Don't Need No Stinking Paint

[W. MITTY]

This thread will probably be of little interest to non-Kirkham guys -- it is intended for those who are considering an alloy car and who might be delusional enough to want to do the sanding work themselves. Maybe someday someone will run a search for "sanding my Kirkham" and they will pull this up.

When I purchased my car, I decided that it might be fun to do the sanding. You know, garage therapy. David and the guys at Kirkham tried to warn me about the amount of work involved, but I insisted. David told me several times that when I came to my senses, I could bring the car back and have them do it. I scoffed at the idea.

To make a long story short, I called David this weekend and I'm taking the car back to Utah to pay them to sand it. Holy cow! The amount of work involved is mind numbing. Its fun, but the aluminum is boot hard, and it takes a bunch of elbow grease to remove even a shallow tooling mark or a scratch against the grain.

Now don't get me wrong -- I'm not afraid of hard work and I love to do things myself; I simply do not have the disposible free time to do the job within this lifetime. I'm glad I only live eight hours away -- the drive will be a heck of alot easier than sanding until I'm in my nineties.

Oh, and I don't need no stinking paint. You may recall that I had been thinking about a vintage paint job (before I decided to have Kirkham sand my car ) Today, I rolled the car out into the bright Arizona sun, and it is beautiful in its raw mechanical form -- looks like a fighter plane (um, a Mig maybe?). I don't know what I was thinking -- I am going with buffed aluminum and meatballs painted on in wimbeldon white. The best of both worlds, as someone else said.

[Jamo]

LMAO

Glad you came to your senses.

[PatBuckley]

Wuss.

See gallery

[ToyCollector]

I personally have only driven my car 4 miles so far in bare finish--it is an absolute howl watching people (I never pay attention to passersby but when people are hanging out of windows, it kind of gets your attention). Personally I think it's beautiful in it's raw form. Raw finish for a pure raw interpretation of the original CSX.

[Trueoo7]

Pat
Your car is awesome ! I absolutely love that finish. How did you get it to that point. Never seen anything quite like that. How do you polish it? How well does it hold up? Does it ever show swirl marks? Talk about a looker !!! Beautiful
Trueoo7

[Brent Mills]

W. MITTY, when you say buffed, do you mean highly polished as Pat's is, or something else?

You're right, sanding aluminum can be a chore. I've only done it on panels in my other car, and it was a pain...Hard to imagine the whole thing, but Pat is proof it can be done.

[BMK]

Hey who needs paint.



Tell the truth it goes in for painting in five weeks.



Thought I may get a few ideas on polishing the interior - all in aluminium.

Love that polished look though

Cheers

[W. MITTY]

Brent,

When I say buffed, I mean the non polished, satin finish that Kirkham does as an option. It's sort of a satin look. Makes me weak in the knees to look at it.

Update: Car is in Provo as we speak. I can almost hear the sanding from here

Pat -- I am a confirmed and widely known wuss. I hope that my open pipes with 600 hp screaming through them will help change that perception. My neighbors will never look at me that same...

[RON N BKFLD]

from file finish to 400 grit finish...........about $200. in materials & over 100 hours on kmp 218X . NEVER AGAIN !!!!!!

RON N BKFLD

[griffinzein]

ok guys imagin this, polished aluminum finish, and do a search for an old P-51 mustang called "the old crow" and slap that paint on it. email me and tell me if you think it would be a good idea griffinzein@yahoo.com or the paint scheme form the "razorback" mustang

[southernfriedcj]

I'm in the same boat as Mitty. To bad KMP is on the other side of the country. It looks like the amigos will be sanding KMP230X.
As far as Scotch Brite pads, are the red ones avalible at the grocery store, or are they a special body shop item?

Jim

[PatBuckley]

SFCJ-

If Lowes or Home Depot doesn't have them any auto paint store will.

Pat

File finish to 1500 grit finish + buffing. I would do it again for $15K - - NOT!

[southernfriedcj]

Thanks Pat.


Mullett

[ToyCollector]

Mullett,

The Atlanta area AutoColor stores have them by the rolls. It's like buying probably 50 sheets of the red stuff. If you want me to get some and ship to you, let me know.

[ToyCollector]

The rolls are perforated like a roll of Bounty and individual sheets tear off.

I figure I can pad by 1 due to reponse to your posting.

[southernfriedcj]

PostCollector, why don't you buy me a box of Scotch Brite pads, toss them in one of your vechicles that actually runs, and bring 'em on over here and help me sand this bastid. Think of the feeling of accomplishment you'll get from a job well done. Your self esteem will go through the roof!

SFM

[southernfriedcj]

PC, I'll even get Harry to come by so you can have a ride in a KMP 427 car!!! You'll have something to shoot for!

SF+1

[Cobra Pack]

Has anyone tried steel wool instead of the scotch brite pads? I am tempted to try it on my car when I get it. Just curious if anyone can share their experiences or if anyone can advise me against it.

Thanks,

Mike

[shaps]

Mike,
Think steel wool is a major no-no

My understanding is that small pieces of the wool will lodge in the aluminum and that those pieces will rust....

Never tried it, but it made sense to me...

Anybody got a spare scotchbrite????

[Cobra Pack]

Thanks for the heads-up on the steel wool. I will scrap that idea. I found scotch brite pads at a local automotive shop today.

Thanks,

Mike