Door Jam paint look

[Michael J.]

When I had my '67 painted (lacquer) the paint shop did a great job, it looks great and is not too shiny. However, I have been told by a judge that the door jams are way too shiny and look "too good", as the paint looks like the exterior. Is there a way to "rough" it up a bit to look more acceptable and less deducts? Maybe polishing compound on it? I hate to do it, since it looks so nice, but wonder how many points I will lose if I don't. Thanks for any advice.

[Bruce B.]

Re: Door Jam paint look

Try dusting the door jams with hair spray.
After judging was it off with soap and water.
Also do a search of this board there has been many posts on this subject.

[Michael J.]

Re: Door Jam paint look

Good tip, maybe Breck heavy hold? I have searched, but found little, maybe I need better search terms than "door jam paint". Thanks.

[William L.]

Re: Door Jam paint look

Michael; My car is also painted in lacquer and I left the door jams alone. The point deduct for the door jams was 1 for "not typical" and I thought that was fair because my door jams are very nice. I did not want to dull down my jams because it was straight lacquer paint and that was the way it came out of the gun. If you dull your door jams down you run the risk of them being to dull.
This was at the Nationals in 2008 and I felt that the Judges were very fair.
At Bloomington 2009 I received no point loss for my door jams.
Bill

[Michael J.]

Re: Door Jam paint look

Thanks Bill, I think I'll leave them alone for chapter judging and see what happens before I get to Regionals.

[Jim T.]

Re: Door Jam paint look

Michael polishing compound would likely make the door jams shine more. I used Dupont polishing compound by hand to shine my new lacquer Donneybrooke Green paint job on my 1970's exterior.

[Don G.]

Re: Door Jam paint look

The NCRS judging standards on paint have been revised in recent years with the objective of providing more consistency and understanding in the judging process and also consistent with the NCRS Judging Standard that states in part " Cars are to be judged to the standard of vehicle appearance, and as equipped, at the time and point of final assembly...." To this end, many paint judges now use the NCRS Paint Judging Flow Chart in the judging process and in judging reviews with the owners.

The flow chart begins with the question Does the finish appear to be the factory applied material?

If the answer is yes, the next question is appears to be consistent with factory application?

If the answer is yes, there is no deduct.
If the answer is no, there is a 20% deduct for over/under restoration

If the answer to the first question is no, then the deducts for the second question go to 50% for yes and 100% for no.

Hope this helps you decide what action, if any is right for you and your objectives.

Good Luck

[Chuck S.]

Re: Door Jam paint look

...However, I have been told by a judge that the door jams are way too shiny and look "too good", as the paint looks like the exterior...

Did your painter buff the jambs?

If your jambs were polished, you've forfeited the primary benefit (aside from bragging rights) for using acrylic lacquer. If the jambs are still in "as-sprayed" condition, then I personally wouldn't do anything to them...get it judged and see what happens before tinkering with it. You have to trust that the people that actually judge paint at every meet know how unbuffed (and reflowed at the factory) acrylic lacquer appears.

There were some interesting comments at the end of a recent paint thread about the amount of jamb dulling observed on the judging field being "ridiculous"...and this was about BC/CC!!!

[Mike G.]

Re: Door Jam paint look

what i have seen done is a light scuff with fine scotch bright and finish it off with heavy scratch compound with hand buffing only. that is what the base / clear guys do.

[Lynn H.]

Re: Door Jam paint look

I have personal experience that tells me the hair spray trick has passed muster at Bloomington and NCRS judging. The question I have is, now that the word is out on this, how long before the judges start to check for this. Washes right off with a little water (or moisture).
Lynn

[Don G.]

Re: Door Jam paint look

Lynn

Judges are not allowed to apply anything to the paint surface in the judging process. Their job is to judge the appearance as compared to typical factory production. At one time, some judges used a paint cleaner/polish to lift pigment to verify lacquer. This is not permitted.

[Steve W.]

Re: Door Jam paint look

Michael, another point to consider; as the door jambs were not buffed, the "feel" should be slightly rough to the touch. This should contrast with the buffed portion of the car which should be smooth to the touch.

If your door jambs have the slightly rough touch, this should be pointed out to the judge.

[Michael J.]

Re: Door Jam paint look

OK, right, thanks will do.