Concerning Varnishing.

Progress, Volume IV, Issue 2, 1 December 1908, Page 51

Concerning Varnishing.

The average motor mechanic regards the work of renovating motor bodies as exclusivefy a coachpainter's job, and so it is when it has to be done thoroughly, but as all of us are more or less slaves of appearances — our customers more so — it may be usefully noted that a coat of varnish on top of dull paint makes a car look as though it had been renovated, and as it is quite easy to do it quickly and well, there is no reason why it should not be done by repairers often er than is the case after a thorough overhaul, and when the ear owner has neither time nor inclination to wait for the coach-painter's slow and methodical procedure. The constant washing of car bodies, of course, destroys the original coat of varnish, and the paint work takes on that dead lack-lustre appearance which makes it appear as though r -pointing is essential. For instance, vi c have a car in our repair works now whv-k has not been painted and lined for two years, yet the paint on the body and Hie engine bonnet is good, though dull. After some extensive repairs to engine and chassis, I had the painted parts washed quite free from all traces of grease, and likewise had the workshop floor swept free from dust and very liberally watered. Then, after closing time on Saturday night, two of us put in a couple of hours overtime with a varnish brush each, and half a gallon of best pale carriage varnish, which we applied as thinly, evenly, and deliberately as possible upon the clean, dull paint. Thus Saturday night, Sunday, and Sunday night were available for the varnish to be drying within closed doors, in an atmosphere comparatively dustless with what it is during the ordinary week days. The car body has now quite a smart appearance, which is in keeping with the extensive repairs previously effected. The essentials to success in this matter of re-varnishing are best quality carriage varnish, good brushes, a surface free from grease to work upon, and an atmosphere free from dust, — A Manufacturer in Print,