Crackle Experience

Moderators: 330GT, abrent

John Vardanian
Posts: 1906
Joined: Wed Sep 04, 2002 12:13 am
Location: San Francisco Area

Crackle Experience

Post by John Vardanian »

Can someone tell me how to get a very tight (fine) crackle finish? My heater box cover has such a finish and I'd like to replicate it. Thank you.

john
Rudy van Daalen Wetters
Posts: 1206
Joined: Thu Jan 22, 2004 5:53 pm

Re: Crackle Experience

Post by Rudy van Daalen Wetters »

John,

Are you referring to a wrinkle finish?

If so, I understand an oven should be used.

Makes the wife crazy though...

Rudy van Daalen Wetters
1963 GTE s/n 4001
1966 330 GT s/n 8705
AndrewW-G
Posts: 51
Joined: Mon Aug 13, 2007 3:37 am
Contact:

Re: Crackle Experience

Post by AndrewW-G »

I believe there is a guide to doing crackle finish paintwork in the restoration tips section.

To get a fine wrinkile finish, I'd use two light coats of paint and then bake in the oven according to the paint mfs instructions........although as Rudy's already pointed out best wait until your wife is out of the house before using the Kitchen oven (lower oven in an Aga is fantastic for this!)
400 "30897" " Mondial "45461" & lots of other peoples toys at work
John Vardanian
Posts: 1906
Joined: Wed Sep 04, 2002 12:13 am
Location: San Francisco Area

Re: Crackle Experience

Post by John Vardanian »

Thanks guys. A few follow up questions:

What should be the temp in the oven?
Do I preheat the piece before each thin coat, then bake it again?
The piece is already epoxy primered. Would that get in the way?

john
PF Coupe
Rudy van Daalen Wetters
Posts: 1206
Joined: Thu Jan 22, 2004 5:53 pm

Re: Crackle Experience

Post by Rudy van Daalen Wetters »

First, turn the oven heat to 200 to 225 degrees Fahrenheit. Let it get to that temperature. Spray the piece using two lights coats, turn the oven OFF and place the freshly painted piece
in the oven. After two hours or so, everything should be back to room temperature. I'd
let the piece sit overnight before handling. I recommend the oven be off since a gas pilot
light may be a concern with fumes from the paint. Send the wife on a shopping spree, you
both will be happy.

Rudy van Daalen Wetters
1963 GTE s/n 4001
1966 330 GT s/n 8705
User avatar
tyang
Posts: 4060
Joined: Wed Nov 27, 2002 10:28 pm
Location: New York
Contact:

Re: Crackle Experience

Post by tyang »

Hi John,

Primed pieces shouldn't affect the wrinkle paint.

Tom
'63 330 America #5053
John Vardanian
Posts: 1906
Joined: Wed Sep 04, 2002 12:13 am
Location: San Francisco Area

Re: Crackle Experience

Post by John Vardanian »

Thanks all. Will try later.

john
PF Coupe
Deane
Posts: 141
Joined: Tue Sep 03, 2002 11:43 pm
Location: Cupertino. CA

Re: Crackle Experience

Post by Deane »

Heat lamps work well too if you don't want paint fumes in your oven. It doesn't take a lot of heat to get a good wrinkle. Experiment on some metal scraps to get the wrinkle you want. Worst case, paint stripper takes it off easily so you can try again.
Deane
'67 330GTS (gone but not forgotten)
User avatar
TOMKIZER
Posts: 412
Joined: Thu Apr 28, 2005 1:51 pm
Location: Québec City

Re: Crackle Experience

Post by TOMKIZER »

To avoid the wrath of the fairer sex, and since you live in a very mild climate, just use your barbeque outside. Since it's gas, just preheat the parts to about 200 F, then turn it off, take them out, paint them, then put the parts back in and close the lid if you can. I use VHT Wrinkle Finish. Here are the results.
Tom Kizer
Attachments
Lt Heat Shield.JPG
Lt Heat Shield.JPG (100.22 KiB) Viewed 10303 times
So many sidewalk cafés - so little time left.
1969 365 GT 2+2 S/N 12293 (Gone but not forgotten)
1967 230 SL 4-spd (Currently on CPR)
Rudy van Daalen Wetters
Posts: 1206
Joined: Thu Jan 22, 2004 5:53 pm

Re: Crackle Experience

Post by Rudy van Daalen Wetters »

Looks very nice. Add a few hickory wood chips for just the right aroma.

Rudy van Daalen Wetters
1963 GTE s/n 4001
1966 330 GT s/n 8705
John Vardanian
Posts: 1906
Joined: Wed Sep 04, 2002 12:13 am
Location: San Francisco Area

Re: Crackle Experience

Post by John Vardanian »

Hi Guys,

Going back to my original point, I was specifically interested in experience with being able to produce some really tight wrinkle finish. The subject here is different from the cam cover finish. It is the finish that is seen on the back side of the interior mirror, the heater box, and often the racing 250GT SWB dashboards. The panels where the heater pull knobs are has this same finish also.

The finish is so tight that it looks like fabric stretched over the piece. Here's my heater box. Sorry, it's the best I have.

john

Image
PF Coupe
Rudy van Daalen Wetters
Posts: 1206
Joined: Thu Jan 22, 2004 5:53 pm

Re: Crackle Experience

Post by Rudy van Daalen Wetters »

That finish is not tight....it is extremely light in application.
Just like a bold line written in pencil is thicker than a fine line.

Rudy van Daalen Wetters
1963 GTE s/n 4001
1966 330 GT s/n 8705
330Jim
Posts: 85
Joined: Thu Oct 21, 2004 3:24 pm

Re: Crackle Experience

Post by 330Jim »

John,

Rudy is right. In my experience a lighter / drier coat of paint will give a tighter finer texture. A heavier / wetter coat of paint will give you a courser rougher texture. It will take some experimenting to match your heater. I would start by trying one coat (on a scrap piece of metal) that has a course orange peel (when wet) on it. Make sure the coat is even or you will get a patchy texture. To get the texture normally seen I would use two to three wet coats of paint.

Cheers Jim
John Vardanian
Posts: 1906
Joined: Wed Sep 04, 2002 12:13 am
Location: San Francisco Area

Re: Crackle Experience

Post by John Vardanian »

Tried Rudy's technique. Horrible results.

Stripped the epoxy primer, then tried Rudy's technique... fantastic! It didn't like te thick underlying primer, I suppose.

Thanks a million Rudy!

john
PF Coupe
Rudy van Daalen Wetters
Posts: 1206
Joined: Thu Jan 22, 2004 5:53 pm

Re: Crackle Experience

Post by Rudy van Daalen Wetters »

John,

Glad to hear that it worked out so well! I like the concept of primers
but have had issues in the past, so I just use the paint by itself now.

Rudy van Daalen Wetters
1963 GTE s/n 4001
1966 330 GT s/n 8705
Post Reply