Painting Style Bar

[Jolliday]

Alright I bought a 97 miata in recent months and it has the chrome style bar currently on the car. I was wondering if I would be able to take the bar off and paint it maybe a gloss or flat black. The main issues I was wondering is if the paint would stick to the chrome plating that is on the bar. If not could I use some sandpaper or something similar to maybe rough up the surface to have a better surface for the paint to stick to?

I know that many of you are probably wondering why I just don't save up and buy a Hard Dog or Boss Frog "real" roll bar, and the answer to that is I am, or am trying to.

I am currently a Senior Mechanical engineering student at Mercer and well lets just say I won't have much money to be modifying the car until after my graduation in May. Just trying to do something to maybe change up the look of the car a little more to my style.

Oh and I guess another question that I should ask is what paint I should use if I am able to paint the bar? The only thing that I have on hand at the moment is good ole Rustoleum gloss black paint. :lol:

[GVfanatic]

im pretty sure that Duplicolor Engine Enamel will stick to it. they have flat and glass black and you can spray their wheel clear coat over it to give it some protection from bumping up against it

[Reverend Greg]

Sandblast it...It will give the appropriate surface to give new paint Purchase.Also I would recommend going and acquiring alkyd enamel.It will be the cheapest route to a durable finish.
(G)

[tbone heller]

Just wrap it with a black roll bar pad. When funds permit, replace the bar & sell the old chrome one.

[Beastinthebushes]

Orrrrrrr, since you are a broke college student, take it off, sell it to some guy on miata.net or the peachtree miata club, and have some money in your pocket, and not worry about being seen with a style bar anymore.

[Dr.Drew]

Orrrrrrr, since you are a broke college student, take it off, sell it to some guy on miata.net or the peachtree miata club, and have some money in your pocket, and not worry about being seen with a style bar anymore.


This.

Too bad you're a Senior. Grants and scholarships financed my entire build, and the car. More than one member on here has gotten some change from the State of Georgia when I was buying parts :lol:

[Jolliday]

Just wrap it with a black roll bar pad. When funds permit, replace the bar & sell the old chrome one.

Orrrrrrr, since you are a broke college student, take it off, sell it to some guy on miata.net or the peachtree miata club, and have some money in your pocket, and not worry about being seen with a style bar anymore.

I have to say these are both very good ideas that I didn't think of. I mean I am not a fan of the style bar because it is really just there for..."style". But I do like it better than not having a bar at all.

I just have never been a fan of chrome coming from a 2000 Celica. I had my ricer days and I used way to much chrome back then, I just like to keep myself away from that. I don't want to use Vin Diesel as my car idol anymore. :lol:

:vin:

But I am definitely going to look into getting something to wrap that bar with. That was a pure genius idea from tbone. Thanks for all of the suggestions.


This.

Too bad you're a Senior. Grants and scholarships financed my entire build, and the car. More than one member on here has gotten some change from the State of Georgia when I was buying parts :lol:

Well with Mercer's tuition being around $32,000 now even with all of my scholarships it is just enough to pay the bills. Not really even enough left over for food, unless I stick to my strict Raumen noodles and easy mac diet. :D

[tbone heller]

Here you go: http://www.jegs.com/p/JEGS/JEGS-Roll-Bar-Padding/750773/10002/-1

[Spark!Plug]

Your talking about the racing beat type II style bar correct? Rollbar padding might not look right on it. IIRC from mine the bar is like 3inch diam. a bit thick for padding.. i can sympathize with you on wanting to paint it tho... i considered it after the 500th time someone ask if my dome light was on thanks to the disco ball effect. I'd just take it off and paint it.

[giallo sv]

get a red scotchbrite pad or #0 steel wool and scuff the bar up really good and use high temp bbq paint.

[Jolliday]

Your talking about the racing beat type II style bar correct? Rollbar padding might not look right on it. IIRC from mine the bar is like 3inch diam. a bit thick for padding.. i can sympathize with you on wanting to paint it tho... i considered it after the 500th time someone ask if my dome light was on thanks to the disco ball effect. I'd just take it off and paint it.

Yep thats right. I am not sure if that is the exact bar, but it is definitely like a 3" diameter bar. I was wondering if the padding that I was linked to would be able to fit over it. Right now I am in the middle of finals week, which is why I writing a message at 5:35 AM right now. lol but I am planning on taking the bar off this weekend and seeing what I can do with it. I am still leaning towards roughing it up and painting it at the moment. Just going to go out to some local stores this week and see what paint I can get my hands on that I think will do the best.

Oh, and I know exactly what you mean about the disco ball effect. I trick myself when parked at night wondering if I shut my door all the way because light is always reflecting off of that bar.