Sky.—French blue and white.
PAINTING CARS AT HOME.
Probably no other subject dealing with the problem of the motorist has been so little, or to be correct, so unsatisfactorily treated as the home painting of cars. Most of the literature dealing with the subject is written in a technical vein, purely for the delectation of the professional painter. This naturally leads the novice to believe, owing to the great number of coats these writers say is essential for good work, that it is entirely out of the question for a car owner, without previous experience in painting, to repaint his car satisfactorily.
Fortunately this is not true. In the first place, the fewer number of coats that can be applied and still accomplish the desired result, will make far the most durable and lasting job of painting. I maintain, and have proven, times without number, that if a motorist really is in earnest about wanting to paint his cars, the battle is more than half won. Give this class of motorists the proper material mixed ready for use with the proper brushes for their application, and tell him how they should be used, and 99 times out of 100 he will paint his car so well that he will be sorry he had not done it before.
The quality of the material used in this kind of painting is of vital importance and unless they are the very best will give but limited wear. And the proper brushes to use with the different coats is of equal importance. About four-fifths the cost of automobile painting is labor, so that a few dollars saved in buying the materials is false economy.
The general purpose enamels for sale in stores have no place on a motor car. They belong to the home. Probably no other vehicle excepting a locomotive has harder service for paint to withstand. Hence, the necessity for the very best materials.
There is one reputable concern selling repainting outfits to car owners so that greatly simplifies the painting problem, if one wishes to do it himself. These outfits include everything, materials, brushes, and instructions, and range in price from $6 for a small runabout to $8 and $10 for a roadster and touring car. Compared to $35 to upwards of $100 that one has to pay a regular painter, if one wishes to economize, the painting affords a grand opportunity.
The fenders and hood of a car are subjected to severe wear and the time is coming when these parts will always be painted black, regardless of the body color of the car. In fact, a great many of the new cars will be painted this way. There are thousands of cars in use that hardly need repainting, but if the hood and fenders were done over in black it would make them look almost like new cars. There is one concern making these hood and fender outfits and a novice can do a really creditable job of painting with them. They range in price from $3 to $5 and are in two coats with a suitable brush.
The gases from the motor are a big factor in dulling the paint on hoods. It has the same effect that ammonia fumes from a stable has on horse-drawn vehicles. This is one reason why the black painting of hoods is mighty sensible. When your hood gets dull, instead of laying up your car you can paint the hood yourself with little trouble and no loss of time.