Ideas: How to "Gulf Blue" your Dzus fasteners for your race car...

MarkRobinson · 11-09-2012, 07:27 AM

Ok so I have a 911 race car that will be painted Gulf Blue, and after seeing a few NASCAR's up close with their painted-over Dzus fasteners, its not too pretty.

I'd like to paint the car's panels w/o the fasteners attached, then blue-rivot the blue-painted/plated fasteners to the panels, so it looks like it was aesthetically thought out.

Allen-headed Dzus fasteners are mostly available in steel, so has anyone done this before? I can either prep & paint, or maybe find some blue plating (powdercoating), but taking suggestions. :/

Blue rivots are plentiful...that'll be easy.

Thanks for the ideas guys.

Mark

TRE Cup · TRE Cup's Garage

option one: Dzus fasteners are available in aluminum, but have a steel spring on them. With a bit of work, carefully remove the springs and get the aluminum bits anodized blue. Ask that they are left dipped so its as opaque as possible. Get a bunch of extras done as some invariably get lost or damaged

you will still end up with the sun fading the fasteners to a translucent light blue over time, and the slots will go to raw aluminum from removal tool use (get a proper Dzus tool to minimize damage)

option two: Get some match to you paint color vinyl from a graphics guy cut out in the overall shape of the exposed fasteners. Peel and stick anytime one of them get damaged

my vote is for option two as you won't get a color match that lasts with anodizing

MarkRobinson · 11-09-2012, 07:48 AM

It doesn't appear I can separate the Dzus head from the body, as the tip of the extension has been broadened.

I've purchased some Allen-key (5mm) fasteners in steel, doesn't appear the aluminum units are available with a Hex key in lieu of the wide slot. ALL the fasteners on my car have worn-out, some of which are unusable, slots. :/

I like your option #2; clever.

maaak928 · 11-09-2012, 07:51 AM

Mark, sent you a PM.

Cory M · 11-09-2012, 08:16 AM

I have seen a lot of painted ones, they usually chip over time but still are less visible than unpainted ones.

Another idea would be to not use the rivet-on "self-ejecting" style and just get the aluminum button head Dzus fasteners. They would be a lot easier to paint/annodize and won't stand out as much if left unpainted. I have used them on lexan side windows and places where the self ejecting type won't work:

Dzus Buttons

MarkRobinson · 11-09-2012, 08:23 AM

The new allen-key will last much longer I think, though I did think about purchasing the individual heads...might be easier being painted individually, then blue-riveted on.

KTL · 11-09-2012, 08:41 AM

I hate the stuff, but can you powdercoat them? That stuff is darn durable.

175K911 · 11-09-2012, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KTL

I hate the stuff, but can you powdercoat them? That stuff is darn durable.

Probably to thin to take the heat.

MarkRobinson · 11-09-2012, 08:43 AM

Yes, that's my first approach: will need to order powder soon for my PC-er.

Cory M · 11-09-2012, 08:45 AM

I've used the allen head dzus too and like them. The problem is that they are offered in very limited sizes, so if you need some longer ones you may be out of luck. Plus if you paint inside the allen hole the wrench might not fit in. You may just want to buy a few different fasteners and test it out...

MarkRobinson · 11-09-2012, 08:53 AM

PC heat is only like 350/375: not too bad: we'll see. Will try one out this weekend in a generic color (black).

I'd PC the spring-loaded ones as they are, so I don't need to worry too much about the hole/reduced size: can press down on the head to break the seal if there's powder stuck in there: should have a nice presentation once done.

Yeah I noticed that some of my fasteners are .5 and some appear to be .6, so the head depth is gonna be a crap-shoot. :/

MarkRobinson · 11-09-2012, 08:54 AM

PC heat is only like 350/375: not too bad: we'll see. Will try one out this weekend in a generic color (black).

I'd PC the spring-loaded ones as they are, so I don't need to worry too much about the hole/reduced size: can press down on the head to break the seal if there's powder stuck in there: should have a nice presentation once done.

Yeah I noticed that some of my fasteners are .5 and some appear to be .6, so the head depth is gonna be a crap-shoot. :/

James Brown · James Brown's Garage

like aircraft, i like them naked and contrasting, no painting because they will always chip in use. is this a race car or a show car?

winders · 11-09-2012, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James Brown

s this a race car or a show car?

I've been wondering the same thing......

Scott

MarkRobinson · 11-09-2012, 08:56 PM

Have you ever seen a semi period correct Gulf car with Dzus fasteners? Me neither; I want them to disappear with the fresh paint (to a degree)

James Brown · James Brown's Garage

perhaps a cover plate can be fashioned to cover up the fasteners, they can be painted or powder coated to match. held in place with flush screws?

jpnovak · 11-10-2012, 05:06 AM

Mark, I would build a jig so that you can compress them so that you do not coat the inner spring. . Then PC the front face while taping off the back side. Also put a silicone plug in the front allen key recess. This way the tool will fit and have less chance of chipping. It should be easy to match Gulf Blue with an RAL color.

Call Ben, I bet he could do this no problem.

MarkRobinson · 11-10-2012, 08:22 AM

We're gonna try a fastener in one of Ben's on-hand colors first, no jig, just how it is: see if the thickness of the PC interferes with the spring or not. Ben's quite confident that i'll work w/o any mods to it. I found that the PSS-4009 & the RAL-2003 are the two best matches for PC'ing the fasteners in Gulf colors. Plenty of people make colored rivets too