An old customer just left the shop after requesting something I've never attempted before and have no idea how to accomplish.
I lettered his flat-bed Ford maybe 9-10 years ago and now he wants me to make the lettering look weathered; faded and thin. The way rat rods are looking these days.
I know how to give lettering that kind of look when I first do it. (Alicia has a good video of her doing it). But I've never attempted to give that look to lettering that has already been around a while.
Does anyone have a technique that would give the desired effect? I would be most grateful.
Posted by John Arnott (Member # 215) on :
Rubbing compound.......some sand paper
Posted by Alicia B. Jennings (Member # 1272) on :
Ya got some powered bon ami? And a buffer. Clean the lettering with all you got and then hit it with the buffer. Be careful with the buffer. Basicly you will be giving the lettering a beating. Twenty years of weathering all in twenty minutes. Rub, rub, rub, when you get to about 30 percent of it rubbed off, then you're done. If there are any areas where the paint has complelty dissappeared, then you put it back on using the faux finsh techniques. And watch out you don't get into the finish of the truck too much. Maybe, you might even sand the letters with some 300 grit wet/dry sandpaper, but just the letters. And whatever you do, don't let the guy know that you don't know exactly what you are doing. You just say " Sure, sure, no problem"
Posted by Dale Feicke (Member # 767) on :
I'd use some 600-800 grit wet sandpaper. Wet the door and sand it lightly (the lettering.....sometimes it helps to use a sanding block), removing the high spots, or just hitting random areas. Keep it wet. When you get it to the 'look' you want, you're done.
If he wants to preserve it better, he can put a light coat of wax on it later.....or not.
[ September 01, 2011, 05:30 PM: Message edited by: Dale Feicke ]
Posted by Brian Oliver (Member # 2019) on :
Thanks everybody! I thought of using the wet sandpaper technique but was afraid of marring the finish. Does the rubbing compound and/or the buffer help with this?
Posted by John Arnott (Member # 215) on :
sure....you can polish it right back
Posted by Alicia B. Jennings (Member # 1272) on :
Or,,,take out to the Baja 500. All that sand will do the trick!
Posted by Michael Boone (Member # 308) on :
when you get done with the compound.... rube your finger along the side of your nose to pick up facial oil...then rub it on the letters.. I used to do this on my model cars that were painted I termed it....."oil of nosay"....
Posted by Brian Oliver (Member # 2019) on :
