[ARC5] [Milsurplus] Black Wrinkle Touchup... again

[Mike Hanz]

On 7/29/2012 10:55 PM, David Stinson wrote:
> I've tried several methods.
> Years ago, as Mike said, I let a thick daub of paint
> get real "tacky", then made a "stamp" by pressing Silly Putty
> on a good spot.
> It worked the first couple of times and
> I ran and told everyone- silly me.
>   I haven't had as good luck with it since,
> but Mike is better skilled then I in such things.

Nope.  Just more stubborn, perhaps. :-)   The cross-linking of the paint 
film is a variable with the heat and humidity, so I never record the 
time to get tacky - one day's perfection almost certainly will *not* be 
tomorrow's...  What I *have* done is probably way overkill, but I take a 
scrap aluminum panel and place a series of 3/8" dots of paint on it at 
the same time, ending up with the place on the piece of equipment that I 
really want to patch.  Then I wait for a few minutes and "watch the 
paint dry..."  Boring to be sure, but the next step is sorta important.  
I take a small piece of silly putty, press against a nice original 
wrinkle spot on the equipment, and then transfer that to the first spot 
that is curing in the sun.  I do this at about five minute or so 
intervals, using a fresh surface of silly putty.  The intervals usually 
have to be adjusted a bit depending on the temperature.  When a test 
spot turns out reasonably crisp, I immediately do the spot on the 
equipment that I have painted.  It's not perfect, but at least I get 
relatively consistent results with it.  As always, YMMV...

> I have sworn-off wrinkle paint.
> Period.  I mean it.
> I'm done with it.

I can appreciate the feeling...

The rest of Dave's suggestions are absolutely outstanding as well, 
especially the admonition about perfection.  There really is no 
substitute for feather sanding and respraying the entire piece of 
equipment, but oh my goodness, it's a lot of work...

73,
Mike  KC4TOS