'61 Console painting Advice

[Larry B.]

I would like to paint my center clock/heater console with a rattle can since I do not want another lengthy, messing trip to the body shop. Has anyone used a rattle can or similar method to paint their center console with success? If so, can I get the brand of paint and primer used? I was going to pick up a spray can of black lacquer from the local store. Attached is a photo of what I will be painting. Thanks & Happy Friday! Larry

[Mike T.]

Re: '61 Console painting Advice

Larry, I know the console in my '61 had been painted a number of times over the years but due to too many coats of paint it was best described as, 'good from far, but far from good' so with the seats and carpet out and a bunch of old blankets on either side of the trans tunnel, I laid on my side and proceded to sand off enough of the old 'alligator-skin' cracked paint to be able to shoot it with a rattle can. I used a Dupont Solvent-Prep wipe down first and then blocked it 220 grit. The old paint was a bit soft and was clogging up the wet/dry paper so I had a nearby wet sponge to help stop that from happening while sanding. With the radiused front corners I didn't want to put any odd 'flats' in the surface so I used a dense foam block behind the sandpaper. I got tired of sanding while horizontal (not exactly comfortable position) so once the worst of the alligatoring was removed, I wiped it down with enamel reducer, let it air dry and then shot it with a rattle can of red enamel I had mixed up at the local autobody paint supply house. The first pic makes it look like I sanded with my fingers only but the console surface is not as flat as you'd think. I taped up the rest of the interior and threw a few old sheets on the rest of the car to stop overspray from settling on my Black car. I took up another interior piece for them to match, can't remember if it was the package shelf below the grab bar or not but the match turned out fine. I have a Richmond 5-speed and a Long Shifter so I could have unbolted the shifter arm to get better access to the console face but it really wasn't in the way that much. If your Hurst has the bolt-on arm you could unbolt it if you prefer. Since your interior is black and you're trying to match the existing surrounding painted parts, you might get lucky and find a Krylon or SEM Black right off the rack that might work alright.

[Larry B.]

Re: '61 Console painting Advice

Nice job Mike. What type of primer did you use? Larry

[Mike T.]

Re: '61 Console painting Advice

Larry, I am pretty sure I didn't use any for two reasons. After all the sanding, the surface was smooth enough that I didn't need to build it up with primer and the other reason was that I wasn't sure if my newly loaded rattle cans would have been compatible with the rattle can primers I had around and the last thing I wanted to do was to lay down a nice primer only to see it lift or bubble due to the top red coat and then find myself having to repeat the sanding process. I've had good luck using Enamel Reducer to wipe it all down prior to color coats.
I did fog on a couple light base coats first and let them tack up prior to the successive coats. Turned out good, if I do say so myself.
If you are going to be using an off the shelf top coat then using the same type and manufacturer for primer would be fine. In my case, I didn't have a known compatible primer on hand.

[Anthony P.]

Re: '61 Console painting Advice

I just did this over the winter.

I found that the Valspar Black paint (Lowes) was very very close in color/texture. I did my console and it matched the gauge cluster perfect. Then of course it looked better then the gauge cluster so it came out next and got painted along with the kick panels and other interior parts.


I did 3 coats with wet sanding between.

Tony

[Larry B.]

Re: '61 Console painting Advice

I just did this over the winter.

I found that the Valspar Black paint (Lowes) was very very close in color/texture. I did my console and it matched the gauge cluster perfect. Then of course it looked better then the gauge cluster so it came out next and got painted along with the kick panels and other interior parts.


I did 3 coats with wet sanding between.

Tony

Tony, Did you you a primer with the Valspar? Sandable? Larry

[Anthony P.]

Re: '61 Console painting Advice

Larry,

Yes I used the Red Rustoleum primer, and did lightly sand it.

Tony