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Paintwork on a De Luxe.

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Several people have passed comment on the paintwork on my Jubilee- so thank you.

There is no mystery to obtaining a decent finish fairly cheaply. I use 2K paint from the local auto parts supplier. It is in fact commercial (i.e cheap) quality two pack which is still available for use on agricultural and commercial vehicles. From memory I got 1 litre Post office red, 1 litre Dove Grey and a litre of hardener for less than £50. Enough paint to do three De Luxes. I didn't use a clear coat and the finish is simply gun finish. To do the job properly it really needs flatting off with 1200 grade and a few lacquer coats to finish. 2K lacquer is ethanol resistant and really is necessary. This 2K is very tough paint and is very easy to spray BUT it does need proper facilities when applying as it is poisonous. I know as I spent some time in hospital at the end of 2015 as I foolishly went ahead with some painting after I already knew that the No2 compressor (supplying the face mask) had gone down.

The Jubilee when manufactured was almost certainly painted in cellulose so 2K is strictly not correct if you are seriously into your concours. Cellulose is still available but is only allowed for use on classic vehicles so most paint shops won't touch it, 2K is also now outlawed for car use but is allowed for use on commercial vehicles and agricultural use. Both these paints are air dry. Modern paint is water based and really needs specialist equipment - very difficult to dry unless you have a proper paint heated oven. If you really want to be finicky use a 2K primer (essential). then a 2K colour coat and finally top coat with cellulose. Cellulose finish always looks right on a 1950/60s vehicle. 2K just has the wrong shine !.

I first started painting a few years (well back end of the fifties) . I was a student at University and worked part time on the petrol pumps at the local BMC garage. I learned to paint in their accident repair bay and was eventually allowed to use the "good" spraygun - the one for use on near new Austin Westminsters and MGAs etc. - remember them? Cellulose metallic was a pig to match so stick to 2K as it is so much tougher and easy to use in comparison. By the way base coat and lacquer is not the same as 2K. It's use came (about the seventies) between cellulose and 2K but it is nowhere as good as 2K.

Patrick

 


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