|
Post by dntpitts on Jul 16, 2007 18:45:19 GMT 10
Hello all , Tech info is what I need, boy do I need it! I have a van that is 48 years od and has no paint stuck to any of the exterior, all plywood/bondwood and the first layer of ply is frayed or worn thru in a few spots making it uneven. What would you use to even thing out I have a retired painter advising me to use a method he remembers from his younger days to strengthen and finish of the exterior. Have you heard of using a proper enamel paint, with 4 hrs min drying time, laying calico over and rollingg it into the paint, sanding when dry and finish paint can be enamel or 100 % acryclic paint. I have heard of similar methods before in old aeroplane manufacture and even models but is it a viable or successful method Any van clubs or restorers around SE QLD??? SEE YA
|
|
|
Post by dntpitts on Jul 16, 2007 20:41:38 GMT 10
I should have described the condition better, it has not seen weather since 1972 approx, the tyres are olympic air rides and dont have a crack on them so no sun at all, the paint is the orig enamel with a coat of some Blue on top, everything is as dry as if it had been in a kiln, all ply is well bonded but with the aforementioned wear. I would like to re skin the van but the original front , top, and back are in one piece and took 3 people to find a single join line in the top veneer, the next layer is not joined at the same position, I dont feel confident that a new skin would be better, maybe in appearance but not functionally. I will definitely make enquiries as to a replacement but have never seen a piece of ply of similar size. The sides are also one piece approx 5 ply, 15 foot by 6 foot 6 inch. Thanks
|
|
|
Post by Roehm3108 on Jul 23, 2007 17:50:13 GMT 10
Hi Dave Whereabouts in SE QLD are you. Sounds like a very interesting van you have there! Is this in addition to the Properts? I nearly bought a van finished in a similar way to what you describe with the calico finish - ends up looking like fibreglass. The problem was that this particular one had a split in the seam of the calico and water had got in and bloated the ply cos it had nowhere to run out from. S'pose if you keep the van under cover it should work OK. The Rowvans are another van that used to have this finish on the roof, as did a few others. What about fibreglassing the van instead? I know the purists would scream, but it would certainly last better than the calico finish, and once it's painted, the result is the same! Ray
|
|
|
Post by Roehm3108 on Jul 23, 2007 17:53:00 GMT 10
Just had another thought!!! Isn't there a spray-on filler you can get for wood like you can for cars, to take out minor irregularities? Kaybee etal would have some knowledge in that direction perhaps??? Ray
|
|