I am quite pleased to see the interest that my queries on the VALSPAR
enamel and the recollection of the brush painting of a car have
aroused.Many have written to me directly regarding the address of the
Valspar manufacturer.There seems to be an American Company of the same
name in Rockford,Ill.,which may be connected to the British manufacturer.
I would like to reinforce some of the points made by some contributors to
this thread.Brush painting of a car is not difficult, and the results are
quite good.Several of the smaller and less wealthy racing Scuderias in
the 1950's and early 1960's finished their cars with Valspar.It does take
a lot of labour,but it is a pleasing,non-fiddly sort of labour and there
are no crisis as mistakes can be easily rectified.The problem of brush
marks using oil-base paints can be eliminated by the roller technique or by
adding a wetting agent to the paint.I have tried a product called
"Penetrol" ( a transparent oil-based product) with amazing results.The
paint flows and after a few minutes the surface is like crystal.Thus three
or four coats will provide a very deep and satisfying finish,if each one is
rubbed down after drying with very fine wet and dry paper,mainly to remove
the very fine dust particles caught in the drying process.
The problem is that this kind of finish does not have the hardness needed
in a car finish. Valspar paints were much better in this regard,as they
flowed well and lasted at least 5-7 years of "normal",S. of England use.
However,it may be possible,when using enamel base coats, to provide a
harder clear top coat with marine type varnishes,if (admittedly a big if )
these varnishes are compatible with oil-based paints.
I have tried this last technique on a small scale by painting bicycle
frames with enamel and then protecting the finish with polyurethane clear
finish.The clear top coat draws an excellent depth and gloss from the
coloured enamel and has lasted well,but as a bicycle is not exposed to sun,
salt and chips as much as a car,this is only a partial validation of the
technique.I am certain that several people in the net would have experience
on this regard and their opinions and comments would be valuable for anyone
attempting car,trailer or caravan painting.
Sergio Montes Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering
University of Tasmania
Box 252C,Hobart 7000,Tasmania,Australia
Ph. 56-02-202113 (Int) 002-202113 (Australia)
Fax 56-02-234611
e-mail montes@cmech.utas.edu.au
**** Errare humanum est ***
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