Followed Me Home, '33 Build

back when i started painting there was mostly lacquer base paints in the shops i worked in .then over alls were enamels then some lacquer with a urethane clear.. lacquer base makers but still lacqure primers . fish eyes never happen much . but when we started going all urethane there was a chance of eyes .. its slow air drying it was open longer for contaminants.i worked at many shops and some that were just a hole in the wall for painting. i knew of one shop that i worked at if the wind blew the right way from the casting shop next to us we would get small pinning fish eyes .the last thing you what to do is add fish eye killer but some times you do what you have to

Wow Roger, what an awesome build you have going on here. I should have read through this a long time ago. Thank you for taking the time to post details and pictures of what you are doing; it's priceless! Thanks for tip on lifting my body off the chassis. That's what took me here to your work of art.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by patfromjersey

Wow Roger, what an awesome build you have going on here. I should have read through this a long time ago. Thank you for taking the time to post details and pictures of what you are doing; it's priceless! Thanks for tip on lifting my body off the chassis. That's what took me here to your work of art.

---

Thanks for the kind words, Pat. I'm one of those "jack of all trades" kind, and figuring out the "how & why" is a big part of every project for me.

Ya' know, learning as you go is part of the process, but I'm getting a little tired of these "lessons" :( With all of the "loose parts" in clear coat I sprayed base on the body yesterday. Had one little boo-boo where the hose kissed the corner of the top, but letting it dry for an hour and hitting it with some 800 grit with wax & grease remover as the wetting agent smoothed it out really quick, and a couple of coats of base had it good as new, but needed to dry at least an hour before clearing, and the time wasn't going to work so I delayed clear for this morning. In hindsight I should have gone back after dinner and shot the clear!!
This morning I was hoping to get done before any rain hit, but just as I got into the first of three coats there was a clap of thunder and raindrops were hitting the tin roof. I checked to see that it wasn't blowing into my air filters, and decided it was going to be OK. Besides, what choice did I have, other than stop in the middle of a coat?
All went well, but then in the second coat the sky opened and it started POURING! Just finishing up the roof and all of a sudden I see a spatter of moisture!:( Now I'd had zero problems with my air, but my first thought was that it had spit a little drop that had spattered on the surface. Little did I know, but there was a bigger drop there, and it made a MESS:mad: Having been schooled to keep spraying through any problem I finished that coat, and while waiting for it to flash I went in, blew down my compressor, checked to be sure that I had indeed cracked the drain on the moisture separator to bleed off any collected water, and blew my air line into a cup to see if anything came out - all was clean and dry:confused: About that time I looked up to the rafters and saw a wet spot with a drip hanging, right above my wet spot!:mad::mad: Now this roof has never leaked that I recall, but the wind & heavy rain apparently blew just enough under the ridge panel to form a leak.
I blew out all of the moisture from the surface, and that opened up several small bubbles in the clear. Shot the third coat, going light on that area, and now will wait for it to dry thoroughly before I work it down to fix the flaws.**)
At this point the body's like a beautiful centerfold model with a big zit!! The water "floated" the clear, forming a nasty sag down the recessed molding above the window. Going to have to be careful to not sand through the clear into the base here. Sure wish I'd have gone back out to spray last night....;)**)
Attachment 58107

Roger the paint Gods are giving you a run for the money for sure! Sounds like your holding your own with them. I remember the last roof leak, it was the day I was laid off from work, and all the roads were flooding. I remember a bit of frustration and screaming at the skies! Fortunately things got better, and I got a better job and income as a result of it!
No point to this, just wanted to acknowledge your hard work and perseverance! Keep posting! Everything looks great other than the water marks!

I feel your pain, Roger!! Seems like I get to do all of my projects at least 2 or 3 times before they're finished.....:CRY::CRY::LOL::LOL::LOL:

It's looking awesome, though!!!:D

at least it won't rust!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Roger ...Been there done that. that shoulda woulda coulda thing will beat you up.. There is a way to fix the water spot. Just think of all the knowledge your gaining :LOL::LOL::LOL:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by cffisher

Roger ...Been there done that. that shoulda woulda coulda thing will beat you up.. There is a way to fix the water spot. Just think of all the knowledge your gaining :LOL::LOL::LOL:

---

Yeah, I should have left it alone, but based on my earlier success I worked on it with some 800 grit & wax & grease remover. Worked great on the flat body, but then I tried to get the massive drip out of the molding and sanded through the base :(:o:( so now I'm going to be talking my paint guy about the best way to accomplish a spot repair, given my base approach. With the holiday that will be tomorrow.... Like I said, these lessons learned are killing me....:LOL::LOL::LOL:

Experience can be a cruel teacher! That's crazy - with that beautiful booth you created you also get a roof leak.... Sounds like Mr. Murphy was at work today!

you now why most all the painters / body man drink

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by 34_40

Experience can be a cruel teacher! That's crazy - with that beautiful booth you created you also get a roof leak.... Sounds like Mr. Murphy was at work today!

---

Yeah, Murph was watching over my shoulder, I'd agree. I told my wife I surely wish I'd of gone back out last night after the kids headed home, but I was bone tired after three or four hours in that sweat booth - soaking wet from head to toe, so much that my boots were doing the "squish squish" of wet socks slipping on leather :LOL::LOL::LOL:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by pat mccarthy

you now why most all the painters / body man drink

---

:D Had to laugh, Pat, because I'd just come in from a mowing session, opened a Blue Moon Ale, and your post was the first I saw:LOL::LOL::LOL:

I took some time this afternoon to troubleshoot the tractor/mower and finally found a loose ground that was giving me all kinds of fits, and once fixed the mower was doing much better so I went out to attack some of the hay field that's supposed to be yard. I came to the realization that I've let this paint job become too much of a priority to the point that I've ignored things that I should be working on, and the car's no longer a fun project. So, while I'm still focused on getting done as soon as is practical, getting the car painted and re-assembled will not be my single priority any longer. I'll spend some time working on the mowing I've ignored, will get to more of my grandson's ball games, take time to go to lunch with my boys, and generally try to focus on the little things a bit more. It'll get done when it gets done, and that will be just fine. ;)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by rspears

I'll spend some time working on the mowing I've ignored, will get to more of my grandson's ball games, take time to go to lunch with my boys, and generally try to focus on the little things a bit more. It'll get done when it gets done, and that will be just fine. ;)

---

I'm proud of you! That is the secret to success and a much more enjoyable life!

There ya go Roger....Building Hot Rods is far too much fun to be taken seriously!!!!

Sometimes it's best to just back off and enjoy the process!

Life will be better when you can drive the new car to lunch with your boys.. Ha!
You are close now, as Larry would say "Get'er done!".

Naw, kidding, Enjoy the process as it comes!

Your build is looking great and I am sure of your success!

If you've not been there before, sanding through the clear is not a good thing to have happen, as laying base atop clear will lift the edges of the clear around your sanding flaw. Sometimes the answer may be to sand off the panel to edges and start over (like on a door or hood or fender), but another way is to dust on two or three coats of a blending clear to "seal" those edges, then once that's fully dry lay on a couple of coats of base to cover your flaw, lightly sand away any over spray from the surrounding area, and proceed with the next coat of clear.
My plan had been to do three coats of clear, let it cure for a couple of days, smooth with 800 wet, then lay down two more coats of clear for good depth of reflection. My snafu happened in the middle of the first round, and it's now cured so today is wet sand the whole body, spot repair the sand through, and do the final clear later today or tomorrow, depending on how long it takes to get the body wet sanded to satisfaction. That is, provided there's not a toad strangler rain within 50 miles....

Here's hoping for sunny skies and smooth spraying!!! I have no doubt it's going to turn out really nice in spite of the glitches along the way.;) Right about now a Kelly Clarkson song popped into my head...."What doesn't kill you makes you stronger...":LOL::LOL::LOL:

oh i have been there cutting past the clear in the base can be sensitve but you have time were many times we did not watching thinner and recoat time as the base can roll up the edge of the clear has alot to do with who,s system you used . cutting it open and letting it dry good then re sand it so if it shinks down it will be flat. i would add a day or two more make sure thinners are out and is some what hard with many base coats you have a recoat time for clear i would wait as long as you can . put your first coat of clear down some what dry let sit for a good long time next coat slow down just abit more till you get the build you want first two coats of clear you do not want to wet on wet if you hammer it you will have a mess

Thanks, Randy! And Pat, what you say about it having "...a lot to do with who's system you used" is critical. What I'm learning as I go is that with today's complex chemistry it's not smart to try to mix & match products for new paint unless you know from experience that it works, and experience needs to be long term coating stability and durability. Anyone doing paint for the first time would be well served by finding an independent paint supplier who does custom painting himself/herself that's willing to school you in how things work together in return for selling you product. Then buy everything that you need from him/her as you go along. In my case I can buy the "good stuff" in the disposable arena (tape, abrasives, etc) cheaper from my paint guy than I can anywhere else, other than maybe shopping the net. He buys in large quantities, and passes on the savings. Like yesterday, I stopped by to get schooled on spot repair, and walked away with a 1/2 pint can with two or three ounces of blending clear, and lessons on how to use it. I bought a few tack rags and tried to pay him for the clear, but he said it was just part of getting me across the line, and happy with my project.

you can fix it any way you want but your by far better blending the base out then clear the hole panle or break under a body line by back rolling the tape sticky side up . if going blending clear i did many spots but on sides and lowers of body . we made it up 50/50 with clear /thinner . had one gun with the mix . them another gun with slower thinner in it to melt blend back. if your sanding and wheeling this car dead flat there is a very good chance of a ring or in time burn out that blend job on a roof is a used car fix .honestly. that why its far better to seal it all down with more clear you will have no ring out

Well, I'm learning why a good paint job is expensive.;) I'm also learning that I'm no painter at this point, but I'm stubborn! :LOL:

Saturday morning I did the spot repair of the water mess, and it went flawlessly - two light coats of blending clear with three hours dry time, two cover coats of black followed by a coat of candy blue, and that was all dry by 12:30. Decided to cover the body and shoot the loose parts first, move them out and then clean up and shoot the body. I had found when I sanded the first coats of clear that I had some bad orange peel in a few places, one being the bottom third of the doors so I was trying hard to keep things well lit so I could get good, smooth coats. Had a couple of nasty sags on the trunk, and also on the bottom back below the trunk lid opening that I'll be working on in the 1500 sand & polish stage. Also got one sag on a door, and a nasty place on the right cowl area, just below the body molding and on one splash apron. Like I said, I've been humbled by the clear:o Finished at 6pm, not very happy, but another step down the line in the process.

Body still in the booth
Attachment 58131

It'll polish!
Attachment 58134

Loose parts in the shop -
Attachment 58135

Light rings are something with the camera lens - don't show on the surface....
Attachment 58132

The good splash apron, with the bad boy hiding behind.
Attachment 58133

Drying today & tomorrow, then into sag/run repairs, re-assembly, 1500 sanding & polish. Will probably fit in a coat of single stage on the bottom side of the hood, and some sanding & clear on the bottom side of the deck lid to clean up some orange peel there, too. No rest for the weary.....:LOL::LOL::LOL:**)

Man your sanding are is getting a work out. Don't feel lonesome, I know I have been there and sure we all have at one time or another.

Painting is such a chore at times isn't it?!?! But you're efforts will be rewarded as that car is going to look like a polished jewel!

At least you're on the home stretch now! :3dSMILE:

Rog, you may already know this stuff, but we had a small discussion (way back when...) about fixing nibs and runs that may apply to some of your work. To my feeble advice a couple real painters chimed in: http://www.clubhotrod.com/paint-tech...epair-tip.html

You got a "see yourself" shine in the quarter panel already!:D

Yeah, I'm guessing black can be pretty hard to shoot even with your great shop space and decent lighting. Where in the heck do those stinking sags & runs come from when it looked so perfect just a second ago????:eek::eek::LOL:

I have no doubt it will end up being pretty flawless before it's all said and done!;)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Bob Parmenter

Rog, you may already know this stuff, but we had a small discussion (way back when...) about fixing nibs and runs that may apply to some of your work. To my feeble advice a couple real painters chimed in: http://www.clubhotrod.com/paint-tech...epair-tip.html

---

Bob, I went back and read through the tips, and they are great. Especially Shine's comment that "... the razor blade is just part of it..." My paint guy told me to take a single edge blade and wrap the sides & edge with masking tape, leaving about 3/4" of blade exposed. Use it like a scraper, following the direction of the run (like gravity pulled it), and with careful use it will stop cutting when the run is as thick as the tape. At that point it can be blocked smooth. I took it one step farther and rounded the corners of the blade on a smooth grinding wheel to eliminate any gouging effect on convex surfaces, and I also have been successful doing an initial "shave" of the highest parts, running flat to the surface on the tape, which puts the blade slightly above the surface. Tedious work, but just another step for a rookie painter....

Like many things in building a Hot Rod, if it was easy, everyone would be doing it!!

Roger, you're taking me back to a year that I really don't want to remember. I've painted six or seven cars in my life, but my yellow '34 gave me the most trouble I can remember. It wasn't a new paint system to me either. One point of wisdom. When you're finished, your paint job will look 10 times worse to you than it does to anyone else, because you'll know where all the warts are and where all the bodies are buried.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Henry Rifle

Roger, you're taking me back to a year that I really don't want to remember. I've painted six or seven cars in my life, but my yellow '34 gave me the most trouble I can remember. It wasn't a new paint system to me either. One point of wisdom. When you're finished, your paint job will look 10 times worse to you than it does to anyone else, because you'll know where all the warts are and where all the bodies are buried.

---

Yep, I know you're right, Jack. It's hard to stop and say "It's OK", but like you say others will "OOOOH" and AHHHHH", while I say, "But look here, and here, and here!!"

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by rspears

Yep, I know you're right, Jack. It's hard to stop and say "It's OK", but like you say others will "OOOOH" and AHHHHH", while I say, "But look here, and here, and here!!"

---

i have had some bone heads want to pick my cars apart body works over 20years old paint on both is over 15 years old .hey look you have a chip there or boy them doors lowers could be better ? many times i smile tell them it.s the way it came from Gm or ask them if they want to see the 10 spots i have seen that they have not found on my cars

I'll just carry a "Friendly Stick" to whack the first guy who says my car's friendly cause it has so many waves....:LOL::cool:;)

you will soon find that most of them guys are the ones that ride there bikes to car shows or have a car far from close to any thing like what you have or paint and fit . thats why i stop going to car shows any more

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by rspears

I'll just carry a "Friendly Stick" to whack the first guy who says my car's friendly cause it has so many waves....:LOL::cool:;)

---

i was at a car show with my chevy had three older guys go to the front look down the side of the car then go to the back look down the sides did for some time?? did not say hi or any thing to me what the hell . i walk up to them looked at them.i told them if you find any thing to let me know :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by pat mccarthy

i walk up to them looked at them.i told them if you find any thing to let me know :)

---

I had a couple folks do that to me when I had my Mustang.. They asked if it was a true GT I said yes. They mentioned it didn't say it on the lower sides, I said no, I removed the badges 'cause I like it better without it. They said I ruined the car! I laughed and told'em to buy it from me for 20 Large and they could fix it!!! :LOL:

Then I asked which car was their's so I could pick it apart.. they just stammered something and left... dumbasses!! :D

Car Shows----------------

I kinda like the summer time cruise nights(as a spectator(and I take my camera))

The SHOWS----------------are pretty much disgusting, damn trailers take up so much room for blocks around that I can't find a parking spot big enough for my F350 crew cab-------

Check writers--------------------

Wagon wheels(30+) on 100k motorcycles-------------

Engine covers and neon lights

loud sterios

I think my wife threw out all the trophies from the ISC shows--------only throphy left around here is on low et from Bakersfield and some WKA Eagles from the boys karting and a wall plack and small trophy for being 1964 Soldier of the Year for 2nd Inf Div (befoe Nam but during civil unrest at Selma)

OHHHHHHHHHHHHHH------forgot a premeir event---Los Angeles Auto Show-----VIP nite where all the celebs go---cocktails, orderves(Crab legs/claws,etc) Our funny car was an invited car to be in the entrance lobby(by the front doors)-----the tv / movie people started spraying the engine down with something to kill the shine so there wouldn't be any reflections------------We removed the car from the show lobby and loaded it into our trailer parked in the street where all the limos and such were dropping off the STARS/VIP on the RED CARPET--------------

I still like the small one's put on by a local car club, more of a social gathering of gearheads then anything else! The big shows, been there, done that. (Ain't going back.) I still go to a few of the local one's, more to watch the people looking at the cars and the usual comments they make. There's always a few "trophy hunters" around and they do their usual thing of crying and whining about whoever gets a trophy. If I should get a trophy, I like to give it to one of the kids who are always hanging around with their big smiles and glazed eyes!

I think it's human nature to criticize rather than compliment. I find myself on overload at car shows, imaging all the time and money in each car or truck. When the evil person on my shoulder says "Geeze a 20K paintjob, flawless and they painted it Pepto Bismo Pink!" Then the outside voice says wow nice car, sure got a lot of work in that! :) Now days I realize what it took getting there, vs. mine in pieces at home in primer and a body you could play connect the dots with. I don't think I'd do well putting mine in a show, since the same dumb comments that pop up in my head would get me upset when it came to someone's negative comments on my work, but then again I did my work myself on a budget so my end product can't compete with someone's 100K project! I guess that's why rat rods are popular in primer and distressed paint because it's not about the paint alone.

Been sanding & polishing, and was not very happy with the fact that even with all of the isolation work to do the booth I had more "junk" on flat surfaces than I realized as I was shooting, and it created tiny "flaws" in the reflecting surface :mad: I'm sanding with 1500 wet, then 3M white compound on the white foam pad, followed by blue glaze on the blue foam. Late yesterday I went back to one area and using 1500 w/ a rubber 3M squeegee as a block I marked the little spots and went back over the polished area, taking it back to dull but smoother and re-polished with white & blue. What I found is that while it "looked" flat initially, if I looked really close there were small "hills" of clear where the "junk" was, and I needed to apply more attention in sanding. It's not "perfect" but a lot better, and I finally told myself, "It's a car painted in a barn, and every trip will start with 0.6 miles of gravel road, so it's OK!!" :LOL::D;)

After dinner one of my boys (Ryan, who spent long hours draped over the fenders of his little Fox body Mustang as a teenager) came over to help me guide the engine & tranny back into place. Got it in without any collateral damage, which is a good thing!!:D

Attachment 58155

Today I'll be out to get the hoist off, tighten the mounts up, and get the wiring hooked up as well as polishing out the top (again :LOL:) and getting after the driver's side sanding and polishing. Still have the hood, trunk and splash aprons ahead of me, and the trunk and one splash apron may be candidates for re-spraying vs trying to save the clear.:LOL::LOL:**)

No reason to go "show quality" paint on a driver, it just ain't gonna stay that way!!!! Car looks great Roger, anxious to see it back poundin' the pavement!!!!!

Your Car looks great (nice reflection in the Door), and after putting the Engine in you must be getting excited to get it on the road-

I am not looking forward to the Paint part (as I know how picky I can be), and any time I color sand I envision the times that I was too aggressive and went through the clear ( :( )

Very, very nice, and I can't wait to see it finished!