Detailing 76 yr old Lacquer paint

[Immaculate]

A potential customer of mine has a fairly unique car he would like detailed. However I have no idea where to start. When he washes it, (basically wiping it down with water only), some of the black paint comes off.

Its a 1932 Studebaker. Original lacquer paint, 76 years old.... What do I do??

[Nappers]

Re: Detailing 76 yr old Lacquer paint

Be very carful!

Hang tight as MOL is offline today (as far as Mike is concerned) and I'm sure someone will chime in for you.

[Murr1525]

Re: Detailing 76 yr old Lacquer paint

Mike has a thread on detailing the 1930'sish Bentley by hand with the DC system... should be able to look that up.

[Erik Mejia]

Re: Detailing 76 yr old Lacquer paint

You should try contacting Joe Fernandez of Superior Shine.

[SHYNEMAN123]

Re: Detailing 76 yr old Lacquer paint

Two questions

1. can you mill gage the paint ?

2. what do you mean by the paint coming off ?

[Immaculate]

Re: Detailing 76 yr old Lacquer paint

Two questions

1. can you mill gage the paint ?

2. what do you mean by the paint coming off ?

I don't have a guage unfortunately.

He says that he gets some black on the towel when he's cleaning it. I can't be any more specific than that.

[Megafast13]

Re: Detailing 76 yr old Lacquer paint

I don't think he means actual chunks/flaking.

Most likely like when polishing a single stage paint, it comes off/stains your applicator.

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Detailing 76 yr old Lacquer paint

When it comes to restoring original antique paint, the first and most important rule is to use the least aggressive product to get the job done and that's because when it comes to antique paint it is usually very dry and if others have worked on it before you then it could be and usually is very thin.

If the goal of the owner is to preserver the original paint but at the same time take the paint to it's maximum potential then www.MeguiarsOnline.com is the best place to be and to ask for help.

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Detailing 76 yr old Lacquer paint

Mike has a thread on detailing the 1930'sish Bentley by hand with the DC system... should be able to look that up.

It was actually a 1948 Bentley that was rubbed out completely by hand using only OTC products plus M16

Here's a page with some pictures...

http://meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7968&page=2

This above rub-out was done using only easily available products for a number of reasons but one of the reasons was to prove a point to all those experts on all those other forums that diss a product because it's available OTC or Over The Counter. The truth is that if the product works and you know how to work it, then where it's sold is not an issue.

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Detailing 76 yr old Lacquer paint

Its a 1932 Studebaker. Original lacquer paint, 76 years old.... What do I do??

Any updates on this?

[JDBOXSTER]

Re: Detailing 76 yr old Lacquer paint

This car is probably painted with enamel. Not much can be done with it.

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Detailing 76 yr old Lacquer paint

This car is probably painted with enamel. Not much can be done with it.

Actually unless it's past the point of no return then in most cases lots can be done with lacquer and enamel. In fact these are my favorite types of paints to restore.

I have run into plenty of single stage paints both lacquer and enamels that were absolutely destroyed by hack detailers using antiquated compounds with Stoddard solvent in them and then everyone that saw these types of results goes through life thinking single stage lacquers and enamels can't be fixed.

It's all about knowing which product to use and which products to avoid.

[SHYNEMAN123]

Re: Detailing 76 yr old Lacquer paint

I echo Mike's post Give me the old stuff any day.

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Detailing 76 yr old Lacquer paint

Pretty sure this was neglected enamel... could have been lacquer but the before and after results would be the same regardless as neglected, oxidized single stage paints always react well to Meguiar's when that paint can be saved.

1966 Rambler Extreme Makeover - April 24th Open Garage Pictures & Comments












Single stage paints really react well to Meguiar's polishing oils found in many of our paint care products.

[Immaculate]

Re: Detailing 76 yr old Lacquer paint

Mike, that is an incredible restoration!

I tried contacting the guy but he hasn't answered, so I guess he found someone else or has given up