Author Topic: Patina, redux...  (Read 303 times)

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Offline Bryan Boyle

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  • 1974 Europa JPS #142 3291R
    • Lotus Europa Collection
Patina, redux...
« on: Thursday,November 02, 2023, 06:16:15 AM »
Pretty satisfied with the results I got using the Collinite polish and paste wax (no financial interest, but it's worth investigating: https://www.collinite.com/)  to bring up the shine. Paint is really badly crazed on the horizontal surfaces but not too bad below the beltline, which is to be expected, but it IS the original finish. Just because it’s worn/aged/experienced doesn’t mean it has to look bad, right?


I use a DA buffer for the polish step with a dimpled foam pad at medium speed (just like my good friend Dave Hoffman, the paint guru, showed me when he was doing my S2 buff out), microfiber cloth to clean off, and soft cotton (I used an old undershirt) to rub the wax in, not just spread it on with a foam pad.


3291R will never be showroom quality unless I have the car refinished, but that would destroy the originality.  The rear deck and sides around the fuel fillers are the worst; I MAY (stress the MAY) refinish that area (it's worn through the primer in spots...) lightly to clean it up...or may just leave it.  Battle scars are a mark of honor, right?
« Last Edit: Thursday,November 02, 2023, 06:20:08 AM by Bryan Boyle »
Bryan Boyle
Morrisville PA
Commercial Pilot/CFII/FAA Safety Team
Amateur Extra Class Operator & FCC Volunteer Examiner
Currently working on 3291R, ex 444R, 693R, 65/2163, 004R, 65/2678
http://www.lotuseuropa.us for mirror of lotus-europa.com manual site.

Offline Bainford

  • Twin Cam 3682R
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Re: Patina, redux...
« Reply #1 on: Thursday,November 02, 2023, 08:13:41 AM »
Looking good. Do you give the pinstripes any special consideration when using the buffer and polishing over them, or just carry on? Just curious how others deal with this. I've been concerned about damaging (either chemically or abrasively) the tape stripe finish with the polish, but avoiding them while doing a good job of the buffing is nearly impossible.

In any event, an original finish is infinitely more interesting than the best re-paint. Perhaps, in much the same way a 40 year old woman is infinitely sexier than a twenty-something. My TCS is also original paint and stripes, and very far from great, but I just love the look of the natural patina. However, I do worry about damaging the surface of the pinstripes with whatever polish or wax I may be using.
The Twin Cam plays the symphony whilst my right foot conducts the orchestra. At 3800 rpm the Mad Pipe Organ joins in.

Trevor

Offline Bryan Boyle

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    • Lotus Europa Collection
Re: Patina, redux...
« Reply #2 on: Thursday,November 02, 2023, 10:04:02 AM »
Looking good. Do you give the pinstripes any special consideration when using the buffer and polishing over them, or just carry on? Just curious how others deal with this. I've been concerned about damaging (either chemically or abrasively) the tape stripe finish with the polish, but avoiding them while doing a good job of the buffing is nearly impossible.

In any event, an original finish is infinitely more interesting than the best re-paint. Perhaps, in much the same way a 40 year old woman is infinitely sexier than a twenty-something. My TCS is also original paint and stripes, and very far from great, but I just love the look of the natural patina. However, I do worry about damaging the surface of the pinstripes with whatever polish or wax I may be using.

I've not found that the Collinite polish I used significantly damaged or pulled on the tape stripes.  It's not an aggressive formulation; more has to do with both the speed of the DA and the pressure you apply to the tool when buffing. Whatever they used to stripe the car seems to have held on quite nicely over the decades; saying that, I don't dawdle over the tape while buffing, but use the same technique as when you come to an edge...buff up to it, then come from the other side.   

Just take your time...this is the third (is it the charm?) going-over of the paint...and it's the best by far.
Bryan Boyle
Morrisville PA
Commercial Pilot/CFII/FAA Safety Team
Amateur Extra Class Operator & FCC Volunteer Examiner
Currently working on 3291R, ex 444R, 693R, 65/2163, 004R, 65/2678
http://www.lotuseuropa.us for mirror of lotus-europa.com manual site.

Offline Bainford

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Re: Patina, redux...
« Reply #3 on: Thursday,November 02, 2023, 11:05:27 AM »
Cheers Bryan. It's not so much the pulling up of the tape I am concerned with, but the degradation of the surface of the tape, either via abrasive or chemical action, causing the gold to dull and take on a matt finish. Like you, I don't dawdle over the stripes, but do like to see the paint polished right up to the tape edge. I sometimes feel as though I am doing sloppy or careless work when I glide the buffer over the stripes, but avoiding them and still doing a decent job seems nearly impossible. I suppose hand buffing would provide more control, and I actually prefer it, but decades of service as a millwright has left my hands and wrists laden with arthritis, and hand buffing even a small car is more than I like to endure. If I ever paint my car (something I'm not sure I would ever do, now) I will re-do the pinstripes with paint rather than tape.

Not actually looking for an answer here, just thinking out loud about my concerns, but if it invites discussion, all the better.
The Twin Cam plays the symphony whilst my right foot conducts the orchestra. At 3800 rpm the Mad Pipe Organ joins in.

Trevor

Offline dakazman

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Re: Patina, redux...
« Reply #4 on: Thursday,November 02, 2023, 03:09:01 PM »
  Bainford , I agree,.. and I have the Arthritis also. 
   Stay off the pinstriping when using any power tools. They are above the finish, "most of the time" I have clearcoated  pinstriping and decals on bikes and cars and even company logos .  Stay away, a light compound by hand and polish segment will save those stripes.
  Dakazman