How did they get the factory finish on the
early corvettes ?
I hear buffing & wet sanding metallic paint
on single stage will cause problems.

 

From everything I've read, the metallics were buffed as well. BUT, this lacquer was a different forumulation than refinish lacquer. It was reflowed by heat lamp baking and this caused the flakes to sink. So cut & buff wasn't a problem since the metallics were down into the film thickness.

In the words of that famous philosopher Harry Callahan: "A man's got to know his limitations". That's why it's strictly BC/CC for the Nassau Blue repaint later this year!

 

but I don't think the factory did any cutting, only a light buffing. The lacquer today is nothing like the old stuff and the new BB/CC is far superior in every way. That's what I'm going to use on my 65. The NCRS can kiss my shiny door jambs and hood ledge.

Jim

 

you can buff lac. (metalic) you can not color sand thou.
wayne

 

I repainted my '65 using lacquer in 1980. I then sanded it very carefully and buffed it. You don't want to sand all the orange peel out; just sand most of it flat. You won't notice the remaining orange peel once it is buffed.

If you sand into the metal particles you will get mottling. I got just a hint of mottling in a couple spots. You would never notice it.

The factory did not sand the paint.

 

After the final reflow oven, the body was lightly oil-sanded just prior to final buffing.

 

I agree that color sanding and buffing single stage metallic paint can cause an uneven metallic finish. The metallics are flat pieces of mica in the paint which are exposed at the surface of the paint finish. Color sanding the paint clips the top of the mica and cause an uneven finish. Clear coats are applied to the top of the paint which can be buffed without damage to the metallic.

 

OK, John, Thanks. (edit: Looking forward to your St. Louis presentation on Sunday!)

But in re-paint world, sanding the paint implies removing the orange peel. If you do that to a metallic, you can get mottling.

To clarify sanding paint to eliminate orange peel:

From tne NCRS '59 Judging Guide: "Deductions are appropriate for total absence of orange-peel, an example of over-restoration."