Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-04-08
THE OWNER-DRIVER'S
COLUMN.


There are many car owners who, NJ
this time OF the year. are debating what
is best to do with this problem. To have
a regular painter take this job in hand
would mean a considerable cash outlay.
though this Is very desirable thing to
do when one can afford 1t. Almost any
one who is a careful workman and who
Is willing to follow instructions can
paint an automobile.
This and the following articles will
contain instructions for refreshing the
finish Of cars the paint Of which may be
! In need of one or another Of these treat
mentS.
What Shall I Buyf
Whether the car Is simply to have a
be scraped clean and completely re-
painted does not make much difference
to the tools required. Cleaning equip
ment and paint brushes needed are as
follows:
One pound No. steel wool. |
One dozen sheets No. sandpaper.
Half dozen sheets No. sandpaper.
Clean rags, sponge and channels.
Cheesecloth for straining paints and
! varnish.
One square foot felt for rubbing pads.
| One pound pumice stone (hne).
Two water pals.
Three paint pots.
These materials are necessary to pre-
! pare the surface for painting and to rub
F; the surface between coats to be APP
| piled. The brushes to be used are an
| important consideration. 1t is impos-
sible TO do good Job without first
class brushes, but many Of US do not
! know a good brush when we see it, and
| for such we go into detail:
| One, two or three-inch fiat rubberset
bristle varnish brush for spreading
rough stuff" One two-inch fiat, bad
three varnish brushes. from one to three
inches wide, the best being usually de-
| scribed as extra fitch hair flowing
brush. double thick" or badger hair
! flowing brush. double thick
| Whether the first two brushes men,
toned will be needed depends on
whether color is to be applied or not
before vanishing. The price Of good
| brushes will run from so cents for a
one-inch to $3.50 or more for a three
| inch brush.
| Paint Materials Needed.
| To completely paint a car from the
metal up requires the following ma
! terials: Red lead, ground in oil. 12
pounds: white lead, ground in oil, u
pounds; roughstuff. 5 pounds; linseed
oil. ! quart; turpentine. l gallon:
Japan gold size or coach Japan. !
pint; rubbing varnish. u gallon: color
varnish. l quart; finish varnish. L
! gallon; colors of each, pounds; black
Japan, quart, and enamel for wheels.
| ! quart.
The variety of the above materials
needed will depend on what is neces-
| sary to the car In question. The
shortest and quickest job Of reflnish-
ing a car is called the "touch-up and
varnish job" This is advised for
cars the varnish of which has become
| dull. but the paint of which is sound
and firm. 1t consists of the follow
ing operations:
| 1. Clean car of all mud and grease
=. Touch up bare spots.
! 3. Rubbing with powdered pumice.
4. Wash before vanishing.
,. One coat varnish.
.. Wash and polish.
Needs Thorough Washing.
These operations will be dealt with
in the order given: To clean a car fit
for painting. a thorough washing is
needed; All loose parts are remov-
cushians. lamps and footboards.
Wash the car outside. inside and un-
derside until every bit of dirt which
water can remove is washed off.
| room where the pain 4 Is to be
done: allow 1t to dry: + it up high
enough to allow fairly Ugh tresties
j to be placed under the axles; then
| remove the wheels. There will be
considerable hard grease and road oil
to be removed now. This Is best done
1 with a mixture of three parts turpen-
tine and one part kerosene. Soak the
| dirt spots with this. using an old
paint brush; allow to soak for half
an hour. then try to scrape It off
with putty knife. If stubborn, soak
again. Extra hard grease may be re-
moved by a strong solution of sal
soda and hot water. This must be
| thoroughly washed off with warm
water or 1t will destroy the paint as
well as the grease. This subject will
! be continued in the next article