• When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.

Paint "Pen"

Ron H

FBBO Gold Member
FBBO Gold Member
Local time
10:24 PM
Joined
Feb 29, 2016
Messages
9,491
Reaction score
11,778
Location
WI
Looking for some possible solutions to restore some of the trim on my '63 Fury notably the rear aluminum panels, I came across paint pens. The panel as you see in the photo will require a hell of a lot of intricate masking to restore the black paint that once resided in the bottom channels if spraying them. And the paint lines shouldn't rise up in the channels, only on the bottom surface adding much more to the masking prep. A suitable width pen sounds like a nifty approach; but no clue as I've never tried this.
Has anyone used paint pens with such restoing or other ideas?
Thanks for any advice.

DSCN1463.JPG
 
Use pin-striping tape on the high-edges, and spray paint?
 
Other then black which worked pretty good for what I needed I have tried other colors such as silver and white and they don't seem to match up the best. Good luck:thumbsup:
 
I've never used it but there is a spray masking. Totally spray the piece, let it dry. Then cut and remove the flat areas. Paint with the desired color then remove the rest of the dried spray masking.

Or you could contact Leanna, Phoenix Specialty Coatings.com (member on here) and see if there is away to powder coat them. They do it on finned valve covers and other such items.
 
If the black is in the valleys you can spray the piece with trim black then wipe the high spots with lacquer thinner to remove it. No masking, or very little. I can't see the piece well and I'm not familiar with that year, I'm not sure if that approach would work or not.
 
That's how I did mine. Satisfied with it.
Also used paint pens, to restore my various emblems, and baked the paint.
 
Good ideas to think on I appreciate your help!
 
Paint pens are great for small projects. I used silver leaf paint pen to redo the edging on my instrument cluster and the lettering on my interior roadrunner emblem. I also used a bright orange for the needles on my gauges and both produced excellent results. I have used black on small items as well. The problem with paint pens on larger areas is you will get streaks or wavy results if the area is wider then the tip of the pen. Now, with that said, if you can find a pen with a tip as wide as the area you want to cover it may be successful. Also the paint pen tips become sticky and can clog up as the end of the tip starts to dry the longer you use them and then you really can get streaks in the coverage.

If I were doing something that big, I would mask it and spray it or spray it then remove the paint from the high spots as 69L48Z27 says.
 
Yeah good to hear about your experience doing this - had some thoughts about coating consistency. The (2) panels are 19" long x 5" wide with 13 channels 1/4" wide; the area just needing the black color on the bottom surface as appears was original. Sounds way too much for the pen idea. The ridges (top side) needing masking are angled to boot. Kryslerkid mentioned a spray masking I wasn't aware of that sounds like a good method. I've done intricate painting using Vaseline on the surfaces I didn't want painted that worked nice but the borders were sharp/ridged where this approach was easier. Removing paint using remover could certainly work but overspray into the vertical/angled surfaces of the channels would be a real pain to wipe out without striking the bottom surface taking off paint not to be removed...
 
If you see my photo above you'll notice a rectangular area top right on panel that shows the original paint...this area was covered by a Fury emblem preserving that area longer.
 
If you get a roll of 1/2" automotive masking tape, fasten the piece horizontal on a holder like a piece of paneling, clamp it in a vise. Start taping one side of the fins, turn it over and tape the other side, it will go faster than you think.

You'll need a etching primer on them to help with adhesion. Hit up your local paint supplier for a spray bomb of it. Maybe even Napa might have it.
 
You gave the idea of a spray mask but sounds like you think the traditional masking routine would work. I suppose it could be just as quick or better as I'd be cutting out the spray mask from the channels with a razor maybe having some issues with a poor coat or cut out if I understand using this stuff. I have etching primer (gray) so you're saying a primer coat then black paint coat over it should be done. Didn't think of this.
Thanks.
 
As long as your etching primer is for aluminum. Then stay within your window for the black topcoat. And make sure the two are compatible. Nothing like doing a bunch of prep work and having the paint react to what's under it. Don't ask how I know, lol

Some of these parts can be time consuming for sure. The end results can be rewarding though.

Good luck
 
Get a pin stripe brush the correct width, prep the surface & lay those lines in the channels.
worst case is if you goof up just dab a Q tip in thinner and erase your goof up.
Or...... they used to sell a pin stripe wheel with a small paint pot on the end that should roll right down the channel and paint the bottom.
 
Hmm...another interesting approach I hadn't thought of. Thanks!
 
Auto Transport Service
Back
Top