St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1920-02-21
MAKE YOUR CAR
LOOK like new
How One Motorist Tackled Job
of Being His Own Painter
With Pleasant Results.
Refreshing COSTS LITTLE
Success or Failure Of Painting Auto
mobile Depends Largely on Kind
Of Varnish Used-Coat the
Chassis With Enamel.

There is no reason why the owner
of an automobile who has driven his
car for one or two seasons, until the
body finish has become dull, should
envy his neighbors who spin about In
newer cars, for almost any man can
keep his car looking very nearly as
good as new II he cares to take the
trouble. Indeed, 1t is not an unpleas-
ant undertaking to refnish your car
every year, and If this precaution is
taken In time it costs very little.
A suburbanite who had grown to be
somewhat ashamed Of the appearance
of his car, after using it for two years,
tells how he was induced to renew the
body finish, and the means he used
may suggest to other motorists how
they can preserve the new appearance
Of their automobiles.
ga neighbor across the street." he
said, chad a big, eight-cylinder car,
which I noticed was always left stand
ing In front of his house in all kinds
Of weather. often wondered why he
was so Indifferent to the possible con-
sequences on its body finish, and after
two years the machine looked as II 1t
were ready for the junk pile.
Decided to RepaInt.
last summer the appearance OF
his car began to get on the owners
nerves, and he decided to have 1t re-
painted. He took it to a local auto
mobile paint shop, where it was found
that the original finish was SO badly
cracked that the surface had to be
removed. Then eight coats Of paint,
with a final coat of varnish, were put
on. The cost was something like $85,
and prices have gone up appreciably
since then. However, the job was
well done, and when my neighbor ap-
peared in his repainted car l began
to feel how badly my car suffered by
comparison.
IT had always made it custom to
put my car in the garage when it was
standing idle for any length Of time,
and not leave it in front Of my house.
Notwithstanding this care, the luster
Of the body gradually began to disap-
pear as the first season went by and
at the end Of the second year 1t had
almost slate color.
Several garage owners told me that
the finish could be renewed by the ap-
plication Of a little varnish, and I
found upon inquiry that the automo-
bile painters were asking $25 for the
lob. The work Of vanishing a car
did not seem to be particularly diff
cult, so invested $3.50 In a brush and
65 cents in a can Of varnish and made
preparations to give my car a new
dressing. I first washed both body
and chassis with lukewarm water, and
then I drove 1t under a tree at the side
Of the house.
IT took pains, Of course, to pick
clear, dry day, and the varnish was
applied without any trouble. A slight
breeze accelerated the drying process,
and the following day put on Sec
ond coat, each time putting coat of
black enamel on the chassis.
-"One Of the amusing incidents in
connection with my first undertaking
as an automobile painter occurred
when my neighbor, who was working
in his garden, stopped now and then
to watch my progress. 1t took
couple of hours to put on each coat
Of varnish, and friend neighbor had
the opportunity Of seeing the job COM
pleted while he was hoeing his pota-
toes. Finally he dropped his hoe and
came over under the tree. He took
one good look at the car and NUT
tered: Just to think what fool
was to drop that sS5. Why, you've
done a better job than they did on
my car
Success or Failure.
1.-THE success or failure Of painting