Patina Paint Job - Turning Back Time

This close-up lets you see how Schmidt deftly applied the mixture to particular areas of the panel, which would have received wear over the years from both the elements and hard use.

Schmidt began the aging process by using a 1-inch bristle brush to dab PPG Kondar DZ7 red oxide acrylic primer surfacer mixed with a hint of Duracryl DDL9300 black acrylic lacquer, to the surface of the roll pan. Note that he built up the paint in certain areas through multiple applications.

Rolling Bones exclusively uses PPG products for the entire paint process, including their DP74LF Non Sanding Epoxy Primer, NCP250 Primer Surfacer, Kondar DZ7 Acrylic Primer Surfacer, DX685 Urethane Flattening Agent, and Duracryl Acrylic Lacquer.

Once everything dried, Schmidt prepared a mixture of PPG Washington Blue Duracryl Acrylic Lacquer and DX685 Urethane Flattening Agent in a ratio of 9-ounce flattener to 1-quart gloss thinned with lacquer thinner in a ratio of one part paint to one and a half parts thinner. He then laid down two heavy coats and allowed ample time to cure.

The application of the Washington Blue hue with the flattening agent serves as the mid-coat, which will be the breakthrough color. Note there will be no sanding of the surface between this and the final paint coat to follow.

In the final step of the painting process, since the car will be red oxide in its completed form, Schmidt laid down the final two heavy coats of PPG Kondar DZ7 red oxide acrylic primer surfacer mixed with a hint of Duracryl DDL9300 black acrylic lacquer. This is mixed in a ratio of one part primer to one and a half parts thinner.

Once the panel has had 24 hours to cure, Schmidt began the patina process by wet sanding the surface with 600-grit sandpaper. In the areas built up by the brushed-on red oxide acrylic primer surfacer, extra effort sanding allows him to break through revealing the Washington Blue color. Here the surface has dried to illustrate the break-through process.

An extreme amount of detail is paid to the surface while wet sanding, especially in the tight areas surrounding the numerous louvers.

On the flat surfaces, Schmidt continued on using a flexible sanding block topped with 600-grit sandpaper to evenly wet sand the surface while carefully exposing more of the Washington Blue hidden beneath.