Editing Body and exterior tips

__NOTOC__ {{youcanedit}} == Paint and spray guns -- click the [edit] link on the right to edit or add tips == ===Handling and storing paints, finishes, and related products=== *When opening a can of paint, punch a few holes in the trough where the lid sits. That way, excess paint will drain out of the trough and into the can, rather than splattering when placing the lid back on the can. *Buy a set of inexpensive spatulas to use as scrapers for paint cans. *To preserve hardener, displace the air in the can with inert gas, such as that from a welding tank. Or, use a commercial inert gas finish preservative such as [http://www.bloxygen.com/ Bloxygen]. *Paint and related finishing products can be mixed in glass measuring cups, medicine cups, soup cans, or shot glasses. However, [http://www.ezmix.com EZ Mix] cups are generally preferred for ease of use. Containers with measurements on the side are generally most useful. Paper cups are cautioned against because some may have a wax coating. Similarly, plastic cups or containers (medicine cups, yogurt containers, cleaned bottle caps, etc.) are also cautioned against. There are many different kinds of plastic, some of which are inappropriate for storing certain types of finishing products. *Use inexpensive plastic condiment bottles to dispense compound, polish, and glazes. *For easier pouring, affix a 2-inch piece of masking tape to the edge of a large gallon of paint. Pour the paint over the piece of tape. *Use a ladle for handling paint. *When purchasing new paint or other finishing products, write the date on them with black magic marker. *For stirring paint, use inexpensive "jumbo sticks", tongue depressors, popsicle sticks, wood sticks, or butter knives. *Paint stirring sticks with marks for different mix ratios can be useful for mixing paint. *When mixing double portions of paint or primer, mix one portion at a time. For example, 8:2:1 is easier to keep track of than 16:4:2. After mixing each individual portion, add the two portions together and mix well again. *When opening a gallon of paint that isn't all going to be used immediately, mix it very well and pour it off into quart cans. While pouring, intermix the paint; pour a little bit into each can at a time. *Leftover paint with hardener can be placed in the refrigerator. The cold temperature will slow down the hardener. *It's very important to keep the nozzles of spray cans clean. Be sure to shake spray cans for the amount of time listed on the can, no less. After shaking, turn the can upside down and spray once to clear the nozzle. When done spraying, turn the can upside down, and clear the nozzle and pickup tube by spraying out all of the paint that is inside them. For more details, see Brian Martin's article posted on the Hotrodders Bulletin Board: [http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/what-proper-way-spray-paint-can-41513.html#post285843 Rattle can basics]. ===Spray guns and spraying technique=== *For consistent film build, don't start and stop at the same point every coat. For more information and photos, see Brian Martin's article posted on the Hotrodders Bulletin Board: [http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/tip-day-30-a-74674.html#post542621 Spray technique]. *Don't end a pass right at the end of a panel, where the masking begins. To prevent buildup, and to ensure an even coat, run the color over into the paper a good distance (up to a foot has been recommended). *Use proper gun travel techniques. For more information, see Brian Martin's article posted on the Hotrodders Bulletin Board: [http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/tip-day-30-a-74674.html#post542807 Basics of gun travel]. *To paint something in a tight area without access, use a paper towel tube. Spray down the tube as it's held over the spot that needs to be painted. *Using a file or a fine hack saw, scribe a line in the 12 o'clock position on your gun when it's turned in all the way. This will make it easier to keep track of gun adjustments. *Practice spray technique with water in the gun. *For very small tasks, an airbrush may be helpful. *For HVLP guns with low air requirements: #Connect air fittings to a tee, and install a gauge. #Connect the assembly to the gun, and then regulate the pressure at the compressor until it's at the desired level. #Now, the assembly can be removed, and there'll be the proper pressure without all the extra hardware. ====Cleaning spray guns==== *Never use anything metal for cleaning paint guns. *Rubber-tipped dental tools for cleaning gums can be used for cleaning the holes in air caps. *To clean metal parts of paint guns, soak them in carburetor cleaner, and then rinse well. Don't soak plastic or painted parts. *For many spray guns from Harbor Freight (a popular spray gun supplier), the finish will be removed when the gun is soaked in thinner or carburetor cleaner for cleaning purposes. *Try using an ultrasonic cleaner (about $30, used for cleaning jewelry) for cleaning an HVLP gun. Lacquer thinner or glass cleaner have been recommended as potential solvents for use in an ultrasonic cleaner. ==Sanding -- click the [edit] link on the right to edit or add tips == *For a smaller sanding block, place a sanding block in a vice and cut it with a hacksaw. *To true a sanding block, put a piece of 180 grit sandpaper on a flat surface (plate steel, aluminum, etc.). Rub the surface of the block over the sandpaper. The flatness of the plate or flat surface will true up the surface of the block. *To make a sanding block for an angle, place body filler in a bag and press it into the angle to make a mold. Or, for an actual sanding "block", place body filler on plastic wrap, press it into the angle, and press a block of wood into the back. When it hardens, it's bonded to the wood. *For sanding concave areas, use a piece of rubber hose as a sanding block. *To make a simple tool for cutting sandpaper, mount a hacksaw blade to a piece of plywood. Draw lines on the plywood for different cut sizes, and label them accordingly. To cut sandpaper, slide it under the blade until it lines up with the proper line. For photos of this tool, see this [http://hotrodders.com/forum/tip-day-42-a-80655.html Hotrodders Bulletin Board discussion]. *Use pieces of sheet metal to size sandpaper: #Using a stomp shear, or something else that can cut sheet metal straightly, shear a piece of sheet metal in the size of a piece of sandpaper. #To cut sandpaper, simply lay the sheet metal on top of the sandpaper, and tear off the part of the paper not under the sheet metal. #Drill a hole in the sheet metal piece for hanging on the wall, and paint it with a little bright paint so it's easier to keep track of. *Use a paper cutter for cutting sandpaper. With a magic marker, outline different size sanding blocks on the surface of the paper cutter. *Make use of modern sanding tools that more easily match contours, such as the [http://www.allchem.it/news.html Body Shaper 461], or the [http://guide-rite.com/ Guide-Rite Contour Sander]. Contour gauges (also known as profile gauges) for body work are available at many automotive supply stores. *Always fold sandpaper grit-side to grit-side first for more accurate folds. *To cut down on waste, buy sandpaper in rolls, rather than sheets. *To sand reverse curves, put the sandpaper on the top side of the sanding block. *To sand under rubber, lift it up by forcing a cord or coated wire under it. *Use a different sanding block for each grit of sandpaper. This will save time, and it will ensure that sandpaper is worn out before removing it from the block. *Understand the different sandpaper grit ratings and and their micron equivalents. For more information, see this [http://www.autobodystore.com/paper_grading.htm Abrasive grade comparison chart]. *When color sanding a panel: #Sand in alternating directions. For example, sand vertically with 1000 grit, then horizontally with 1500 or 2000 grit. #After using 2000 grit, use a 4000 grit pad on a DA sander, which will highlight any of the previous sanding marks. #After sanding, let a panel or vehicle sit in the sun for a few hours. Then, take it inside, wait for it to cool, and buff it. *When calculating sandpaper costs, bear in mind that used sandpaper takes longer to use. To save on labor costs, it may be beneficial to discard sandpaper before it is completely used. ==Taping and masking -- click the [edit] link on the right to edit or add tips == *When painting up to a rubber gasket (like a windshield), place a length of rubber vacuum line, plastic tubing, clothesline, or weed trimming string under the gasket. When the paint is dry, pull the line out. It will look like the gasket was removed for painting. Even if it shrinks over time, it won't expose old color. If the gasket won't lay back down, use a heat gun (after the paint has fully cured). Similarly, 3M makes a product called "trim masking tape" for this purpose. *Before applying clearcoat, re-mask windows and other body parts with fresh paper (taping over the existing paper is fine). This will prevent dust from previous coats from contaminating the clearcoat. *Use aluminum foil for masking odd shapes. *Tape down loose masking paper. It can move around while painting, and dirt can hide in the creases. *When taping off a large opening (such as a door) first run several lines of tape across it (sticky side out). Now, when it's masked, the paper will stick to the tape and it won't be so floppy. *Use garbage bags to mask wheels. They can be cut or stretched to cover a wheel. When done painting, the masking material can be disposed of in the garbage bags. *When taping off a two-tone, use specific taping and and painting guidelines. For more information, see Brian Martin's article posted on the Hotrodders Bulletin Board: [http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/tip-day-15-a-71220.html Taping off a two tone paint job]. *Removing a part is often a better option than masking it. *When taping a curve, tape will stretch better one way than the other. *To get tape to stick to rubber, wipe the rubber clean with thinner. *To prevent tape marks when taping on fresh paint, try applying the tape to your pants first. It won't stick as much with a thin layer of lint. ==Body filler -- click the [edit] link on the right to edit or add tips == *For body lines and peaks on hoods or doors, use a contour gauge to make a custom plastic filler spreader: #Place the contour gauge on an undamaged area to get the contour. #Trace the contour onto a plastic body filler spreader. #Trim out the shape on the spreader. *Cut filler spreaders to the desired size. *To clean body filler spreaders, use a 3M scratch pad with lacquer thinner on it. *For reproducing small parts such as gaskets, use plastic body filler to make a mold: #If the part doesn't already exist, a replica has to be made in its shape (for example, carve it out of soft plastic). #Apply some wax to the part (this will act as a mold release), and lay it down on a piece of wax paper. #Mix up some body filler, and place it in a small cup or bowl (the cap on a plastic jug may work). #While the filler is still wet, place it over the part. #When the filler hardens, it can be removed and used as a mold. ==Cleanliness -- click the [edit] link on the right to edit or add tips == *Use only lint-free towels for cleanup. *Use clean cotton gloves for handling clean panels. Keep them stored clean, and wash when necessary. *To keep your paint booth dust-free: **Seal concrete floors with white epoxy. Concrete can break down and turn to dust. **Put some linseed oil in a spray bottle, and mist any intake filters to catch dust. **Clean any overhead sprinklers before and after each paint job. **Try to eliminate vibrations from fans. *To clean panels between compound, polish, glaze, etc., use a 50/50 mixture of water and rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle. Panels can also be cleaned with wax and grease remover. ==Assembly and disassembly -- click the [edit] link on the right to edit or add tips == *Use proper techniques for removing old or rusted bolts. See [[Removing rusted and broken fasteners]]. *To protect painted bolts, place a sandwich bag over the bolt head before pushing on the socket. *When aligning a body part that will require a lot of loosening and tightening, use mock-up bolts with plastic washers. When the panel fit is perfect, go back and change out the bolts one by one. *When disassembling parts or vehicles, be organized. Plastic bags, tape, and a magic marker are essential. **Write notes on a piece of tape, and stick the piece of tape to a part. **Put small parts, nuts, bolts, clips, etc. in bags together for each assembly. Mark each bag. **Tape nuts and bolts into their holes, or tape them to their part. Write notes on the tape. *Socket sets with plastic inserts may be useful for protecting bolt heads. However, they are reported to strip out easily. *Use a squirt can for dispensing small amounts of lacquer thinner. *When hanging panels by yourself, use proper balancing and alignment techniques. For more information, see this discussion from the Hotrodders Bulletin Board: [http://hotrodders.com/forum/tip-day-40-hanging-panels-yourself-77875.html Hanging panels by yourself]. *To protect edges or corners during panel installation, use vacuum line or fuel line hose. Cut it down the middle, and tape it on. *To hold nuts in a socket while assembling hard-to-reach body and exterior components, use masking tape stuffed in the socket -- sticky side out. Similarly, bearing grease can be placed on a washer to hold it to a socket for re-assembling parts. *When disassembling small hard-to-reach parts, use grease in the socket to prevent losing fasteners. *Use caution when installing hood springs. For more information, and a diagram, see Brian Martin's article posted on the Hotrodders Bulletin Board: [http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/tip-day-28-hood-spring-installation-74269.html Hood Spring Installation]. *For precise application of penetrating oil, put the oil in a hand spray bottle, and set the nozzle to a stream. *For drilling out hard-to-reach spot welds, certain drill attachments (like paint stirring tools) may be able to be modified to work as extensions. ==Miscellaneous -- click the [edit] link on the right to edit or add tips == *To paint rims without scratching them: #Mount the wheels first, but don't fill them up with air. #Mask the tire with paper, stuffing it in between the tire and the rim. #Paint the wheel. You can paint around the back edge of the rim, along with the rest of it. #Remove the masking and inflate the tire. It will look like the tire was off the rim when it was painted. *To clean foam buffing pads while using them, use a cheap paint brush with the bristles cut off about halfway for stiffness. *Allow plenty of air circulation around your air compressor. Put it outside if possible, or point an inexpensive fan at it. *Make paper templates for easy cutting and drilling. For more information and photos, see Brian Martin's article posted on the Hotrodders Bulletin Board: [http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/tip-day-13-a-71092.html Basics of Basics: Templates for Accurate Cutting and Drilling]. *Before installing a weld-on part (core supports, quarter panels, rear panels, etc.), scuff the inside areas. It's easier to do this before parts are installed. *For doing small touchups without ending up with a huge repair area from sanding, cut sanding discs down to size. *When chemical stripping parts with heavy buildup: #Coat the panel heavily with stripper. #Cover with a cheap plastic drop cloth, or plastic wrap. #Let it stay covered at least an hour, but as long as overnight. #The stripper penetrates deeper when it won't dry out, and the plastic wrap makes it easier to remove. *If you want an entire part painted, finish it before installing it. Then, touch it up after it's been welded on. Although, this has been argued to be inefficient on a production basis, especially for parts that are not visible, and have been e-coated. *Be creative when sourcing patch metal. Potential sources include: **old refrigerators **old air conditioning units **old computer cases **fenders, roofs, or other body parts from vehicles *Use florescent "drop" lights, rather than incandescent. They create less heat, last longer, and are more resistant to shocks than incandescent bulbs. In particular, [http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=92079 these inexpensive Harbor Freight drop lights] are recommended. *Save old magnets that are being thrown away (from old car speakers, or refrigerator/freezer sealing strips, computer hard drives, etc.) They have many uses: #Place magnets over masking material to keep from blowing around. #Use magnets to hold fire blankets in place while welding. #Use a magnet in a plastic bag to pick up nails and screws. When done, turn the bag inside out; the metal parts are in the bag, and the magnet stays clean. #Put large magnets along the outside of your tool box, and you can suspend your tools from inside. *Oil filter shells can be used for making recessed tail lights. They come in many different sizes, and the larger ones for commercial trucks may be especially useful. *To make a custom body grommet, use a section of vacuum hose that's been split down the middle with a razor or similar tool. A photo of this can be seen here: [http://hotrodders.com/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/17678/size/big/cat/500/page/ Hotrodders Photo Gallery]. ==Questionable or disputed tips -- click the [edit] link on the right to add or comment on tips== These are tips that have been posted, either in this article or around the web, that may be questionable or otherwise disputed: *Modify a regular caulk gun to make a dual-cartridge caulk gun. More information and photos on this can be found in this [http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/tip-day-20-a-71736.html Hotrodders Bulletin Board discussion]. This tip was cautioned against because of potential problems with the mix ratio, and because dual-cartridge guns are not particularly expensive. *When applying body filler upside down, mix glue in with it to prevent it from falling. This tip was cautioned against due to concerns about altering the chemical composition of body filler. Instead, using a thicker brand of filler is recommended. ==History -- click the [edit] link on the right to edit or add history info== This wiki article was written to compile the various "Tips of the Day" posted in the [http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/body-exterior Body-Exterior forum] on the Hotrodders Bulletin Board. The tradition of posting a "Tip of the Day" started with member jcclark, who posted the first Tip of the Day on August 26, 2005: [http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/body-exterior-tips-day-76946.html Displace the air inside cans of hardener]. jcclark also posted the next two tips, after which other members continued the tradition. Member MARTINSR also made considerable contributions to the Tips of the Day. While termed "Tip of the Day", the tips weren't actually posted on a daily basis. For the first 50 tips, a tip was posted, on average, once every 6 days. On December 24th, 2005, after the 35th tip had been posted, the administrator of the Hotrodders Bulletin Board compiled all of the Tips of the Day into one post: [http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/body-exterior-tips-day-76946.html Body-exterior tips of the day]. On July 14, 2006, after the 53rd Tip of the Day was posted, this wiki article was made. Hopefully, all future tips will be added to the wiki article. Additionally, Carl Brunson's article: [http://www.roddingroundtable.com/tech/articles/sanding2.html Body Working Tips], from [http://www.roddingroundtable.com RoddingRoundtable.com], was also used as a reference for additional tips. ==References -- click the [edit] link on the right to add references == *Hotrodders Bulletin Board discussions: **http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/body-exterior-tips-day-76946.html **http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/tip-day-8-a-70233.html **http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/tip-day-13-a-71092.html **http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/tip-day-30-a-74674.html **http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/tip-day-24-a-72997.html **http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/tip-day-68901.html **http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/tip-day-2-a-69242.html **http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/tip-day-3-a-69594.html **http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/tip-day-5-a-69830.html **http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/tip-day-7-a-70195.html **http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/tip-day-10-a-70323.html **http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/tip-day-11-a-70436.html **http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/tip-day-12-cans-71087.html **http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/tip-day-13-999-ahh-heck-lets-just-make-14-a-71163.html **http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/tip-day-15-a-71220.html **http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/tip-day-16-a-71240.html **http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/tip-day-17-a-71305.html **http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/tip-day-18-a-71400.html **http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/tip-day-19-a-71689.html **http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/tip-day-20-a-71736.html **http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/tip-day-22-a-72379.html **http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/tip-day-23-a-72767.html **http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/tip-day-72640.html **http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/tip-day-25-a-73015.html **http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/tip-day-26-a-73037.html **http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/tip-day-oil-filters-73069.html **http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/tip-day-25-a-73355.html **http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/tip-day-27-a-73697.html **http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/tip-day-31-a-74919.html **http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/tip-day-32-a-75712.html **http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/tip-day-35-a-76820.html **http://hotrodders.com/forum/tip-day-36-a-77027.html **http://hotrodders.com/forum/tip-day-37-a-77571.html **http://hotrodders.com/forum/tip-day-38-a-77624.html **http://hotrodders.com/forum/tip-day-39-a-77854.html **http://hotrodders.com/forum/tip-day-40-hanging-panels-yourself-77875.html **http://hotrodders.com/forum/tip-day-41-a-78309.html **http://hotrodders.com/forum/tip-day-42-a-80655.html **http://hotrodders.com/forum/tip-day-43-a-82554.html **http://hotrodders.com/forum/tip-day-43-a-82941.html **http://hotrodders.com/forum/tip-day-44-a-83301.html **http://hotrodders.com/forum/tip-day-46-a-84650.html **http://hotrodders.com/forum/tip-day-47-a-84860.html **http://hotrodders.com/forum/tip-day-number-47-a-87025.html **http://hotrodders.com/forum/tip-day-48-a-88602.html **http://hotrodders.com/forum/tip-day-49-a-88627.html **http://hotrodders.com/forum/tip-day-49-a-89106.html **http://hotrodders.com/forum/tip-dy-50-a-89605.html **http://hotrodders.com/forum/tip-day-51-a-90442.html **http://hotrodders.com/forum/tip-day-52-a-91115.html **http://hotrodders.com/forum/tip-day-53-a-93637.html *[http://www.roddingroundtable.com/tech/articles/sanding2.html Body Working Tips], Carl Brunson, RoddingRoundtable.com *[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandpaper Sand paper article from Wikipedia] {{youcanedit}}

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