Want wwway less shine, wwway more patina!

[Brook]

Re: Want wwway less shine, wwway more patina!

Actually, the photo posted by bmrfan caused me to realize that if my car looked like that I would certainly be able to spend far less time and money on trying to keep it shiny and bright. No stress, no concerns. Maybe we're on to something here.

[Bill Davidson]

Re: Want wwway less shine, wwway more patina!

That's pretty cool bmrfan... thanks for sharing it with us.

I think a lot of us may have a new found appreciation for patina after reading this thread.

[bmrfan]

Re: Want wwway less shine, wwway more patina!

A friend sent me this picture of a Porsche 356 with a "Rusty" patina paint job.

The car's owner said the 356 itself is actually rust free but was painted to look rusty.

[bmrfan]

Re: Want wwway less shine, wwway more patina!

Floyd - enjoy your great looking 911 - although its a little too shiny now, regular use will create real patina (i.e. actually driving the car rather than a garage queen).

[Bill Davidson]

Re: Want wwway less shine, wwway more patina!

Best of luck Floyd, I'm glad some of us took you seriously. I was just a bit of a shocker, I guess. After seeing your car I can appreciate your point of view. It does scream "look at me".

If you love the car, but don't love the paint, maybe you can repaint it down the road.
It' not like you will be devaluing the car as the paint isn't original.
Personalize it to your character and preference.

Until then, just keep in mind that most people like the way your car looks.

[floyd]

Re: Want wwway less shine, wwway more patina!

Okay, guys, and especially M. Stoops -- thanks for the great thoughts and insights into the world of high gloss paint. At this point, I think I'm just going to have to get used to living with an object of rare beauty and forget about my Dumpster-diving, low-rent preferences.

The paint is absolutely smooth, no orange peeling. As to the question of why did I have it done like that if I don't dig the look -- I didn't. The previous owner did, to the tune of major bucks. Like I said, when I bought the car, I was hoping to get over my aversion. Now I'm just going to redouble my efforts ... though I might try the glass cleaner just to see (but then won't i lose the protective elements of a wax job?).

Again, thanks to all. It's been fun!

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Want wwway less shine, wwway more patina!

Well now, this is certainly an interesting thread!

Floyd, that 911 is a stunningly beautiful car, but that is just my opinion. Plenty of folks don't like blue, or don't like 911s even. We all like different things, and you happen to not like really shiny paint.

The biggest problem here is that you want to do something to tone down the gloss and still be completely reversible. If you plan on keeping this car long term that may not be so much of an issue. But to try and make really nice new paint look like naturally aged 40 year old paint is going to be very difficult to do, if not darn near impossible. There is certainly a lot to be said for truly original cars - original interiors, original mechanicals, original glass, original paint. But this car is no longer truly "original" - it's been resprayed. There are painters who do remarkable airbrush work to mimic severely weathered paint. We've seen a hot rod that looked like the paint was 80% flaked off, surface rust, rust lines running down from bolt heads, etc. And it was all airbrush painted! From 10 feet it looked like a typical rat rod, but up close it was absolutely perfect. A great illusion, but a very pricey one, we're sure.

So what to do about your car? Wetsanding to mimic a flat or matte paint job can certainly be done, but to do it right takes time and talent. And it can easily be buffed back to near perfection at any time. But you end up with a matte finish, not what looks like a naturally aged patina. It's much more of a modern, trendy look, and that doesn't sound like your thing.

The images are taken from a bit of a distance, but if the paint is free of orange peel your task is going to be made just that much more difficult since mirror flat paint is always going to look glossier than orange peeled paint. One safe thing you can try to knock down the gloss is some glass cleaner. Of course, if you apply a coat of wax after that you're going to bump the shine back up. And again, if that paint has been wet sanded orange peel free, it's going to shine. Brightly.

[bmrfan]

Re: Want wwway less shine, wwway more patina!

Floyd - have you checked some of the Rat Rod forums or sites for info on aging your paint. Those forums probably have much more info on making your paint low-gloss (opposite mission of this forum)

I found this article about low gloss painting - here's the link:

http://www.rodandcustommagazine.com/techarticles/0706rc_suede_paint/index.html

[Brook]

Re: Want wwway less shine, wwway more patina!

I suppose it's akin to having bought a Dalmation and then being sad that the dog has spots.

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: Want wwway less shine, wwway more patina!

Personally speaking. If you bought the vehicle for its structural integrity and value. You may be stuck with the Blue. I would be hesitant to do something that may mar the paint.

[davey g-force]

Re: Want wwway less shine, wwway more patina!

That 911 looks beautiful! I don't know why you'd want to dull it down or do anything to alter the paint.

It's your car though and comes down to personal preference I suppose...

[bmrfan]

Re: Want wwway less shine, wwway more patina!

Floyd - in all seriousness, I don't think there are simple, easily reversible ways to get the patina you're looking for.

The paint on your 911 is formulated to achieve a certain gloss/shine so chances are anything you do to "oxidize" or age or patina the finish will be damaging the paint.

A couple of forum members have suggested chemical processes of aging the paint - I'm assuming those processes are removing "oils" from the paint or altering the surface chemistry of the paint to give it the oxidized look. DISCLAIMER - who knows what these chemical processes will do to your paint long term.

You could mechanically scuff your paint with a fine scotchbrite pad -you're inducing fine scratches into the paint. DISCLAIMER - inducing scratches into paint is definitely something this forum avoids.

Other forum members have suggested vinyl wraps - I've seen some neat Flat Black and Flat White vinyl wraps but they may look to "perfect" for what you're trying to achieve. Also don't know if vinyl wraps come in different colors - I think colors / graphics are typically printed onto the vinyl.

All the Clear bras vinyl materials I've seen are designed to resist dulling so this may not be the way to go.

There are specialty paints designed for the Rat Rod market in flat/semi-gloss blacks & "primer" red colors. I don't know if these paints are available in other colors and you're essentially re-painting your car.

Semi-gloss clear coats - I know they exist but I don't have any experience with them.

Here's a wild idea - Base Color coat paint from a Two-stage paint system. Most of the color coat paints I've seen are low gloss and typically applied very thin (color coat might be easily "removed" at a later time).

BTW - nice looking 911!

[Michael PALERO]

Re: Want wwway less shine, wwway more patina!

Vinyl wrap.

Edit: Just saw I'm late to the party. Someone already suggested it.

[cd36]

Re: Want wwway less shine, wwway more patina!

I think a vinyl car wrap may do what you want. You can even get those "invisible bra's", they are pretty clear, so it may not reduce the shine to much, but it may cut it some.

[Spidey]

Re: Want wwway less shine, wwway more patina!

why would you have the car repsrayed 5 years ago if you wanted a rustic look? shoulda gotten it painted in flat black or spray canned it :S