Rat rod lettering (paint)

raceandwin1 · May 11, 2008

How do you paint names and etc. on a car and make it look very faded and old?...I am considering trying to do this to a very faded and rusty 55 chevrolet.I want it to appear to be an old drag car body with diffrent things lettered on it.Any ideas andd or techniques would be greatly appreciated

FlatBroke · May 12, 2008

I would think a scotchbrite pad or steelwool would make some new paint look somewhat old. Just a thought though, I haven't tried it myself either.

donsrods · May 12, 2008

I've heard people wet sand over the top and go a little harder on some spots than others to give it that aged look. Never tried it though.

Don

Willowbilly3 · May 12, 2008

I have also heard of them using cornmeal too but I don't know the exact technique. I am very interested in finding out though.

scottm · May 12, 2008

Hey guys, I made a stencil off my computer using I think 8 1/2 by 14 paper. I just went into word or something(been a while) and typed it up, enlarged it and all the other stuff and printed it out, then I just cut it out with a razor blade.

I then taped it to my door and and sparayed it with krylon, I did several light misting coats, it came out good but not a defined edge. So I took a paint pen and outlined with white and then lightly wet sanded it and I think maybe a scothbrite, it's not perfect but then again neither is anything else on my truck, lol. I have heard of other ways, maybe try researching some on the hamb, Hope this helps guys, Scott

Gastrick · May 12, 2008

Here's a how-to thread from the hamb by Josh Shaw. He does some impressive work in general if you've ever seen it. I wish he was close enough to do some lettering for me. He posted this over there but it turned into a a bash fest about fake patina.

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=264512

ratty 46 · May 13, 2008

As I said over on "that" forum.....that dude got mad talent even if you "don't get it".

I love the look - natural or not (if done right).

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x11/paco1008/Picture1327.jpg

Ratty 46

RatHead · Dec 7, 2008

scottm said:
Hey guys, I made a stencil off my computer using I think 8 1/2 by 14 paper. I just went into word or something(been a while) and typed it up, enlarged it and all the other stuff and printed it out, then I just cut it out with a razor blade.

I then taped it to my door and and sparayed it with krylon, I did several light misting coats, it came out good but not a defined edge. So I took a paint pen and outlined with white and then lightly wet sanded it and I think maybe a scothbrite, it's not perfect but then again neither is anything else on my truck, lol. I have heard of other ways, maybe try researching some on the hamb, Hope this helps guys, Scott

Nice job

RatHead · Dec 7, 2008

raceandwin1 said:
How do you paint names and etc. on a car and make it look very faded and old?...I am considering trying to do this to a very faded and rusty 55 chevrolet.I want it to appear to be an old drag car body with diffrent things lettered on it.Any ideas andd or techniques would be greatly appreciated

Also when u paint dilute the paint as much as u can..Test the diluted paint on pieces of junk metal..I have been doing this for wooden signs that i paint......

dmw56 · Dec 7, 2008

Here's the real thing. Wouldn't be hard to duplicate though. Paint it on and sand over the top.

Unkl Ian · Dec 7, 2008

Most people over do it , so "fake" turns into "phoney".
Study the real thing to understand what it should look like.

Most people use abrasives, everything from wet sandpaper to Comet Cleanser.

Other people wipe the paint with a rag, damped in solvent, while it is still tacky.

Practice on something else first.

Blue Eyed Devil · Dec 7, 2008

raceandwin1 said:
How do you paint names and etc. on a car and make it look very faded and old?

Paint it on and wait 20-30 years. Anything else is still fake, no matter how much you sand it...

Gearhead10 · Dec 7, 2008

In ol'skool rods issue 25 Jan 08 there was an acticle on how to do the faded look.They laid out the lettering and used 1000 grit scotch brite to wet sand in spots,following the brush strokes.Then used a colored wash simular to vehicle color to create a streaked look. For full details go to www.PAPASTUDIOS.com or email at [email protected] .Hope this helps ya out.

Coffinmaker · Dec 7, 2008

Doesnt matter

How FAKE others THINK it is...its WHAT YOU want..!! So dont listen to all of the other **** other people who dont like it...DO WHAT YOU want.Remember..if they dont like it..they dont have to look at it...

Boltbreaker · Dec 7, 2008

I did a door for wall art in my garage and lettered it. I used ace hardware sample paint and a sponge brush. It was done in a light blue and then went over it with a watered sown tan color. Sanded it last.
I will get some pictures to night and post tomorrow.

Unkl Ian · Dec 8, 2008

Gearhead10 said:
For full details go to www.PAPASTUDIOS.com or email at [email protected] .Hope this helps ya out.

Brian Papa does some nice work.

Havn't seen him since he moved down south.

hoitink · Dec 9, 2008

Here's what I did on my truck

Carlos Murphy · Aug 16, 2009

Matured look

Good thread,
I'm planning on doing the same thing to a 50 Study pickup I just bought, I'm researching colors and painting techniques and ripping pages out of car mags.

I want the truck to look like I rescued it from a junk yard where its been sitting for 30 years, right now its all primer gray.

Powered by a Chevy 350, auto trans, 9" Ford, drop axle, front disc brakes and French'd 1954 Buick head lights .
How do you spell frenched, french't, french...?

r.a.w.rods · Aug 31, 2009

I did my logo with singal stage paint & a airbrush. Just air brushed it light in some place to give it that aged look. Next will be to wet sand down and just let it age on its own.

Gastrick · Aug 31, 2009

Looks good R.A.W.

Rat rod lettering (paint)

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