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How to Paint Your Car (1922)

Gregg Axley

I'll Lock Up
Messages
5,125
Location
Tennessee
I love the part about cleaning your car with gasoline. :)
Thanks for the post, very interesting.
I really didn't know they had that many colors back then.
 

Talbot

One Too Many
Messages
1,855
Location
Melbourne Australia
Years back my next door neighbor painted his truck with enamel and a brush. He was a house painter by trade. The end result was surprisingly good. I have seen worse from a gun.

My current car has an Earl Scheib paint job from the 70's with more runs than Jesse Owens. His advice to me was to prepare well, keep the subject warm, keep the paint warm (can in hot water) and use short strokes with a good brush.

Thanks for sharing.
 
Last edited:

Stearmen

I'll Lock Up
Messages
7,202
Hand Rubbed Lacquer

Talk about bringing back memories! Back in the mid 60s, we were living in Tuscon Arizona, my neighbor had a Model A and a garage, the only garage any where in our area! He brush lacquered his car, took about a month of brushing and sanding. Must have been at least 20 coats of paint. Mind you, in the end you only have one coat, the rest is sanded away. And yes, you need that many if you want a smooth flawless paint job! It is still one of the best paint jobs I have ever seen and I have known award winning auto painters whose works are in museums around the world!
 
Messages
10,883
Location
Portage, Wis.
When my dad was about 18, he had a 1968 Impala SS in need of a paint job, he tells me an old timer told him they painted cars with paint brushes all the time back in the '20's. Pa gave it a shot and was not to thrilled with the job, ended up spraying it. He said he could see brush strokes like crazy, but knowing my dad, he didn't have the patience to pay attention to all the detail needed! lol
 

Gregg Axley

I'll Lock Up
Messages
5,125
Location
Tennessee
That's what I was thinking, but back in the day I guess it didn't matter. LOL
I'd handpaint my car if I had to since it's small enough.
But I sure wouldn't paint a Packard Limo!
 

Maj.Nick Danger

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,469
Location
Behind the 8 ball,..
This reminds me. My dad had a 63 Dodge station wagon that he bought from a guy he worked with that was brush painted. :D It was this odd sort of pink, so it didn't show the brush marks very much.
 

David Conwill

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,854
Location
Bennington, VT 05201
A spray gun is the easiest route to a good paint job, but far from the only way. Rolling and tipping is still a fairly common way to paint boats, and used to be pretty common in the coachbuilding world. It has been making a comeback in the automotive hobby - primarily with people using Rustoleum.

I can’t wait to get home and watch the video. Perhaps I’ll follow the technique when it comes time to paint my T.

-Dave
 

Maj.Nick Danger

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,469
Location
Behind the 8 ball,..
Not Mary Kay pink was it?

Nope, Dodge Pink. A stock color for a couple of years in the early 60s.
Dodgepink.jpg
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Gregg Axley

I'll Lock Up
Messages
5,125
Location
Tennessee
Funny you mention that Tom. I work with a guy that bought a house from the 50's, in what used to be the ritzy part of town. The tile in the bathroom is grey and pink, alternating. The toilet, sink, and bathtub are also pink!
No you don't see that anymore, especially since many are covering up their tile and tub like me (used bath fitters and couldn't be happier), rather than trying to re-do them.
I hand painted a car one time, but it was with aircraft stripper, to take off 7 layers of paint so I could repaint the car! Seemed like an eternity...
 
Messages
10,883
Location
Portage, Wis.
http://savethepinkbathrooms.com/
Funny you mention that Tom. I work with a guy that bought a house from the 50's, in what used to be the ritzy part of town. The tile in the bathroom is grey and pink, alternating. The toilet, sink, and bathtub are also pink!
No you don't see that anymore, especially since many are covering up their tile and tub like me (used bath fitters and couldn't be happier), rather than trying to re-do them.
I hand painted a car one time, but it was with aircraft stripper, to take off 7 layers of paint so I could repaint the car! Seemed like an eternity...
 

RadioWave

One of the Regulars
Messages
169
Safety? In NYC, there are quite a few notices about "painting a handgun to look like a toy" and vice-versa. They'll give you time for that.
 

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