[Milsurplus] Painting Aluminum - BC-348 in particular

[swkb4dmf at windstream.net]

---- "J. Forster" <jfor at quik.com> wrote: 
> Have you tried to apply wrinkle paint to small areas (under dime size)
> with a brush or other means to fix an otherwise perfect paint job?
> 
> -John

John,
  What I have always done on small areas with some success is what I have dubbed the "Silly Putty Method". By some success I mean, it usually takes a few tries to get it right, but it generally works.
  Brush regular gloss black paint (not wrinkle paint) on with a small artist brush. When the paint starts to glaze over take a dab of silly putty and press it into an area that has a good wrinkle painted surface. This will imprint the wrinkle pattern in the silly putty. Then you simply press the newly painted area with the putty to wrinkle it too, and dull the gloss. 
I know....it sounds silly, but it works. :-) I probably wouldn't attempt it on a front panel in a large blank surface area, but on an ARC-5 rack front where there are lots of other things to distract the eye; it has work well for me. I've also used it on those pesky corner paint chips on otherwise perfect ARC-5 receivers and transmitters.   
It may take a few tries to get the right amount of paint, pressure, and so on, but if it doesn’t work the first time simply blot the old paint off carefully with a Q-Tip and try again. It sure beats a total repaint any day!!

Later,
Steve
KB4DMF