Mottled paint, commonly known as “tiger stripes,” are common mistake many novices make when painting a car. The name comes from the streaks or stripes that appear in the finish, often lighter or darker than the surrounding paint. Several factors can create these imperfections that can ruin a paint job […]
Technical
The Newbie’s Guide to Choosing Your First Welding Helmet
When you’re new to welding, there’s so much to learn. Which shielding gas for which metal, remembering to ground your work, don’t look directly at the arc. Actually, that last one is probably the important thing you can remember if you plan to use your eyes in the future. Of […]
What to Use – Rust Converter or Rust Encapsulator?
Not every rust repair allows for stripping back to bare metal and refinishing like new. Think about frame maintenance, trailers, and shop equipment. For these situations, the question that often comes up is whether it’s better to use a chemical rust converter product or simply bury the rust in an […]
Choose the Right Detail Brush for the Job
Whether you’re a professional detailer or just a passionate enthusiast trying to achieve the perfect finish, choosing the right brush may seem overwhelming. But the nuances of bristle type, brush size, and general shape matter as much as the finish they’re being used on. To help navigate the confusion over […]
All You Need to Make Your First 3D Printed Part
Depending on your perspective, 3D printers are now either as easy to use as a traditional home document printer or overwhelmingly complex toys that only tech nerds can really justify owning. And the truth probably lies somewhere in the middle. Regardless of how you feel, 3D printers are already an […]
Restore Your Car’s Trim While It’s Off For Paint
If you’re doing the job right, you’ve at least taken off the basic trim before repainting your car. And if you’ve come this far, you owe it to yourself to treat those bits to the same level of attention as the body. After all, why bother with new paint if […]
Back At Ya – Factoring For Springback When Bending Metal
If you’ve ever bent a paper clip or opened a soda can, you know that you have to push the metal beyond the point you want it to rest. This effect is called “springback,” essentially an internal memory that results from the metal’s inherent resistance to changing shape when force […]
Calculating How Much Paint You’ll Need to Paint Your Vehicle
One of the most common questions that comes up when planning to paint a car is “How much paint will I actually need?” It’s a great question for a lot of reasons, not least of which is knowing how to budget. And while no one wants to buy more material […]
How to Set Up a Basic AC/DC TIG Welder
While there are many ways to weld metal two pieces of metal together – gas, stick, MIG, TIG, resistance – the one that often strikes fear into most DIYer is TIG (Tungsten Inert Gas) welding. TIG welders are versatile machines that allow for welding both steel and aluminum. The process […]