 PM

Looks good...I'll see what they quote for the engine cover.

ER is currently out of stock regarding their CF engine cover and no idea when they will receive more.

Thought about it more...I don't think temperature will be an issue since this type of coating is used on rifles & shotguns to name a couple of apps. The question would be how they create an excellent bond strength between the substrate and coating. I know from my experience in coating (powder) if my client uses the incorrect base coat the bond strength will be weak. Thus, premature failure. I am not familiar with hydro coating but there must be a few hundred of these shops across NA. Camo for rifles is very popular. Me...I prefer to keep my rifles stock black

Found a process Flow:

http://www.hydro-dip.com/process.htm

BTW...check out their CF Gallery

MGallop · 03-25-2012, 03:21 PM

ive tried it.. and its a bitch. but very cool results if done properly

sistom · 03-26-2012, 12:10 PM

I think I'd like to have my diffuser done and maybe my grills...

JefryHorizon · 03-27-2012, 05:44 AM

http://www.multicampattern.com/applications

Did this on several pieces polymer based gear including safariland 6004 holsters and surefire flashlights. They've all chipped over the years but generally due to adhesion as the company that did it just went ahead and dipped them directly without any form of surface prepping. If you plan on doing such a thing I would make sure the company you choose to go with has a fairly meticulous coating/dipping process.

03-12-2012, 07:39 PM	#1
sistom Second Lieutenant 61 Rep 253 Posts Drives: '08 135i M-Sport Coupé Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Saint Simons Island, Georgia iTrader: (3) Garage List 2023 M440xi Gran Coupe [0.00]	Hydro dipping Does anyone have much experience with this process? I'm considering doing this to my engine cover, diffuser, and maybe a few other parts in and out of the car. How well does it hold up? How much does heat affect it? Does it just look like shit in general? They have at home kits but I can just see myself screwing it up somehow and I'd rather just pay someone. It's not terribly expensive. Thoughts? Thanks ahead of time! Links: http://www.hydroimaging.com/ Last edited by sistom; 03-12-2012 at 07:46 PM..
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03-12-2012, 10:35 PM	#2
Satalite Colonel 166 Rep 2,926 Posts Drives: 128i Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Georgia iTrader: (9) Garage List 2009 128i [10.00]	Idk. It looks almost like a vinyl type material and I could see issues with longevity (UV rays, weather, washes, etc..) Cool though. Never seen something like that. __________________
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03-12-2012, 11:50 PM	#3
ilikebmxbikes Banned 1518 Rep 4,744 Posts Drives: S65 1M Clone & E92 M3 4.6L Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: San Francisco iTrader: (42) Garage List '08/13 1M Clone 4.0L [10.00] '11 e92 M3 4.6L [10.00]	it looks like the same process they use to apply real-tree camo to hunting shotguns. i have this on my remington 870. It isnt clear coated and chips fairly easily. i imagine with clear coat it would probably be pretty durable. If it is hot enough for gun barrels, its probably more than capable of covering your engine cover -
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03-24-2012, 07:10 PM	#4
wkndracr First Lieutenant 60 Rep 300 Posts Drives: '10 135i Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Yonkers, NY iTrader: (0)	I work in a car audio shop and we sent out interior pieces from a customer's camaro to a place in upstate NY for Carbon Fiber hydro dipping. When up close, you can tell it isn't real CF, but from it looked a lot better than I thought it would. Way better than the cheap "CF look" pieces that are available on ebay. The finish is real smooth and glossy, and seems to be pretty durable. This is the place we used: http://www.tarjac.com/ The guy we dealt with seems really cool, and he has been doing this process for years. We inquired about doing stuff like spoilers and splitters and he said any piece over 5 feet in length would have a seam in the pattern but you have to look real close to see it. Turnaround time was a few weeks, but they do offer an expedited service for an additional fee. I think we charged our customer about $700 to do door inserts, dash insert, instrument cluster bezel, steering wheel insert, and center console. I know I have better pics somewhere, but here are some pics we have on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?...4313076&type=3 __________________ 2016 M4 MG 6MT, sunroof. Some audio mods, Swift springs (so far).
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03-24-2012, 11:57 PM	#5
ken1137 Brigadier General 89 Rep 3,732 Posts Drives: BMW S1000XR Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Gilbert, AZ iTrader: (7) Garage List 2009 e90 335i [6.40]	Looks good...I'll see what they quote for the engine cover. ER is currently out of stock regarding their CF engine cover and no idea when they will receive more. Thought about it more...I don't think temperature will be an issue since this type of coating is used on rifles & shotguns to name a couple of apps. The question would be how they create an excellent bond strength between the substrate and coating. I know from my experience in coating (powder) if my client uses the incorrect base coat the bond strength will be weak. Thus, premature failure. I am not familiar with hydro coating but there must be a few hundred of these shops across NA. Camo for rifles is very popular. Me...I prefer to keep my rifles stock black Found a process Flow: http://www.hydro-dip.com/process.htm BTW...check out their CF Gallery __________________ BMWCCA member Last edited by ken1137; 03-25-2012 at 12:31 AM.. Reason: adding
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03-25-2012, 03:21 PM	#6
MGallop Major 49 Rep 1,072 Posts Drives: 12' 135i Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: San Jose, California iTrader: (1) Garage List 2012 BMW 135i [10.00]	ive tried it.. and its a bitch. but very cool results if done properly __________________ Matthew Gallop: '12 N55 Mods: JB4 Flex ISO \| iCarbon DP \| VRSF 5" FMIC \| BMS Intake \| ER Charge Pipe \| Race Axleback \| ST Coils \| Alufelgen CS7's \| iCarbon 3 fin Diffuser \| Blackline LCI \| CarbonFiber Spoiler \| Orion v4 AE's \| 30% tint \| red+blk roundels \| Cyba Scoops \| H-Style front Lip \| WeissLicht LED Smoked Sidemarkers \| Matte Grills \| Coded \|
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03-26-2012, 12:10 PM	#7
sistom Second Lieutenant 61 Rep 253 Posts Drives: '08 135i M-Sport Coupé Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Saint Simons Island, Georgia iTrader: (3) Garage List 2023 M440xi Gran Coupe [0.00]	I think I'd like to have my diffuser done and maybe my grills...
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03-27-2012, 05:44 AM	#8
JefryHorizon Lieutenant 12 Rep 437 Posts Drives: Bus Pass Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Ktown iTrader: (3)	http://www.multicampattern.com/applications Did this on several pieces polymer based gear including safariland 6004 holsters and surefire flashlights. They've all chipped over the years but generally due to adhesion as the company that did it just went ahead and dipped them directly without any form of surface prepping. If you plan on doing such a thing I would make sure the company you choose to go with has a fairly meticulous coating/dipping process.
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