The Ford Barn

wrndln · 08-09-2012, 09:50 AM

I am ready to install the bumpers on my car. I have some bumper clamps that need to have the blue painted on them. I am wondering if you just paint on the chrome or need to somehow prepare the surfaces to be painted. It seems like the paint would not adhere well to chrome, but I am not sure. I was planning on masking off the areas to be painted with 3M Fineline tape to provide a smooth edge before paint the insets. If anyone has done this before with success, would you please post a reply.
Rusty Nelson

Gary Karr · 08-09-2012, 10:27 AM

Rusty, bumper clamps are really easy to paint. I use lacquer paint. There is no need to prep the surface other than clean it with thinner. I mask off the centers with regular masking tape, putting it right in the edge of the raised surface. I then shoot the indents with a few light coats. I then remove the tape and using a paper towel with lacquer thinner, I wipe off the paint around the raised edges. It goes fast and the results are great. Now, early '28 clamps are a different story with the Ford scripts. They take a bit more work but the process is pretty much the same. Good luck.

Marco Tahtaras · 08-09-2012, 11:19 AM

I think most folks do what Gary did. In my case I wanted to replicate the original appearance which had a somewhat foggy edge since they were sprayed through a template. I carefully cut a hole in masking tape that matched the recess. I placed the tape over the clamp without letting the tape roll into the recess so there was a space around the edge. I then sprayed square to the clamp.

I wish I took pics when I was restoring my clamps but all I have are frame captures from old fashioned video tape (1993).

wrndln · 08-09-2012, 11:35 AM

Thanks Gary and Marco. It sounds like I don't need to "roughen" the chrome surface to apply the paint for it to adhere well. Marco, the clamps you restored look perfect.
Rusty

700rpm · 08-09-2012, 01:40 PM

I found it harder to paint the earlier round center clamp. I finally got it satisfactory, but not great, by covering the whole thing with lacquer and then wiping off the high spots with a cloth lightly dampened with lacquer thinner after it dried. I'd like to hear how others did it.

Hunter · 08-09-2012, 02:04 PM

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Rusty,

I did it exactly the way Gary described after several failed attempts at trying to mask off all the unpainted areas.

Hunter

d.j. moordigian · 08-09-2012, 03:24 PM

Marco,

The paint was no higher than the bottom radius, maybe splitting radius in half
and "feathered", correct?

What about the rears on VE-28 and the center fronts on 28-29?

Thanks

31Tudor · 08-09-2012, 03:51 PM

Rusty, Will Cronkrite (www.mantiquesresto.com) has made templates for spraying the bumper clamp. They come out real nice with the feathered edge that Marco mentioned.

Bob-A · 08-09-2012, 05:44 PM

On my '29 phaeton years ago. I mixed up my own formula for the blue paint and brushed it on. After cleaning up the edges with a lacquer damp rag they did not look bad at all. She was a good "20 footer" ya' know what I mean.

Now, I just use the stick on decals available from the A-Model parts houses.

Bob-A

Gary Karr · 08-10-2012, 10:14 AM

Dudley,
Here is one of my script E-28 clamps. The outer recesses were easy to paint like any others but the center area around the script is a challenge! Remember too that the recesses on the early '28 camps are shallower than the regular 28/29 clamps.

Hunter · 08-10-2012, 10:26 AM

Wow Gary! That is a work of art!!

d.j. moordigian · 08-10-2012, 07:04 PM

Thanks Gary,
Your not kidding about the recesses being shallow, I have a near NOS, if not
NOS, not much room for errors in plating. Your clamp looks SUPER.

Mike V. Florida · 08-11-2012, 02:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marco Tahtaras

I think most folks do what Gary did. In my case I wanted to replicate the original appearance which had a somewhat foggy edge since they were sprayed through a template. I carefully cut a hole in masking tape that matched the recess. I placed the tape over the clamp without letting the tape roll into the recess so there was a space around the edge. I then sprayed square to the clamp.

I wish I took pics when I was restoring my clamps but all I have are frame captures from old fashioned video tape (1993).

I do license plates almost the same way. Paint the whole plate the color of the raised numbers. Cover with contact paper, cut around the numbers and spray the backround color.

BILL WILLIAMSON · 08-12-2012, 02:51 PM

There's a certain amount of humor in this! We're used to making nice crisp lines when masking, now we're trying to duplicate a "quick semi-fuzzy" line that was sprayed on with a hand held stencil at Henry's Paint Dept. So, is creating imperfection some sort of "lost art?"---Maybe I'm a natural, as I can usually create imperfection without even trying!! Bill W.

08-09-2012, 09:50 AM	#1
wrndln Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Lakeville, MN Posts: 5,300	Painting bumper clamps I am ready to install the bumpers on my car. I have some bumper clamps that need to have the blue painted on them. I am wondering if you just paint on the chrome or need to somehow prepare the surfaces to be painted. It seems like the paint would not adhere well to chrome, but I am not sure. I was planning on masking off the areas to be painted with 3M Fineline tape to provide a smooth edge before paint the insets. If anyone has done this before with success, would you please post a reply. Rusty Nelson

08-09-2012, 10:27 AM	#2
Gary Karr Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 1,517	Re: Painting bumper clamps Rusty, bumper clamps are really easy to paint. I use lacquer paint. There is no need to prep the surface other than clean it with thinner. I mask off the centers with regular masking tape, putting it right in the edge of the raised surface. I then shoot the indents with a few light coats. I then remove the tape and using a paper towel with lacquer thinner, I wipe off the paint around the raised edges. It goes fast and the results are great. Now, early '28 clamps are a different story with the Ford scripts. They take a bit more work but the process is pretty much the same. Good luck.

08-09-2012, 11:19 AM	#3
Marco Tahtaras Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 3,099	Re: Painting bumper clamps I think most folks do what Gary did. In my case I wanted to replicate the original appearance which had a somewhat foggy edge since they were sprayed through a template. I carefully cut a hole in masking tape that matched the recess. I placed the tape over the clamp without letting the tape roll into the recess so there was a space around the edge. I then sprayed square to the clamp. I wish I took pics when I was restoring my clamps but all I have are frame captures from old fashioned video tape (1993). __________________ http://www.abarnyard.com/

08-09-2012, 11:35 AM	#4
wrndln Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Lakeville, MN Posts: 5,300	Re: Painting bumper clamps Thanks Gary and Marco. It sounds like I don't need to "roughen" the chrome surface to apply the paint for it to adhere well. Marco, the clamps you restored look perfect. Rusty

08-09-2012, 01:40 PM	#5
700rpm Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 6,039	Re: Painting bumper clamps I found it harder to paint the earlier round center clamp. I finally got it satisfactory, but not great, by covering the whole thing with lacquer and then wiping off the high spots with a cloth lightly dampened with lacquer thinner after it dried. I'd like to hear how others did it. __________________ Ray Horton, Portland, OR As you go through life, keep your eye on the donut, not the hole.

08-09-2012, 02:04 PM	#6
Hunter Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Gaithersburg, Maryland Posts: 518	Re: Painting bumper clamps Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Rusty, I did it exactly the way Gary described after several failed attempts at trying to mask off all the unpainted areas. Hunter

08-09-2012, 03:24 PM	#7
d.j. moordigian Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Fresno, Ca. Posts: 3,636	Re: Painting bumper clamps Marco, The paint was no higher than the bottom radius, maybe splitting radius in half and "feathered", correct? What about the rears on VE-28 and the center fronts on 28-29? Thanks

08-09-2012, 03:51 PM	#8
31Tudor Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: North Carolina Posts: 611	Re: Painting bumper clamps Rusty, Will Cronkrite (www.mantiquesresto.com) has made templates for spraying the bumper clamp. They come out real nice with the feathered edge that Marco mentioned.

08-09-2012, 05:44 PM	#9
Bob-A Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Central FL, USA Posts: 1,182	Re: Painting bumper clamps On my '29 phaeton years ago. I mixed up my own formula for the blue paint and brushed it on. After cleaning up the edges with a lacquer damp rag they did not look bad at all. She was a good "20 footer" ya' know what I mean. Now, I just use the stick on decals available from the A-Model parts houses. Bob-A

08-10-2012, 10:26 AM	#11
Hunter Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Gaithersburg, Maryland Posts: 518	Re: Painting bumper clamps Wow Gary! That is a work of art!!

08-10-2012, 07:04 PM	#12
d.j. moordigian Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Fresno, Ca. Posts: 3,636	Re: Painting bumper clamps Thanks Gary, Your not kidding about the recesses being shallow, I have a near NOS, if not NOS, not much room for errors in plating. Your clamp looks SUPER.

08-12-2012, 02:51 PM	#14
BILL WILLIAMSON Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: FRESNO, CA Posts: 12,560	Re: Painting bumper clamps There's a certain amount of humor in this! We're used to making nice crisp lines when masking, now we're trying to duplicate a "quick semi-fuzzy" line that was sprayed on with a hand held stencil at Henry's Paint Dept. So, is creating imperfection some sort of "lost art?"---Maybe I'm a natural, as I can usually create imperfection without even trying!! Bill W. __________________ "THE ASSISTANT GURU OF STUFF" Last edited by BILL WILLIAMSON; 08-12-2012 at 03:38 PM. Reason: WISDOM!