Dulling up Semi-Gloss Black Finish

[Jack C.]

Does anyone have any ideas on how to uniformally reduce the shine slightly of recently sprayed semi-gloss black paint?

[Brad M.]

Re: Dulling up Semi-Gloss Black Finish

would a matte clear be more dull than the semi-gloss you are referring to?

[Stuart F.]

Re: Dulling up Semi-Gloss Black Finish

Well see, you take some brake fluid and ------------------

Stu Fox

[Chuck S.]

Re: Dulling up Semi-Gloss Black Finish

Does anyone have any ideas on how to uniformally reduce the shine slightly of recently sprayed semi-gloss black paint?

What area of the car and how many square inches are you talking about?

First, confirm that the existing semigloss is not suitable from a judging standpoint. If it is a black out area, the gloss level of the blackout varied considerably...semigloss may be acceptable for your car. If that is the case, do nothing.

Second, always evaluate the gloss level of remaining ORIGINAL paint, if any, and restore to that gloss level. Sometimes, determing if paint is original or "Bubberized" will require archaelogical skills, or be impossible. If you have already removed all the orginal paint and repainted to a different gloss level, see paragraph above.

My only thought is mechanical dulling with 0000 steel wool. This has been done to give door jambs the appearance of lacquer, but I would not personally start out with this procedure in my painting plan; my opinion is it's only useful as an emergency stop gap, post judging alternative.

My experience is that you can not mechanically dull paint with steel wool without leaving some evidence of that activity. For example, if the painted area has ANY sharp edged details or corners, you will not be able to get down into those details, leaving tiny areas of shine. Further, steel wool mechanically roughens the surface, and I believe would make it more susceptible for accumulating dirt and oils.

If the gloss is totally unsuitable, and the area is small, I would probably just wash the finish off with lacquer thinner and start over with properly flattened paint. Probably not what you wanted to hear if it's the firewall and the engine is reinstalled. With aerosol cans, you are pretty much limited to the advertised gloss levels, but those cover Corvette restoration applications fairly well. If this is professionally applied body paint in the jambs that the judges didn't like, then you're in trouble...try the steel wool as a stop gap for judging points, or make your painter redo the jambs.

[Mike M.]

Re: Dulling up Semi-Gloss Black Finish

Hi Jack,
If you are needing a duller finish to meet the Typical Factory Production finish, the area has been recently painted and is accessable, I would just re-spray with a duller shade. I believe you would be more satisfied with the result.
I always shoot a test patch since atmosphericand other factors may alter the finish from the same source.
I keep a test strip that I have added to over the years.
It is about five feet long with 3" squares of different black "Test Shots"
So far there are 17 squares ranging from High Gloss to Flat.
I have written on each square what the source was.
When I need to determine the correct finish, I hold the test strip up the the original ID the source and go.
HaND

[Patrick N.]

Re: Dulling up Semi-Gloss Black Finish

Jack,

looks like we have the same car, 68, 427/400 Lemans blue. I am in frame off and have been painting many parts semi gloss. I have experimented with various semi gloss blacks in our spray booth, Eastwood's under hood, Quanta, SEM, Krylon, Rustoleum...

I agree with Chuck, avoid mechanically dulling with steel wool. Try to learn more about the original color by looking under plates, washers etc...

If you do want to work with what you have, there is however some rubbing compounds for plastic that are great for knocking the "gloss" out of paint. Novus 1,2,3 plastic polish compounds are good. (I use this trick in my professional life when we paint to simulate injection molded plastic parts)

If you have the means, you could add flattening agent to your black to adjust the gloss level. Add drops of blue, red or yellow to tweak color.


For what it's worth, my favorite for gloss level and color of the off-the-shelf options; here is what I have found:

- Quanta semi gloss is good-not too glossy, good neutral black color.
- Eastwoods Radiator semi gloss is real nice color and gloss-i used this on a few parts. (I find Eastwoods under-hood is a "brownish" color).
- Dupli-color semi gloss was a perfect match for my 1988'. This was between semi-flat and semi-gloss. Holds up nice to the heat that engine cranks out!

Hope it helps,
Pat

[Jack C.]

Re: Dulling up Semi-Gloss Black Finish

Thanks. I should have mentioned what I was looking to accomplish. I had the radiator redone and the top portion looks out of place because mostly everything remains untouched under the hood.
Thanks.

[Patrick N.]

Re: Dulling up Semi-Gloss Black Finish

Sounds like the radiator is back in the car and looks too nice?

You could always redo the entire engine bay + all components to match

Are you having the car judged? or just want an aesthetic match?

Pat

[Jack C.]

Re: Dulling up Semi-Gloss Black Finish

It's a personal thing. It was Top Flighted with it, but I plan to try for a Survivor cert. in June.

[Gary B.]

Dulling up Semi-Gloss Black Finish

Jack,

I had a similar problem with my A-arms that were too glossy. I wound up spraying over the glossy paint with a light coat of semi-flat. Previously I had tried using 0000 steel wool to reduce the gloss and that dulled the gloss but made noticeable scratches.

Gary

Does anyone have any ideas on how to uniformally reduce the shine slightly of recently sprayed semi-gloss black paint?

[Jack C.]

Re: Dulling up Semi-Gloss Black Finish

Thanks Gary.