The Golden State: Where & How to Live, Secure, Visit, Enjoy and Thrive in California
Painting And Decorating
Automobile Refinishing
Surface Preparation . . . Priming and Puttying . . . Surfacing and
Sanding . . . Enameling . . . Refinishing Over Old Finish
Finishing or refinishing methods as applied to automobiles have been completely changed in the last few years. Quick drying materials that can be applied easily have taken the place of the varnish finishes that required infinitely more time for drying and considerable skill in application. Al- though materials have changed, surface preparation is still of prime importance to the quality of the finish.
Surface Preparation. Before beginning the surface preparation, have all bumps or dents in the body removed, and running boards, hinges, broken glass, etc., repaired. If the old paint is in poor condition, that is, if it has many chips or cracks, or is worn through to the metal, it must be removed. This can be done with the aid of one of the alkali preparations, or with paint and varnish remover. Although the alkali preparations will act faster in softening the old paint film, they are not recommended, except for those experienced in handling them. They will attack leather and aluminum; they are injurious to brake linings and to the felt cushioning material which is found between the body and frame of the car.
Paint and varnish remover is safer to use. Paint removers contain wax, which prevents evaporation of the solvents that act on the paint and soften it. Upon evaporation of the remover, a residue of this wax is left on the surface. Care should be taken to remove all traces of this wax to assure proper adhesion of the finishes to be applied. Full directions for the use of paint and varnish remover will be found in Chapter 8 of this section.
When the surface has been thoroughly cleaned, care should be taken not to place the fingers on it, as the oils of the skin may cause trouble. All grease must be carefully removed. Turpentine and high-test gasoline are con- veniently used for this purpose, although they leave a slight residue. Use these materials with care! A final wash with a lacquer thinner will leave the surface in fine condition for painting, as the thinner contains no waxy sub- stances. Another advantage of using lacquer thinner as a final wash is that it acts as a grease indicator. The thinner dries much more slowly over grease spots, thereby indicating where they are, so that they may be removed. The thinner is to be used only as a final wash, not to remove the wax. Finally, all rust spots must be removed. A number of preparations for cleaning metal before priming are on the market. Some are for the removal of rust. These preparations serve their purpose well.
