Go Back   The Ford Barn > General Discussion > Model A (1928-31)

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 02-14-2021, 02:21 AM   #1
henry's 31
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Columbus(Cataula) Georgia
Posts: 848
Default Painting black insert in 30/31 instrument panel

Hi Ford Barn:


What is the best way to paint the black inserts in the 1930/31 Instrument Panel?


Thanks in advance for your suggestions.
__________________
Henry' s 31
henry's 31 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-14-2021, 08:01 AM   #2
fundytides
Senior Member
 
fundytides's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: New Brunswick, Canada
Posts: 476
Default Re: Painting black insert in 30/31 instrument panel

I just masked the area carefully with masking tape and painted flat black with a rattle can.
fundytides is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Old 02-14-2021, 08:13 AM   #3
old31
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 2,087
Default Re: Painting black insert in 30/31 instrument panel

I have done them a couple of ways. Both ways look very good.

1: Use an eye dropper or syringe, and fill the insert with paint. The panel must be laying perfectly flat for the paint to fill in properly.

2: Mask and paint.
old31 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-14-2021, 08:45 AM   #4
McMimmcs
Senior Member
 
McMimmcs's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: Fort Gratiot, Michigan
Posts: 2,296
Default Re: Painting black insert in 30/31 instrument panel

I’ve done the mask and paint but don’t hurry the masking.
McMimmcs is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-14-2021, 08:48 AM   #5
henry's 31
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Columbus(Cataula) Georgia
Posts: 848
Default Re: Painting black insert in 30/31 instrument panel

Do you have to sand the area (chrome) that you are going to paint?
__________________
Henry' s 31
henry's 31 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-14-2021, 09:36 AM   #6
old31
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 2,087
Default Re: Painting black insert in 30/31 instrument panel

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Yes, it has to be sanded for the paint to bond. If you don't sand the paint will chip off. Then wipe down with an acetone or degreaser to clean any fingerprints or oils left on the metal before paint.

Sand with a 400 grit.

Last edited by old31; 02-14-2021 at 03:41 PM.
old31 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-14-2021, 09:54 AM   #7
Big hammer
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Land of Lincoln
Posts: 3,114
Default Re: Painting black insert in 30/31 instrument panel

A slow drying self leveling paint will turn out good. I saw an old truck that was painted with a brush that turned out very good, not a 10 thousand paint job. He used a brush able enamel paint. If you have a steady hand use an artist paint brush or a pin stripping brush and pin stripping paint, if you make a mess paint thinner will clean it up.
__________________
Don't force it with a little hammer tap, tap, tap
get a bigger hammer tap done
Big hammer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-14-2021, 01:06 PM   #8
duke36
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 1,414
Default Re: Painting black insert in 30/31 instrument panel

Old '31 method 1 works well. One can use any small squeeze bottle with a tiny snout filled with striping or similar enamel thinned if required. Also good for filling in logo voids on running board step plates. A piece of 400 or 600 sand paper cut with a paper hole punch glued on a dowel or round chop stick is handy..
duke36 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-14-2021, 01:32 PM   #9
Mikeinnj
Senior Member
 
Mikeinnj's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Northern New Jersey
Posts: 1,262
Default Re: Painting black insert in 30/31 instrument panel

Is the paint flat , semi-gloss or Gloss ? Any Photos ?
Mikeinnj is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-14-2021, 01:41 PM   #10
Ed in Maine
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Washington Cty., ME or Flagler Cty., FL
Posts: 1,106
Default Re: Painting black insert in 30/31 instrument panel

Some of the parts suppliers have a template just for this purpose. The painted edge is to have a soft transition not like what you get with masking tape. Use of the template allows you to spray these places. I think this is the process that Ford used to make the job quick! Ed
Ed in Maine is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-14-2021, 02:39 PM   #11
jb-ob
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 631
Default Re: Painting black insert in 30/31 instrument panel

'Flat Instrument Black Enamel # M-11221'

" The material desired is a Flat Black Enamel suitable for use on depressions in instrument panels. These depressions are above the gasoline gauge and below the speedometer."

After scrubbing the depressions well with grease & wax remover I mask off the instrument panel, lastly covering the depressions with 2" tape. With a new bladed Exacto knife I cut around the depressions & peel. Cutting up an old plastic credit card to form a pick, lift the tape edge off the instrument panel. This will give the paint a soft edge look.

I usually mist a coat of black primer followed by two coats of flat black.

Remember to do the pop out switch instrument panel black ring at the same time.

Best, jb
jb-ob is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-14-2021, 03:07 PM   #12
brito36
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Marengo. Illinois
Posts: 258
Default Re: Painting black insert in 30/31 instrument panel

Ed in Maine has the right idea. A template will leave a soft edge as was originally.
brito36 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-15-2021, 12:16 AM   #13
henry's 31
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Columbus(Cataula) Georgia
Posts: 848
Default Re: Painting black insert in 30/31 instrument panel

Hi members:


Thank you for all this great information. I will do my project this week.


Thanks again for all the great information.
__________________
Henry' s 31
henry's 31 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-15-2021, 09:48 AM   #14
31Tudor
Senior Member
 
31Tudor's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 611
Default Re: Painting black insert in 30/31 instrument panel

The Judging Standards and Restoration Guidelines, says it was satin black, not flat black, so a very soft sheen. Page 6-2
31Tudor is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-15-2021, 10:06 AM   #15
big job
Senior Member
 
big job's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Dighton, Mass
Posts: 1,225
Default Re: Painting black insert in 30/31 instrument panel

Paint pens rule.........
big job is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-15-2021, 11:20 AM   #16
katy
Senior Member
 
katy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Red Deer, Alberta
Posts: 5,004
Default Re: Painting black insert in 30/31 instrument panel

Quote:
Originally Posted by henry's 31 View Post
Hi members:


Thank you for all this great information. I will do my project this week.


Thanks again for all the great information.
How about a picture "after the fact"?
__________________
If you don't hear a rumor by 10 AM, start one!.
Got my education out behind the barn!
katy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-15-2021, 11:29 AM   #17
jb-ob
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 631
Default Re: Painting black insert in 30/31 instrument panel

M-1221 Flat Black Instrument Black Enamel 4-15-30

EVERY item (cloth, paint, glue, thinners, etc.) Ford purchased to produce his cars was assigned an 'M' number which listed the 'General Requirements' that an outside supplier must meet or be rejected.

The basis of the Judging Standards comes from Benson Ford Archives of factory blue prints and these M number lists, not "based on cars we have seen" illogic.

100 years later the shading question is mute, but now you know what Ford specified.
No different than Ford delivered most cars with black wall tires but today you would never know it
jb-ob is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-15-2021, 11:30 AM   #18
Y-Blockhead
Senior Member
 
Y-Blockhead's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Redondo Beach, CA
Posts: 5,817
Default Re: Painting black insert in 30/31 instrument panel

Quote:
Originally Posted by big job View Post
Paint pens rule.........

That is what I used. Worked good.

Y-Blockhead is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-15-2021, 11:56 AM   #19
31Tudor
Senior Member
 
31Tudor's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 611
Default Re: Painting black insert in 30/31 instrument panel

Quote:
Originally Posted by jb-ob View Post
M-1221 Flat Black Instrument Black Enamel 4-15-30

EVERY item (cloth, paint, glue, thinners, etc.) Ford purchased to produce his cars was assigned an 'M' number which listed the 'General Requirements' that an outside supplier must meet or be rejected.

The basis of the Judging Standards comes from Benson Ford Archives of factory blue prints and these M number lists, not "based on cars we have seen" illogic.

100 years later the shading question is mute, but now you know what Ford specified.
No different than Ford delivered most cars with black wall tires but today you would never know it
I guess I don't totally understand? The Judging Standards which is derived from many sources, including the Benson Ford Archives, mentions many shades of black: gloss, semi-gloss, satin, raven, japan and very specific applications for each black. For whatever reason they chose satin black to describe the black insert of the dash panel, not flat black or raven, or black, or semi-gloss or gloss?
31Tudor is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-15-2021, 01:06 PM   #20
jb-ob
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 631
Default Re: Painting black insert in 30/31 instrument panel

31Tudor

Happy to 'splain, but rather than 'hijack' this thread, I'll reach you privately. jb
jb-ob is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:44 AM.