Sand-thru lettering advice needed

[Bob K]

Boy, I'm sure that topic heading confused everyone...

I'm painting an Acton cooler and for the embossed lettering I am going to paint the cooler white, then red over that, then sand through the red on the embossed lettering to expose the white... whew!  '>

I know we've talked about this before, but I need to know which grits of sandpaper are advisable to get this done.

Anyone here done this?  Any advice is appreciated!!  

Bob

[MoonDawg]

If you use 2 stage paint you don't need sandpaper. Just spray the red, expose the white letters with solvent then spray the whole cooler with clear coat.

[Bob K]

I'm spray-bombing this one - so I guess the solvent approach wouldn't work?? '>

[davethebirdman]

Excuse my ignorance but what is Spray Bombing??

[bubba]

Quote (davethebirdman @ July 14 2006,3:08)

Excuse my ignorance but what is Spray Bombing??

'>

Spray bombing--- is the art of taking the spray can and sitting it next to the object you wish to paint. Then you wrap the can with a few sheets of paper towel and light it on fire.... Get back away atleast 100 feet and shoot the can with a BB gun until it explodes, painting the entire area... It does get difficult to do more than one color.


Well, maybe not, but it sure makes one heck of a fireball.   '>

Spray bombing is a funny phrase for spray painting...

[Bob K]

Yep, it's just another term for using a can of spray paint.  Rustoleum Regal Red, in my case.

Although Bubba's method sounds like a lot more fun!! '> '>

So nobody's used the "sand-thru" method with any success?

Bob

[cormy]

I've read about this method to exposed the lettering underneath, sounds almost impossible to do without sanding too much in some areas and having it look good. The solvent method sounds a bit more realistic but I think you need a steady hand and lots of practice. I've always taken my "good stuff" to a sign painter for painting letters and such, on my "not so good stuff " I attempt.. with mediocre results. Experience is the key here.
If you do decide to do the sand method let us know how it came out.

[sodaworks]

I've seen Glen's work on this process and he does an awesome job. If your going to use a spray bomb I would try 1500 grit wet to start with. '>

[BryanH]

Quote (MoonDawg @ July 13 2006,11:48)

If you use 2 stage paint you don't need sandpaper. Just spray the red, expose the white letters with solvent then spray the whole cooler with clear coat.

Glen - how do you keep the solvent from going through to the white layer?

[MoonDawg]

Quote (BryanH @ July 14 2006,9:22)

how do you keep the solvent from going through to the white layer?

A:  If the white paint has had hardener mixed in or sprayed over it, and has had enough time to cure, solvent won't hurt it at all.

      B: If the white is soft spraycan paint.........it won't stand a chance against solvent OR sandpaper.

      C: To the group....... has the spraycan become an acceptable form of restoration here at SMC ?    '>