Wiper arm restoration help.

[mx5lover]

Hi,all
My wiper arms are rusted, and looks uglily. I saw a post about restoring the wiper arm two months ago,
but I can't find it now.
I am going to paint the wiper arms this week, but I am newbie.
So what kinds of sand paper and paints should I use?
Thanks.

[M1474]

I just did mine.

I sandblasted, cold galvinised, and dulux gloss black from a rattle can. I wish I had used a matte finish.

Too bloody fiddley to sand with paper unless you really enjoy sanding.

[jordy94]

My wiper arms are rusted, and looks uglily.
So what kinds of sand paper and paints should I use?
Thanks.

Depends on how rusted they are. Light surface rust can just be sanded away with 320+. Don't use anything too aggressive on the metal as scratches may transfer through the paint.
If it's heavy rust, just get new wipers

[Mr Morlock]

a lot of these things are not worth doing ie more time and effort than they are worth. Suggest check what replacement arms cost. Painting is always the same story prep sanding, probably a prime and then a top coat eg epoxy black but you can soon rack up $30. I am not even sure if the originals are painted- there is a good chance these are zinc coated with black/ satin passivate. You can approach painting by asking a paint specialist eg Body Shop or you can do a bit of reading- there are lots of books on auto painting- even check out SCA.

[Apu]

I just sanded and sprayed mine matt black. On the Integra I used Plasti-Dip.

I think going the whole hog is a bit over the top...despite having had the car resprayed.

[mx5lover]

Thx guys.
I have checked the replace arms,mania got them for $30, but they don't come with the part which attached to the car.

a lot of these things are not worth doing ie more time and effort than they are worth. Suggest check what replacement arms cost. Painting is always the same story prep sanding, probably a prime and then a top coat eg epoxy black but you can soon rack up $30.

Just like you said, the prime + epoxy black is nearly $30 at autobarn, but I would like to try it, get some experience of painting, that I can paint my wheel later.
-

[Apu]

You can get a self priming matt for about $15.

[hks_kansei]

Sand off the rust with ~400grit

If you don't mind the finish left, then prime and paint (look into some rust converter too so it simply doesn't bubble through the paint after 6 months)

If you don't like the sanding marks from the 400, sand again with 600-800grit before paint.

[93_Clubman]

Did mine a couple of years ago - fortunately no surface rust, so just cleaned & sprayed with 310g can of White Knight Squirts Quick Dry Flat Enamel in Flat Black, of which 50% left. Both wiper arms still look like new.

[wassup]

I think it might have been my post

http://mx5cartalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=57&t=49130&start=75

I agree with other comments made. It really depends on the condition of the wiper arms. If you check my post youll get an idea of the condition of mine and how they came up using wetsanding and Matt spray paint from SuperCheap Auto.

[Hambag]

Hey guys, does anyone know the best way to remove the plastic trim around the wipers? Being 20som years old its quiet brittle so I want to take it lightly..
Cheers

[PhilM]

+1 I need to remove the plastic cover in front of the windscreen as well - having trouble removing the little covers which are brittle, the 1st one i tried cracked.

[wassup]

Hey guys, does anyone know the best way to remove the plastic trim around the wipers? Being 20som years old its quiet brittle so I want to take it lightly..
Cheers

You said it yourself. Being 20+ years old with uv damage its pretty well documented that removing the cowl will result in damage.

Others have had some success with jewelry screw drivers

http://forum.miata.net/vb/showthread.php?t=58684

May as well buy those overs (3-4 bucks each at mania) and worry about not breaking the cowl which will set you back $244!

Let us know how you go

[93_Clubman]

Others have had some success with jewelry screw drivers.

Yeah, a jewelry screw driver is what I've used - just do it somewhere you won't lose the cap as they can fly off.

[Hambag]

... set you back $244!

WHAT?

for get it, ill just mask up the car and redo them on there...

good thing i didn't go at it..