The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Finish Sanding

There is really no worse job than finish sanding prior to Sealer/Base/Clear. Every square inch of the Cab (in this case) inside and out must be super smooth. Since the high build primer lays down bumpier than the 400 grit paper used for final sanding, everything needs smoothing.

This is literally a very painful proposition because the only way to get into all of the grooves, crevasses, etc is with your fingers. After a few days of this the tips of your fingers feel like someone is sticking needles in them all the time. I then resort to good old Duct Tape. Tape up the ends of your fingers and keep working. I can properly smooth about 24 square inches per day on the inside of the cab. Very slow going and very tedious. I do this by tearing off about 6 inches of 400 PSA sticky and fold it in two.

http://devestechnet.com/Images/D50b01068lg.jpg

Under the dash is the worst. I know nobody will look under there, but I will know! There is no escaping that, so I do everything inside and out with the same standard. With 4 titanium rods, 13 screws and two plates in my lower back, this type of work brings tears to my eyes! But no matter, it's all part of the process.

The good news is, I can stop at 400 grit now that PPG has a Sealer that completely heals 400 without wet sanding and adding the possibility of rust into the mix. The interior will get a single stage Urethane paint, while the outside will be base/clear. I may go back later and do some clear to the dash, but I am hoping I am happy with the gloss of the single stage.

Anyhow, just wanted to share that. If you haven't restored a vehicle from the bottom up yet, you will appreciate knowing whats coming! Or not.

With your insatiable addiction to detail, are you sure you didn't forget to let us know about any plates in your noggin?
Having poked at you a little, I would like to see it when its done!
Carl

I am your friend Carl, just like everyone else that stabs at me.. it's all in fun. Chances are, you won't see the difference that all of this extra work deserves. I know it's crazy, but where would be the fun in doing things like everyone else?

My Dad died of Alzheimers a few years back. (I think he was Denny or HRL's age) (76) Go figure. The smartest guy I knew. Always was the words.. "if its worth doing..." you know the rest because EVERYONE does wether they do it or not. It's a tribute and something I will do right up until that hereditary disease hits me.

Not much progress yet, but I am still plugging away! Thanks for letting me know what I have in store!

Come on now Deve, only 72 and Jerry's just a kid in comparison.

And nothing against Dad, but 'worth doing right' on the Chevrolet production line meant no mice or bats stuck in the paint, no primer inside, maybe some over-spray under the dash and in the corners, some red oxide on the outside but not on all production lines and even that's not confirmed, many were painted right over the e-coat, no sanding before shooting, at least on the AD's, no sealers and certainly no BC/CC. That's the 'right way' to treat a Stovebolt.

dg

No BC/CC?

Who would have thought?

That must be one of those upgrades/enhancements/improvements people post about?

Nothing wrong with feeling that way Denny. I went into this with the philosophy of Preservation being forefront with Restoration in mind. Hopefully these paints will far outlast the factory lacquer because I sure as heck don't intend to do this again on this truck!