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I am repainting the black squares on the tail light plates.
Was the original paint gloss, or more of a satin?
Was the original paint gloss, or more of a satin?
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RE: tail light plate
I don't know the answer but am interested in doing the same project. Did you remove the old paint with chemical stripper, wire brush on a drill, or??? Do you plan to paint each squre one at a time with a small brush or do you have a masking templete?
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RE: tail light plate
The paint on the tail light grilles was a semi-gloss, neither totally flat nor gloss.
The paint should be removed by chemical stripper. A wire brush will damage the chrome.
Alexander
1959 Hardtop
1960 Golde Top
Alexander
1959 Hard Top
1960 Golde Top
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RE: tail light plate
The way I repaint the squares is mask off the chrome area that surrounds the waffle plate. Spray the entire area with semi-gloss spray can paint, after the old has been removed with chemical stripper. After letting the paint set up, remove mask.
The next step is to take newspaper and lay flat one sheet and pour lacquer thinner on the paper, while still wet wrap around a paint stick or small piece of flat wood and wipe the chrome highlight with the paper. It will take several wiping sessions to remove the paint on the surface areas. Make sure the paper is not too wet with thinner and keep changing the paper. Take your time and the results will be professional. Wipe any other areas with a rag wet with thinner. The reason I use newspaper is it does not leave lint like paper towels, or rags to get in the paint. Brown kraft paper will work also, but keep changing after each wipe.
Hope this helps,
Tom
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RE: tail light plate
I repainted the spokes on my '60 TBird hubcaps the following way:
I put a thin coating of vaseline on the areas that I didn't want painted (i.e. spokes).
I masked off large areas like the perimeter of the hubcap with painter tape.
Then I spray painted the whole thing.
Once the paint dried, I just wiped off the vaseline and touched up a few of the edges with thinner and a toothpick.
turned out perfectly.
Casey
'60 hardtop
CaseyComment
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RE: tail light plate
I cannot speak to 59/60 bezels but the 3 58 nos bezels were painted flat black.
Fuz
58's&64's
Sun Prairie, Wi.
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RE: tail light plate HOW DO I SEAL IT!@!
ok repaintd and restored my tail light plates and they look incredible...How do i seal the paint, Do i use a clear coat over them???
mark
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RE: tail light plate HOW DO I SEAL IT!@!
I finished the waffle plates for my own '60 with Reflective Chrome powdercoat and John Draxler's (TBird Ranch) pre-cut vinyl squares. These plates and lens rings were in really bad shape. They look better now, but the pits are still there and no easy way to get rid of those unless each one is filled. The pits under the black vinyl are hidden tho. Look for yourself: http://www.fourcornerzauto.com/id11.html
Mike Lemmon
'59 Hardtop
'60 Hardtop
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RE: tail light plate HOW DO I SEAL IT!@!
Great job. Looks great.
Are the vinyl decal squares all precut to fit the partial squares? How long does it take to paste them all on?
Alexander
1959 Hardtop
1960 Golde Top
Alexander
1959 Hard Top
1960 Golde Top
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RE: tail light plate
THAT would've been nice. There's 4 sheets of precut squares in a kit, but all of the partials had to be cut. Took my wife and I all afternoon Sunday with tweezers while watching movies. (No football games).
Mike Lemmon
'59 Hardtop
'60 Hardtop
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RE: tail light plate HOW DO I SEAL IT!@!
how did you strip the pieces before they were powdercoated??????
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RE: tail light plate HOW DO I SEAL IT!@!
what i really meant to ask was what kind of chemical stripper did you use. did you do it yourself or send it out???? what kind of cost is involved????
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RE: tail light plate
I sandblasted the plates as best as possible, then ground down the terrible pits on these samples. I filled the worst ones with metal filler and sanded. This was followed by a thorough cleaning then powdercoat.
Mike Lemmon
'59 Hardtop
'60 Hardtop (For Sale)
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