Trying Out Homemade Lizard Skin- $10 Per Gallon
 

I've used Lizard Skin before, both their Sound Control and Ceramic Insulation (for heat) coatings, sprayed with their gun. I really like the spray on approach vs peel and stick deadeners (dynomat) since it adheres to the surface better and is waterproof- there's no way moisture can get underneath the coating. I've seen threads about making homemade Lizard Skin from latex paint and Micro Ceramic Air Balloons and always wanted to try it. I bought a gallon of latex paint from Lowe's mistake rack for $5.00 bucks and the micro air balloons came from Wick's Aircraft & Motorsports. Wicks's has a $15 minimum order so I had to get two gallons of air balloons, at a cost of ~$30 shipped, or $15/gallon. I slowly mixed the air balloons into the paint, trying to get the same thickness as the Lizard Skin I'd used before. It took a whole gallon of the air balloons to get the right thickness. I've only sprayed the first coat so far, waiting for it to dry and will spray another coat or two. I'll report back once it dries. I took a decibel reading with my Iphone by knocking on the panel with my knuckles, which was right around 85 decibels. I'll try the knock test again once it dries and see if there is any difference.


$5.00 latex from Lowe's, not a bad color either. It'll be under a floor mat so the color wasn't too important.
http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/s...t/f19cc7b6.jpg

The micro balloons. This stuff is about the consistancy of baby powder. I wouldn't suggest driving around with this in your car for long. :lol: Wear a mask when mixing this stuf as it's dusty and could harm your lungs.
http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/s...t/12c8b5cf.jpg

Mixed together, one gallon paint and one gallon of micro balloons. Different paint will probably need to be mixed in different amounts.
http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/s...t/c25f4fcd.jpg

One coat sprayed. It sprays pretty much like Lizard Skin does, though I may have had it slightly too thick. The first coat doesn't usually lay out great anyways though.
http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/s...t/d8cdbaf7.jpg

http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/s...t/08ef2e24.jpg

Re: Trying Out Homemade Lizard Skin- $10 Per Gallon
 

The idea makes sense, I am interested.

Re: Trying Out Homemade Lizard Skin- $10 Per Gallon
 

so what did u use to spray with ?
is it dry yet lol

Re: Trying Out Homemade Lizard Skin- $10 Per Gallon
 

Your always up to something!! This is great and CHEAP!!

Re: Trying Out Homemade Lizard Skin- $10 Per Gallon
 

Forgot to mention that I'm using the sprayer from Lizard Skin. Any undercoating gun would probably work though. As far as drying, it's only about 60 degrees here so it's drying fairly slow; I just have sprayed the second coat. When I sprayed Lizard Skin back last summer it was 90+ degrees and it dried much faster.


http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/s...t/776d33ea.jpg


I had originally purchased a four gallon kit (2 gal SC, 2 gal CI) from Don Hart's Restoration that came with a sprayer and mixer. He's got the best deal I've found for Lizard skin at around $330.00 shipped for four gallons, a sprayer, and a mixer.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Top-Rated-De...item43aaa49178


http://i.ebayimg.com/t/Lizard-Skin-C...imm0w~~_12.JPG

Re: Trying Out Homemade Lizard Skin- $10 Per Gallon
 

Got to be when you're broke! :lol:

Here's where I got the idea:

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

Re: Trying Out Homemade Lizard Skin- $10 Per Gallon
 

That is a great idea..do you think it can be rolled on or would getting a cheap elec. paint sprayer work better?

Re: Trying Out Homemade Lizard Skin- $10 Per Gallon
 

Cool.

Re: Trying Out Homemade Lizard Skin- $10 Per Gallon
 

I imagine that rolling it would work, though I doubt it would go on as thick so more coats would be needed. Spraying would be quicker as far as getting it covered, but you woudn't need to do as much masking if you rolled it. It would be too thick to roll on as is but it could be thinned with water since it's latex.

Re: Trying Out Homemade Lizard Skin- $10 Per Gallon
 

I got you, but i jus seen how cheap a under coating gun is...thanks

Re: Trying Out Homemade Lizard Skin- $10 Per Gallon
 

cool good idea hope the results are good

Re: Trying Out Homemade Lizard Skin- $10 Per Gallon
 

Well... you have my interest!

Re: Trying Out Homemade Lizard Skin- $10 Per Gallon
 

hmm, i wonder if it'll peel up...

Re: Trying Out Homemade Lizard Skin- $10 Per Gallon
 

It shouldn't, I scuffed up the panel before spraying it. I think since the mix was "wet" enough for it to slightly flow out it should stick pretty good. I could see problems though if there was too much air balloons in the mix, keeping less paint away from the panel's surface.

Re: Trying Out Homemade Lizard Skin- $10 Per Gallon
 

The front side of the panel has two coats, and I've flipped it and sprayed two coats on the other side. I've got the spray technique down so it's got a decent (or atlest even) looking texture over the entire panel. I'll let it dry overnight and post the decibel numbers. It's cooled off outside now, so it's not drying very fast- so far this seems to be one disadvantage vs using Lizard Skin. It could just be the temperature though, its 30-40 degrees cooler now than when I sprayed Lizard Skin in the cab of the truck.


http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/s...t/fe51ccbb.jpg

Re: Trying Out Homemade Lizard Skin- $10 Per Gallon
 

Hey, great work and thanks for sharing this idea! I think this suites my budget better! I'll be curious to see what kind of DB difference it makes as well.

Re: Trying Out Homemade Lizard Skin- $10 Per Gallon
 

No problem! I could tell a difference in the sound when I flipped it over; more muted and dull, and slightly quieter.
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Re: Trying Out Homemade Lizard Skin- $10 Per Gallon
 

Subscribed !!

Re: Trying Out Homemade Lizard Skin- $10 Per Gallon
 

What about heat transfer? I like what you've done so far

Re: Trying Out Homemade Lizard Skin- $10 Per Gallon
 

I think it'll be more suited for insulating against heat than reducing noise. The air balloons function as air space so it should be great for heat shielding. I've heard that elastomeric roof coating is a better "paint" to start with for reducing noise levels. I'm going to look into that more eventually.
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Re: Trying Out Homemade Lizard Skin- $10 Per Gallon
 

Been looking around online, looks like Kool Seal makes an elastomeric roof coating that works well to dampen sound, and the air balloons could still be added to reduce heat transfer. Sounds like it may be a better option than using latex.


*Edit* Forgot to add that a gallon of Kool Seal is around $25 bucks.

Re: Trying Out Homemade Lizard Skin- $10 Per Gallon
 

Looks like latex paint burns at around 420*. There is no lead in latex paint but other stuff you don't want to breath so be careful how close you get the latex painted parts to the exhaust system.

Re: Trying Out Homemade Lizard Skin- $10 Per Gallon
 

I did the sound check again this morning, and the coating dropped the DB level around 5 points. Along with being quieter, its a much duller sound, not nearly as "bright" and "ringing" as it was before, and I think that makes more of a difference in the perceived sound reduction than the 5 DB difference by itself. Checking with my calipers, the coating (four coats) averages .080" thick.

http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/s...t/f6571908.jpg


Good info, thanks for posting!

Re: Trying Out Homemade Lizard Skin- $10 Per Gallon
 

Sweet deal! Do you have any idea how many DB's the Lizard skin reduced?

Re: Trying Out Homemade Lizard Skin- $10 Per Gallon
 

I didn't have my Iphone back then, so I didn't have a way to check any of the panels when I sprayed them with Lizard Skin. I do think Lizard Skin works better for dampening noise than this mix of latex and air balloons, since they have a coating made just for reducing noise, and another for insulating against heat. Making another batch with Kool Seal should be better for reducing noise, and the air balloons would help with to sheild against heat transfer. I'm going to try the Kool Seal/micro balloon mix next, since I want to use something like this on my '66 project.