View Full Version : Lizard skin top coat
Has anyone here used the lizard skin top coat?
For reasons that won't make sense to anyone, I don't want to carpet my trunk. Two options I've shortlisted are:
1. Powder coat it, apply insulation on the other side as a side barrier
2. Apply lizard skin sound insulation (and ceramic insulation if I have any left) and then top coat in the trunk. That way I get the benefit of sound and heat insulation and I also leave it raw.
Wondering if anyone has used the top coat as most build threads I've read seem to carpet over the lizard skin (speaking of which, how easy or difficult is that considering lizard skin isn't "smooth"?)
Zee
Straversi
11-16-2022, 10:41 AM
I applied the lizard skin in my trunk and covered with carpet. No problem gluing the carpet down over the lizard skin rough surface. I didn’t carpet the vertical sides or the back wall. I used the top coat on those surfaces. Just a heavy paint with a semi gloss/matt finish. Looks better than the flat gray lizard skin. It will hold up well if you don’t want to carpet.
-Steve
Jeff Kleiner
11-16-2022, 11:05 AM
Regarding leaving the trunk aluminum raw or powder coating it. While it can look nice in actual use anything you put back there would slip slide around while driving. Besides being annoying it would mar the finish of either. We talked about Raptor coating in a thread a few days ago and this would be a good option that you might want to consider---in addition to being a durable coating that would be less slick than the smooth raw or PC surface it's also dense enough to damp out some of the "tinnyness" of the bare aluminum.
Jeff
danmas
11-16-2022, 12:06 PM
Regarding leaving the trunk aluminum raw or powder coating it. While it can look nice in actual use anything you put back there would slip slide around while driving. Besides being annoying it would mar the finish of either. We talked about Raptor coating in a thread a few days ago and this would be a good option that you might want to consider---in addition to being a durable coating that would be less slick than the smooth raw or PC surface it's also dense enough to damp out some of the "tinnyness" of the bare aluminum.
Jeff
I used raptor coating on both the outside and the inside of my 1997 Jeep TJ. Its pretty robust, pretty easy to apply, looks good and has lasted well. No experience with my kit (yet) but, definitely recommend the product.
edwardb
11-16-2022, 01:53 PM
Having used both Raptor and Lizard Skin quite a bit, I'd highly recommend the Raptor over the LS if you're going to leave it exposed. Raptor is a catalyzed urethane product that holds up to truck beds, etc. LS is a latex product that while tough isn't nearly as tough as the Raptor. Works great for insulation and sound and when covered, e.g. with carpet. LS does have a spray-on top coat that I tried. It's OK, but similar to brush-on bedliner like Herculiner or whatever. Better than the uncoated LS, but still nothing like Raptor. I get that carpeting the trunk can be tedious. But a simple approach would be to at least carpet the floor. Would give you maybe 90% of the benefit.
. I get that carpeting the trunk can be tedious. But a simple approach would be to at least carpet the floor. Would give you maybe 90% of the benefit.
I really prefer the look of an uncarpeted trunk (that's why I said it won't make sense to anyone but me :-)). I take multi-day trips so I know how to pack light and tend to keep a cloth duffel bag in the trunk that holds all the stuff.
We talked about Raptor coating in a thread a few days ago and this would be a good option that you might want to consider--
That's a brilliant product! Easy to apply (albeit a bit pricy). They even sell cans to make it super easy! Thanks for the recommendation!