Most of us probably use spray paint for small projects around the house. We might even be tempted to try repairing body damage on our vehicle with the old rattle can. But we’ve all seen the results of a botched spray bomb touch-up going down the road. And it usually […]
Tag: DIY
Understanding Automotive Paint Mixing Ratios
When you’re trying to decide on paint for your project, the choices can be confusing. Beyond the color itself, there are decisions like whether to use single-stage or a base/clear system, for instance. And then there’s all the ratios – 4:1, 3:1, 2:1 – or none at all with ready-to-spray […]
Don’t Let the Faraday Effect Ruin Your Powder Coating
Powder coating is a great way to create a durable finish on many projects, but it is considerably different than traditional painting. Because electric charge is applied to the powdered paint, one unique challenge is a phenomenon called the Faraday effect. Sometimes also known as the Faraday Cage effect, this […]
Model Building Is Key To Connecting Generations
Christmas was already a couple weeks ago. The tree is down, the cookies are gone, and all of the returns have been made (well, almost all). And now it’s time to enjoy the gifts we received. On a whim, I cracked open a model kit that I’ve had sitting on […]
Pro Tip – Chase Those Crusty Threads
The restoration process is about more than just taking a vehicle apart and putting it back together. It’s about total reconditioning, and quality restoration shops often spend more time doing work that’s never seen. Occasionally the professionals share their secrets with us, and here is one such example. It’s no […]
Five New Year Resolutions for Car Enthusiasts
Out with the old and in with the new. So long 2023. It’s 2024 now, and you know what that means. Yep, it’s time to make some meaningless New Year’s resolutions. But what if, instead of promising to start working work out, eat more healthy, or spend more time with […]
Selecting the Right Metal Tubing for Your Brake and Fuel Lines
Whether you’re restoring a classic car or building a custom machine from scratch, numerous decisions will come up that will require serious consideration. Among them is the choice of which type of tubing to use for brake and fuel lines. It’s a choice that influences not only the vehicle’s safety […]
How to Clean Your HVLP Paint Gun
You can tell a lot about a person by how they treat their workspace and tools. The same can certainly be said about how a painter maintains their paint gun. After all, modern HVLP (High Volume Low Pressure) paint guns are precision tools that count on clean surfaces and optimized […]
Bagged C-10 – Episode 2: Making New Air Compressor Mounts
With the suspensions air tank freshly powder coated, work on our video producer Adam’s 1985 Chevy C-10 pickup project continues. As with other elements of this decade-old build, time has not been kind to some of the exterior hardware. The next components of the Air-Ride suspension to get his attention are […]