chevy69

As some of you know out there, besides my '69 Vette project, I am also building a street rod from a '38 Dodge business coupe. As with many hobbies, some of the knowledge from one niche of a hobby can help others. I have been dabbling on some rodder websites and have come up with a very cost effective way of manufacturing your own "Lizard Skin" sound and thermal ceramic coating.

It appears thet the magic ingrediant in lizard skin is ceramic micro-spheres or "micro-balloons" as they are known in the RC aircraft business. The lizard skin product appears to be a latex (based on the fact that it is water clean-up) bonding agent mixed with these micro-spheres.

I have read enough on the subject online that I am sold on making my own "lizard skin" at this point. I am using "Henry" Latex Elastomeric roof compound (from Home Depot - $59 for 5 gallons) mixed with "micro-balloons" purchased through Wicks Aircraft supply ($7.50 per gallon). The gal at home depot even put some color into my white elastomeric compound to roughly match the color of my hot rod (vs. white).

I will post more later on my findings. I have a 5 gal. bucket of latex bonding agent ready to go, and when the micro-spheres arrive from Wicks I will be ready to mix and shoot the insulative product.

More info can be found here:

http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/alte...in-103610.html

http://www.wicksaircraft.com/catalog...160/index.html

http://www.hytechsales.com/buy.html

ratflinger

captainmorgan

chevy69

c'mon guys!!!

I like popcorn too...

...but I expected a little more debate than this

Gumbo

I'd be curious what one of the thick polyurethane bed liners with the microspheres added would do. Perhaps Speedliner which is not plural-sprayed. If you could spray a body tub, perhaps inside and out...

martinsw

This looks like a good way to go. I would think in high temp applicaitons (like under floorboard - near exhaust/tranny/cat) one would want to use something other than a household latex? If the latex gets a few hundred degrees (near a modern cat), wouldn't it melt/burn/something?

Are there high temp latex, or what high temp paint will mix with the microspheres and work well?

I would like to give this a try inside (floor, tranny tunnel) and outside same area. But I have cats both sdies and concerned of the type of paint mixed with the microspheres.

Anyone know re temps household latex can handle (I would like to see 500 degree type paint - like made for engines or calipers)???

chevy69

The stuff I've read so far seems to migrate more towards elastomerec roof coatings like Henry and Kool-seal. You can find these products at Home Depo, Lowes, Ace, etc...

Buffalo Dude

7T1vette

Put Reflectix down for the heat and the home-made Lizard skin on top. I can vouch that the Reflectix will do the job on dissin' the heat. Hope your "brew" works on the noise.

SIXFOOTER

Now that sounds like a vert cool idea. when do you get your stuff?

chevy69

I already purchased the elastomeric compound yesterday. I ordered the micro spheres and expect them to show up this week some time. I will document everything and report back w/ pics.

merlin5353

I gotta see this!!

FeedVaal

I actually did this project last summer. When you mix the micro-spheres with the sound deadening paint it makes for a very thick mix. I applied three coats of the stuff throughout the interior with a house painting brush, the hardest part being the bottom of the back deck. Working upside down with that stuff is a nightmare.
As for results, well with the assorted window rattles and suspension creaks on my old 77, I can't really say that there was a noticeable improvement but the factor is outstanding and so far it's held up well through the winter and summer heat cycles.

SIXFOOTER

Do you have a link for the spheres? I went on the Wickes site but can't find them

TopGunn

I used the Lizard Skin 2 years ago when I had my engine out, I did the firewall and tunnel area and it's worked out excellent for me, the cabin heat has been SIGNIFICANTLY reduced because of it. I'm sure you know you'll need a special gun to spray it which is the best way to apply it. I found that allot of the places selling it will rent you the gun.

In addition to it's excellent heat blocking, it goes on so thin ( about .050 thick) that it doesn't have much of an impact on putting things back together and having interference with the stuff. Make sure if you apply it over carbon steel that you mask it off, otherwise the steel will rust.

Great information on reverse engineering the stuff, at $200 for a 2gallon pail of Lizard Skin I like your stuff better!! I'll be intereted in seeing how it works out for you.

Bill

SIXFOOTER

Here is the link for the micro ballons.
http://www.wicksaircraft.com/catalog...160/index.html
bein a cheap fugger I am all over this one. I read all thru the stuff in the hotrod forum, seems its good to go with most any kind of paint.

sly vette

ME TOO!!!

glenn64vette

chevy69

The concensus is that due to the density of the material, it can be sprayed with a gun made for spraying undercoating. I guess a cheap one at Harbor Freight is ~$15. I have not verified this but this is what I read on the hot rodder forum. I have an old craftsman paint gun that I have painted houses with and it came with an extra large nozzle. It may actually do the job - it's worth a try.

I ordered 6 gallons of the micro-ballons from Wicks for $7.50 per gallon. I placed my order Saturday.

dannyman