Not much going on so I thought it would be a good time to post this from Rod Authority

TMJ
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Preserving the Neglect

As you would think, preserving faded paint is entirely different than treating paint that has faded. Whereas bringing back faded paint seeks to restore the paint to its former glory, preserving “patina” seeks to seal the surface from any more change. And yes, that also includes improvement.

That is why there are so many threads asking how to handle the faded, flaky paint found on so many rides. Clear coat is a great way to seal the surface of the paint, but many recommend using a matte-finish clear so as not to give the surface an artificially shiny coating. Others take a simpler route and suggest that it has taken 30-40 years of neglect to get the surface condition that we’ve come to adore, why start fussing over it now?

While it’s hard to argue with that logic, there ARE a few things that you can do to actually put patina in its best light. One thing that we found interesting was using a product called CLR to help remove rust stains and bring the car’s natural color back. ChevyTalk.orgmember “SKIM” recently shared in a thread about patina preservation how he used the product to great success. By mixing the solution with water and using a scouring pad, he was able to remove the brown stain from the surface of the paint on his 1959 El Camino while not affecting the finish or changing the appearance of the rusty spots.

SKIM from ChevyTalk.org shows how using CLR and a scouring pad removes the rust stain and lets the color show. Even thin, faded paint looks better than rust. (Photo: HAMB)

Of course, as we all know, rust never sleeps and eventually, it will continue to grow and reclaim the surfaces that you’ve recently cleaned. At that point, even routine cleaning with mild soap and water will ward off rust better than the years of neglect that chronologically treated the surface prior. Beyond that, and if you wanted to freeze-frame the finish of the vehicle, you could use a product like Renaissance Wax to seal the surface and others even suggest linseed oil. The addition of oils is not recommended if you intend on painting the car at some point as they could wind up under the new paint and prohibit adhesion.

It's hard to imagine there's any color under that rust, but by mixing water and CLR (4:1 ratio) and scrubbing with a scouring pad, you can see how the rust simply wipes away. Impressive! (Photos: www.chevytalk.org)

Any way you look at it, patina has become a major player on the show fields of our lives. The variety of different ways to obtain it and the full spectrum of autos where it can be found ensures that the story is always an interesting one. No matter whether it is truth, or fiction.