THE PROFESSIONAL TOUCH

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 73, Issue 370, 13 September 1930, Page 21 (Supplement)

THE PROFESSIONAL TOUCH

WITH CELLULOSE FINISH NOT AS HARD AS IT LOOKS (By “ Autoscribc ”). (All Rights Reserved). Those who have seen spray painting carried out ar any large motor-paint-ing works, must have been fascinated by . the speed with which this can be done, and with thc wonderful finish which can be given. When cars arc being assembled for thc first time, and before thc upholstery is added, this spray painting can be carried out in a few minutes, and by means of masking paper gold lines and all sorts ot fancy touches can be added without difficulty. Last week when writing about painting with ordinary enamel paints, 1 pointed out that preparation was more than half the battle. Even more so is this the case -with cellulose paints. It is absolutely impossible to secure that perfect finish you desire, unless you take thc very greatest trouble to sec that your surface is free from all grit, dust, etc. Another point worth considering, also, if your car is at present covered with enamel paint, and you wish to change over to cellulose finish, is whether it might not bo advisable to scrape it down to bare metal. Cellulose finish does not take too well over enamel, and occasionally is inclined to lift thc old paint. Scraping down to ba r e metal is not nearly as hard as it sounds, for with the aid of special paint removers, the existing paint can be softened in a few minutes. lifter which it is a comparatively easy matter to scrape it off. Brush or Spray? Cellulose paints were made originally for spraying, and that is thc great advantage they possess over all others. The demand for a cellulose paint which could be used by the amateur -was met by special brushing cellulose paints, their only difference from thc spray paint being that they are thicker in

consistency, A couple of coats with the brush are equal to about four coats put on with the spray. This docs not mean that brush cellulose is more to be desired than the spraying article, for it is with thc latter tha"; the finest results will always bo secured. For those who warn to do spray paint; ing, there are now on thc market a number of different types of portable spraying outfits, varying in price from a couple of pounds upwards. An outfit I bought from an English advertisement a couple of years ago, cost £2 as landed here and has since been used for a number of cars besides my own. Its principle is exceptionally simple. A pump like a football puinp in the centre of a cylinder, keeps a pressure of air in the cylinder without much effort. A rubber tube runs to the jar in which the paint, is kept, and by pressing a knob Ihc . air pressure is brought on the paint, and a fine spray is emitted from the nozzle. This is about the simplest form of spraying gadget, but it is being rapidly superseded by various mechanical types which do away with the need for pumping. It is now possible to secure a spray

painter for attachment to a vacuum cleaner, and one such cleaner now has the spray attachment fitted as standard. There are more expensive types fitted complete with their electric motors, but unless a number of owners wore combining in purchase, thc cost would hardly be justified. Easy to Work The various spray painting outfits arc easy to work, and after thc first few minutes there will be no difficulty iu putting on the spray evenly. One of the advantages of cellulose finish is that it dri.es very quickly so that’ dust docs not settle on it and destroy thc finish to nearly thc extent it does iu the case of enamel paints put on in a dusty garage. It is possible to put one coat right over the car, and by the time it is finished to start again and go right over the previous coat. Complete drying takes place in a few hours, but after the last coat it is advisable to leave the car for 12 to 24 hours before using it.

Whether brushing or spraying paint is used, careful preparation has to bo made, and as mentioned before, it is probably just as well to clean off all the old paint if it is of the enamel type. Once you have started from bedrock, it is easier to give the car a ruu over at any future time. If paint removers are used to clean off the old paint, it is essential that, thc car b* carefully washed down with turpentine or some other spirit. Benzine docs the job all right, and is, of course, far cheaper. With the bare surface ready for thw paint, a couple of coats of undercoat; should be sprayed on. These can be followed by two or three coats of the glossy finish, with flatting down be* tween coats with the specially fine papers provided. One or Two Pitfalls Those who arc spraying for the first time will find or two pitfalls, unless they are prepared. For instance many do not realise that cellulose finish is not paint in the ordinary sense of the word, and that turpentine and similar spirits will not dissolve thc finish. Special thinner is needed, and this, and this alone will clean out thc spray. If you arc using several colours the easiest way is to have several jars, and attach or detach those from thc spray as required. In a separate jar you would have the thinner, and between each colour some would be sprayed through the gun, thus cleaning it. Sometimes the gun will become clogged, in which case a little of the thinner has to bo run through to clear the obstruction.

When thc car is finished, a specially fine polish can bo secured by polishing with one of the special polishes available, the effect of which arc to dissolve a small portion of thc surface paint and smooth it out evenly over the body surface. Using these polishes, and carrying out all operations witl; care, a finish can be secured which cannot he told from a professional job. Cellulose finish is expensive when reckoned at a per gallon cost hut it is wonderfully economical because it is atomised and every particle is used. Where it is merely a case of running over thc existing job. still in good order, a quart will do the work. For complete painting, of course, larger quantities are needed. There is a fascination about the work, especially because of the excellent results secured.