Paint Technique Ideas: '70 - '72 Grilles

[Roger D.]

Sorry to bring this up...AGAIN. But I have a couple more ideas on techniques for this and would like comment (as I am doing mine now)

Method I.
I found a substance called "Spray Mask". It is called "Magic Mask" on Eastwood website, i.e., http://www.eastwoodco.com/jump.jsp?i...emType=PRODUCT

This substance can be sprayed onto a surface and it dries to a non-tacky clear plastic film. It is washed off after use if you applied a thin layer or can be peeled off if you applied thick enough, maybe several coats.

Anyway the steps might be as follws:

1. Mask off all surfaces that are to be painted leaving only the chrome leading edges/lands exposed.
2. Apply several coats of the spray mask until you get a peelable thinkness onto the chromed surface.
3. Remove the masking tape to once again expose the surfaces to be painted.
4. Apply the dark gray paint to the grille.
5. Once the paint is dry then peel off the Spray mask (including oversprayed paint) leaving the chromed surfaces exposed.

Method II.

This is similar to method I above except instead of using "Spay Mask" you would use silicone sealer which dries to a rubbery flexible substance, i.e.,

1. Mask off all surfaces that are to be painted leaving only the chrome leading edges/lands exposed.
2. Apply a thin coat of silicone sealer to the chromed surfaces and let dry.
3. Remove the masking tape to once again expose the surfaces to be painted.
4. Apply the dark gray paint to the grille.
5. Once the paint is dry then peel off the silicone sealer (including oversprayed paint) leaving the chromed surfaces exposed.

What d'ya think? I have never used the "Spray Mask" or "Magic Mask" material. Has anyone else and would Method I be possible?

Thanks for your thoughts on this. I know that others have posted in the past to just simply spray everything and then use a razor to strip the paint from the chromed edges. But I know that the chromed surfaces on my grilles are not perfectly flat everywhere and I see it leaving some paint that might be hard to remove.

[Stewart A.]

Re: Paint Technique Ideas: '70 - '72 Grilles

Is the grill that difficult to take off. I don't like painting items that are going to get overspray on other parts of the car. If the grill is to difficult to get off why not use masking tape and some paper to protect the adjoining areas. I only use products that the body shop use.
I feel re-inventing the wheel is the hard way. Body shops have been around for nearly a century now, if they don't use it I won't use it. In my opinion most body shops do a rather poor job, so trying to vary the technical application could make it even a worse quality finish. It's all in the preparation, I'm not saying your lazy but sometimes you just have to do the hard yards to get the right finish.
Stewy

[Patrick H.]

Re: Paint Technique Ideas: '70 - '72 Grilles

I use blue masking tape.
Apply it along each raised area, using the tape's natural edge to butt into the lip of the painted/chromed junction. You'll have to use an X-acto knife or similar to slit the tape as you go over each bar you cross.

Now for the other side of the raised lip, either a) use another piece of tape, or b) wrap your tape over and use the X-acto knife to cut the tape at the painted/chrome junction. I often use a small straight screwdriver to help get the tape into the junction.

Repeat for each horizontal and vertical raised rib.

Now spray with self-etching primer, and later with color.
Don't forget that some areas around the turn signal light are painted a semi-flat or flat black.

Yes, it's time consuming.

I heard of a restorer who uses a large piece of foam pressed onto the front of the grille to "mask" the chrome, and then paints color from the back. Minimal tape is involved. I sort of tried it once, but I like perfect edges.

Patrick

[Greg F.]

Re: Paint Technique Ideas: '70 - '72 Grilles

I use blue masking tape.
Apply it along each raised area, using the tape's natural edge to butt into the lip of the painted/chromed junction. You'll have to use an X-acto knife or similar to slit the tape as you go over each bar you cross.

Now for the other side of the raised lip, either a) use another piece of tape, or b) wrap your tape over and use the X-acto knife to cut the tape at the painted/chrome junction. I often use a small straight screwdriver to help get the tape into the junction.

Repeat for each horizontal and vertical raised rib.

Now spray with self-etching primer, and later with color.
Don't forget that some areas around the turn signal light are painted a semi-flat or flat black.

Yes, it's time consuming.

I heard of a restorer who uses a large piece of foam pressed onto the front of the grille to "mask" the chrome, and then paints color from the back. Minimal tape is involved. I sort of tried it once, but I like perfect edges.

Patrick

Patrick,

The black around the turn signals only goes about 3/4 the way down the sides. The black starts to fade about 3/4 and becomes the same dark gray as the rest of the grille. Is this accurate or should the black go the completely around the turn signal?

Thanks,
Greg

[Roger D.]

Re: Paint Technique Ideas: '70 - '72 Grilles

Well, the best grille restoration I ever saw done was on a bronze colored '72 Coupe at the Fall '08 Waco Texas event (that got Top Flight). The owner mentioned that he applied a substance that dried to a rubbery consistency on the chromed leading edges and then painted. Then all he had to do was to peel away the covering he applied to protect the chrome. It came out perfect. I just cannot remember what he said he used so I was just offering up the above for discussion.

And yes, I wouldn't say I was lazy but if there is a better way and at the same time provides a quality result, then why not? And I wasn't going to try to restore them while they are on the car. I guess mentioning the spray mask gave that impression

[Patrick H.]

Re: Paint Technique Ideas: '70 - '72 Grilles

Well, the best grille restoration I ever saw done was on a bronze colored '72 Coupe at the Fall '08 Waco Texas event (that got Top Flight). The owner mentioned that he applied a substance that dried to a rubbery consistency on the chromed leading edges and then painted. Then all he had to do was to peel away the covering he applied to protect the chrome. It came out perfect. I just cannot remember what he said he used so I was just offering up the above for discussion.

And yes, I wouldn't say I was lazy but if there is a better way and at the same time provides a quality result, then why not? And I wasn't going to try to restore them while they are on the car. I guess mentioning the spray mask gave that impression

Roger,

I'm not sure how taping it, spraying with the rubbery stuff, and then removing the rubber is less work than just taping it once. So, it may be more work?

If there's a way to use it and save time I'd be all for it. I'm going to have to do a set soon.

Patrick