Restoration Progress On My 1955 Greenie

[mickyd]

Looks good so far. How do you drain the liquid out of your box?
All I did to take the liquid out of the box was use a pitcher and transfered it into my 15 gallon plastic storage buckets. As it got low, I tilted the box and used a cup.

The liquid is good forever. As the water evaporates, you just top it off with more water. You never have to add any more of the sodium carbonate (washing soda). I also use the solution to restore old cast iron pans that have all the carbon crud on them. It takes that stuff off too. Some people just put them in a fire to burn it off but that can warp or crack them. Electolysis just eats it up.

[mickyd]

Got my belt cover painted tonight. Hammered Verde Green. Boy that paint is tricky to work with if your looking for the heavy texture appearance. There is a fine line between getting the texture right and the paint wanting to run. If it goes on too light, the hammered effect really doesn't show. Too heavy and it wants to run on the vertical surfaces. Right before I spray, I do a few practice passes on some scrap sheet metal to get the timing right.

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[bucksaw]

Nice job on the paint! Did you prime before you put the finish on? I'm rebuilding a second headstock currently and I think I'll attempt a more hammered look. I guess practice makes perfect!

[mickyd]

I didn't use primer. When I had done a few practice sprays on a test piece with unprimed vs. primer (rustoleum white stop rust primer), the texture was noticably different and less pronounced with the primer. This photo shows the difference. On the left was primed, right was unprimed. This is one coat medium spray. These are side by side, sprayed at the same time and the same piece of sheet metal, so the only variable was the primer

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I am not sure if not using priming will give me the paint durablitily over time and I was hoping someone would address this in my post "....to prime or not to prime" http://www.shopsmith.net/forums/showthread.htm?t=3123 but I only got 1 response. I was hoping to get some replies that address long term durability. Oh well, worse case is I'll have to do it again at some point in the future.

When I get a little more time, I am going to experiment more with the primer on steel. Just when I get it figured out, I'll be done!!!! Don't ya hate it when that happens?

Before I do my aluminum parts, I am going to experiment with self-etching primer. I was told aluminum really needs primer to ensure a decent bond and since there is so much on the SS, I need to get it right the first time.

I'll keep you guys posted.

[dusty]

It is most unfortunate that you didn't get the help you were seeking. However, I am sure many are just like me. I have no experience in this matter and had nothing valid to offer.

If I had replied based on gut feeling, I would have said to prime.

[mickyd]

I am doing work on the Gilmer clutch drive but wanted to include it on a separate thread since it's a topic of it's own and didn't want it to get lost in this thread. You can see it at:

http://www.shopsmith.net/forums/showthread.htm?p=32871#post32871

[nebraska]

Great thread!
I wish I would have tracked my restoration progress like you're doing. Keep the reports coming.

[mickyd]

Never too late to buy another one nebraska!!

Hey, you should update your profile so we know more about you. Make sure to include social and credit card numbers. :D