Hot Rods I need tips for sanding louvers

Boy, I don't think I'm ever going to have to do this....and I'm glad.

 

What color are you going? Lippy

 

77 and still doing it. Inspiration and encouragement is the best part of your post. Sometimes the hardest things to find.

 

I used to know the exact number of louvers in the different models of Bugatti GP cars. Avoiding the cross cuts in the isles between the louvers is the thing to look out for. Painting both sides? Paint the underside first, a few days later deal with the overspray that came through every louver. Now you get to tape the underside of every louver to protect it from overspray, and paint the top. Bob

 

The best thing I found for that was the magnetic sheeting the the sign painters use for temporary door lettering.
Also keep some underneath the seat if you get caught driving in the rain, saves a whole bunch of cleanup later on

 

Did mine by simply cutting up hardwood sticks in various sizes and shapes so I could wrap them in sandpaper and sand the louvers. Once I got going I soon discovered 3 shapes were all I needed. A flat rectangle narrow enough to sand between louvers, and also get inside the opening. A tapered edge stick able to get inside the corners of each opening. And a small rectangle block to do all the rest.
What sizes, and shapes yours need depends on the louvers.

 

I use paint sticks cut down to fit the louver. Some on angles to sneak up on the corners.
sticky paper and trim it to fit the sticks.
You will be able to rob a bank without gloves when you are done.
I recommend comfortable seating.

 

Color will be 1932,33,34 Ford Old Chester Gray.

 

The aluminum bodied Bugatti people aren't so lucky.

Bob

 

Why not use a de-burring tool like the ones used in sheet metal shops. If you can't find one, take an old screw driver and grind a Vee in the end? Bend the end of the screwdriver to whatever angle works best and drag it along the louver's edges. Takes the burr off and you don't cut your fingers.

 

A deburring tool wont get to many areas on a louver. Just the flat areas that are mostly open and straight. Still need a file, and sticks with sandpaper to get into the corners. And then there's just finish sanding all those humps!

 

Babbit scrapers were used to fit crankshaft bearings in the 1920- 1930's would work fine on aluminum as deburring tools. Bob

 

I have used sticky back sandpaper on pieces of the foam noodles that I cut to different shapes. They form to all kinds of shapes.

 

Use some 12” long strips of emery cloth approximately 1/2” wide or so. Stick it into slots and pull it back and forth.

Plan on multiple sanding of louvers sessions. Don’t try to get them perfect the first go around...but rather improve all of them slightly with each go around. At some point you will realize they are all deburred, “good enough”!

 

I keep a lot of drop ends from trim carpentry for this kind of stuff, sanding blocks. If you dont do this kind of work, check out home depot aisle, 1/2" 3/4" thickness in various widths. Since they let people cut their own, theres usually a pile of shortys theyll let you have for free. This is usually pine, maple or ash.

Off Topic: hardwood uses
---cut on a sharp angle, Makes a great scraper that is less likely to marr the surface. Have to recut frequently but it beats screwing up the job.
---Also use hardwood as a tool to massage dents out of stainless. Either with a light hammer or just use a flat or round tip and work over the dent. A wood supporting block behind the stainless with a chanel routed in is also good to support the work.

 

Tips, fingertips is what you'll need, scuff the middle first on all of them, then go back and scuff the corners, there'll be twice as many of them, paint the hood and see what you get. If they aren't too good call the pin striper and you'll be set.

 

No pain...no gain!

 

Buy lots of bandaids!

 

Time and patience. Sand away from the louver, so you don't wind up with a trough at the bottom of the louver and you lose the hard lines. Easily had 50-60 hours sanding these out ,from start to finish. Good luck. I feel your pain.