Restoration

[Adrian Dale]

now for something different>

I have been overhauling/repairing an OA and am pleased to report that the power head is now completed and has been bench tested after a complete strip down and rebuild. Gear box is a nightmare but that's another story.

However in a rare sunny day in Tasmania I noticed, in the bright light, that the decals on the tank were still just visible through a top layer of roughly applied matt paint; not only are they visible in the correct light but also appear to be complete.

Now the question: how to remove the pain with out damaging the decals? A small test section, well away for the decals, using paint stripper has revealed that the original black paint remains on what looks like 80% of the tank. But I loath to tackle the section covering the decals.

AJ

[Collector Inspector]

That is tricky........

I would contact someone at your state museum and speak to the curator. He/She will put you in contact with someone who can suggest a plan of attack.

Museums restore art work and bits and bobs etc.

May help.

B

[Keith.P]

I had that problem years ago on a motor bike that I found had a mural on the tank under a layer of black paint and I did manage to remove the paint and not damage the mural.
But then again it may not work for you.
NAIL VARNISH REMOVER

[Dinghy fisherman]

DONT USE PAINT STRIPPER!!

Not yet any way. Im a painter and decorator of nearly 30yrs experience and strongly advise against the use of a stripper at this stage as not only will it strip the paint but will loosen the glue of the transfer. If it were me i would slow myself down and ask a few mental questions.

Q, How were the transfers stuck on in the first place, what type of glue and were these placed under or on top of the final coat of lacour?

A, This information gives you the safety net of knowing what would strip the transfer, but more importantly what WONT attack either the glue or transfer. And do you have the final coat as a barrier to you attempts at removing the paint?

Q, What type of paint has been used to cover transfer?

A, sounds silly but this will be the key to saving or destroying the transfer. Of course you will have no idea of the chemical make up of the paint, what solvent was used or what type of carrier has been used. Are all the layers the same paint and do they hold the same chemical make up?
Not knowing this will be your down fall and to be honest you will have no truely accurate method of knowing.
What you have in your favour is this type of paint job will normally be done at home and with what is available to hand as very few will make the effort to go and get the correct paint

Q, DIY trade household oil based paint or an enamal paint, or is it a water based paint?

A, This is where you begin to learn the best and safest way to saving the transfer.
Empty and flush the tank of all fuel and most importantly the fumes. Soak a large rag in water and place on the underside of the tank so any reaction will be away from damaging the transfer. Now heat the WET rag with a blow lamp making sure not to heat the transfer area. ITS IMPORTANT NOT TO HEAT THE METAL OF THE TANK OR THIS WILL LOOSEN THE GLUE OF THE TRANSFER FROM THE UNDERSIDE. Keep testing with your hand on the topside of the tank. If its to hot to hold the back of your hand against it its too bloody hot, cool it down.
All you will be wanting to do is loosen the top coat of paint, not strip it.
Now look at it, has it blistered or crazed in any way and dose it come away with a gentle rub? if it has had a reaction then theres a good chance its either a water based or oil based household paint and the whole layer can be removed this way.
No change then it could be an enamal based paint. If it is i will suggest whats next.

Before i get carried away that is what i would do before i moved on to the next thing i would try if its an oil based paint. But please tread carefully with the stripper.
Try getting a close up pic for me to look at the point of your test with stripper and the untouched area.

DISCLAIMER: If you choose to follow any of my advise it is done in the knowledge that you take full responcabilitie for your own safety and that of the tank.Should any method i suggest result in the transfer being damaged or becoming unstuck i will not be held to blame and you will not be sending the lynch mob, complete with fire brands and pitch forks round to seek revenge...

[Oyster 49]

I would use paint stripper on a test area of the tank, perhaps 1 inch square to see if the top layer comes off. Leave it for 30 seconds first to see what happens and wash it off. Keep repeating to learn the effect.

I managed to do this on my ON tank and eventually could see the outline of an old transfer below that looked like it had been wet and dryed. Very rewarding to see "Marston Seagull" appear when held to the light

Patience is the key!

I have found that nitromors will not strip baked on enamel or old fashioned red oxide primer very well. Modern paints seem to strip easily so you may well find that the original paint finish below may be exposed easily.

[Collector Inspector]

Paint Stripper.................Maybe not so take care aye.

Rather surprised as to long winded posts re this aye.

Not that hard if one takes some time to work it out.

Much Care.

Care is ALL!

All will be well.

B

[headdownarseup]

H-A might just be the man to talk to.
He's had a bit of experience with "messing around" on old tanks such as these.
There are some pics somewhere on here.... buggered if i can find them now!

Another tip:
fill the tank with hot water, see if you can rub any paint off with your fingers this way (cotton wool balls might be good too, nothing abrasive though)

STAY AWAY from paint stripper as DF mentions.



I too am a bit of a geek when it comes to paint related issues. I spent the better part of my apprenticeship in a paint/body shop.

H-A's your man A-J


jon

[Dinghy fisherman]

Rather surprised as to long winded posts re this aye.


B

Oh well, like my wife often says, I can be a little long winded at the things others can do in seconds.

[Oyster 49]

Here are some photos of my ON tank. It had been rubbed down and brush painted at some point in the past. I carefully applied paint stripper for 10 seconds at a time, and after repeating this a few times I was able to take the layer of brush painted paint off, leaving the rubbed down remains behind. I used a brush that had had the hairs cut back to make it more like a stippling brush, this pursueded the softened paint to come away, without damaging what lay below.

As you can see the remains of the decal could then be viewed, and you can just pick out "Marston Seagull" when viewed in the right light.

This worked fine for me, and this tank will be completely refurbished when I get around to it.

[Horsley-Anarak]

H-A might just be the man to talk to.
He's had a bit of experience with "messing around" on old tanks such as these.
jon

I did not think I was "messing around" with my OA tanks Jon.

To remove the newer paint I would try some strong detergent, such as truck cleaner.

This may soften the paint enough that you will be able to scrape it off with a finger nail.
Use a cotton bud and try is carefully, the decal is very fragile has no backing or coating over it.

The original paint is very tough, but the decal can be rubbed off, that is why so few survived.

H-A

[headdownarseup]

When i said "messing about" i actually meant carefully restoring.
I've seen some of your handy work before, and very nice it is too.

sorry for any missinterpretation..

[Adrian Dale]

no shortage of advice then. Using paint stripper on a small section well away from the transfer the top coat came off and under it is what appears to be a very hard black enamel that was unaffected. but I will ponder a bit more; Maybe try the hot water first. I have a feeling that as the top coat comes off the transfer will disappear.

Of the two the side with the fuel instructions is completely readable in the correct light just as H-A photo.. really don't want to lose it.

In the mean time the gearbox has been reassembled with new bearings and the bearing carrier re-bushed. The inside of the gearbox casing has been coated with Dovecon which has sealed the pin holes resulting form internal corrosion. The gearbox has been bench tested on a drill press and disassembled for inspection and gear tooth contact.

Attached are photos of the set of tools that I had fabricated at Dynamic Welding, Hobart to disassemble the AO
AJ

[Collector Inspector]

Outstanding effort being applied. I think we are truly crazy sometimes as to what we do to keep Old Dears on a transom and not just something in a museum.

Being able to say that you may have one is not the same as the hard yards input so that one can say "I use one".

Very good work indeed.

B

[headdownarseup]

NOTHING can ever take away the satisfaction of saying "I DID THAT".

Truly outstanding work there A-J.
IMPRESSIVE doesn't even begin to describe the efforts you are going to.

We do what we do because we can and we like to.
If others appreciate it, that's a bonus too.

Well done


Jon

[Collector Inspector]

I will do a new post since the Great Loss Of Images last S.O.S. server upgrade for AO 262 but in the mean time I have selected a nice tank out of boxes for it.

There are no decals remaining......or I do not care to look as the tank is sound and will clean up nicely.

I have repro decals for it so back to metal and start again from scratch.

This is not a hijack of this topic by the way. I am pleased that others are working on these Old Dears so just chipping in aye.

What engine number is yours Adrian?

B[/color]