[CR]Re: Testors Touchup

(Example: Bike Shops:R.E.W. Reynolds)

From: <BobHoveyGa@aol.com>
Date: Thu, 26 Feb 2004 10:14:38 EST
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org, jerrymoos@sbcglobal.net
Subject: [CR]Re: Testors Touchup

Original Message:
>Since we are speaking of wax, I tried waxing a bike I recently received from
>a list member. I had touched up the paint in several places with Testors
>model car enamel. I found the wax took off a lot of the touchup paint. I
>presume this is because it is not cured. So what is the solution to this?
>
>Jerry Moos
>Houston, TX

Jerry;

I'd love to hear real advice on touching up from an expert like Brian Baylis, Jim Allen, or Joe Bell, but here's my meager offering... Testor's is OK for it's intended purpose (adhering to plastic models), but otherwise it is pretty weak in its uncured state and its adherance to metal is poor under any circumstances. If you want to use it as a touchup paint and have no way to cure it, here are three things that will increase your odds of success: First, do a little prep work... scuff the metal with fine sandpaper or one of those little fiberglass pens, and feather the existing paint as well. Then swab the area with degreaser/solvent and be careful not to touch it. Second, don't apply Testor's to bare metal unless you are desperate... use a primer (if you must do a "one-step" touchup, try Rustoleum, I hear it sticks to metal better... but primer is still the best way to go). Finally, don't use Testors as it comes out of the bottle... dilute it with the appropriate thinner and apply several thin coats. Afterward, you could level the touchup with fine (1000+) emery and buff it with polishing compound... that way the touchup will blend in, plus it'll feather the edges, lessening the chance that it'll lift when waxed or rubbed. So I guess that's four things, not three...

Bob Hovey
Columbus, GA