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Posted By: Rich Taylor Clear Coating A Old Porcelain Sign? - Fri Nov 27 2009 05:13 PM
A old sign that has faded due to years of exposure to sunlight and cannot be polished.
What to do? Is clear coating an old porcelain sign a option? The clear coating is not a big deal to remove latter if desired with paint stripper but do you feel it devalues a vintage sign? What do you think about a portion of the sign being clear coated to give the sign an over all nice shine? How many of you out there have vintage signs with one faded color with the other colors still with a nice gloss? I know all these signs were made to be used for just a few years with little thought for finish fade or changes in colors after years of sun light exposure. But for us collectors today, that wish to display them for are own enjoyment and hopefully as close to what these signs would have looked like in the day; is it wrong to clear coat them? Any thoughts on this subject? Happy Holidays: Rich Taylor
Posted By: Old Iron Re: Clear Coating A Old Porcelain Sign? - Fri Nov 27 2009 05:47 PM
Hi Rich,
Good post. I think you are going to get a wide variety of opinions; the blue on Powerlube and Indian pump plates?

Personally, I don't do it. I prefer to display signs that have "aged gracefully". IMHO.
Posted By: Roger Loupias Re: Clear Coating A Old Porcelain Sign? - Fri Nov 27 2009 05:58 PM
Ive learned one thing from this site, that anytime you have any rare or unique collectable sign you just leave it and ponder over all its misery its been thru for it to be like this, in its original state. Dont get me wrong, I restore my pumps and do base coat clear coat myself and love the clean reflection it leaves, and Ive done signs as well with no regrets. Just watch what you do to a collector sign because the the more you monkey with it the less market value it may have. These big time sign collector guys are about to tell you. Roger
Posted By: Koolmotor Re: Clear Coating A Old Porcelain Sign? - Fri Nov 27 2009 06:24 PM
CLEAR COAT AWAY!!! If done properly the sign will look fabulous and just like you indicated, the clear coat can be easily removed. I had a Cities Service sign that had no chips but was extremely faded. I tried various waxes and polishing compound but no luck. I applied several clear coats and the sign looked great - just ask the Texaspelican. It is your sign, do as you like, but tell a potential buyer that it has been clear coated.

Koolmotor
Posted By: THE AMERICAN GARAGE Re: Clear Coating A Old Porcelain Sign? - Fri Nov 27 2009 06:32 PM
ABOUT THE ONLY THING I CONSIDER CLEAR-COATING ARE PORCELAIN SIGNS. IF I SELL IT TO SOMEONE ELSE...I TELL THEM. BESIDES IF THEY DON'T LIKE IT...PAINT REMOVER WILL REMOVE THE CLEAR-COAT AND THE SIGN WILL BE BACK TO NORMAL.
Posted By: gasoildude Re: Clear Coating A Old Porcelain Sign? - Fri Nov 27 2009 06:48 PM
I agree with everything said so far. But one thing you have to remember if the sign has a lot of shelling or the porcelain is rough that can pose problems later. Example if you clear coat the sign & later you want to strip it off if the sign has a lot of shelling the porcelain can be discolored or stained. It could turn the white into gray or darken other colors. Then the sign would be worth less than before. If it was me & it was a rarer sign or highly graphic sign I would leave it alone smile
Posted By: gulfiend! Re: Clear Coating A Old Porcelain Sign? - Fri Nov 27 2009 07:11 PM
...pumps were made to be repainted - signs, globe lenses, quart cans, etc. were not...even if you do the right thing and tell the guy who buys the piece from you down the road what you've done, there's no guarantee he will share your sense of fair play when he decides to sell (and there's plenty of poorly-informed buyers out there)...

...when you decide to sell, if the sign's rough you only have one thing to apologize for during your sales pitch - the condition...start monkeying with it and the more 'salesmanship' you have to do...

...with an unrestored sign, you pretty much know what you're getting...

...I say leave it alone...if you like it, live with it...if not, pony up some more 'lettuce' and get a better one...

...I see signs that have an issue or two that have been touched-up and think, 'I wish they would have left that alone'...
Posted By: KZ1000 Re: Clear Coating A Old Porcelain Sign? - Fri Nov 27 2009 11:09 PM
A trick that has worked wonders for me, Especially if it is just sections of a sign, is WD-40, lay the sign down, spray it with WD-40 and let it sit in the sun for a little while, Then just wipe it off like you would dust, It will be a little greasy for a bit, but will last a long time, eventually the fading may come back if left outside but nothing lost, If left inside, will stay like that until you actually wash it off. I have also done it with complete faded signs with same result.
Posted By: THE AMERICAN GARAGE Re: Clear Coating A Old Porcelain Sign? - Fri Nov 27 2009 11:50 PM
ADDING TO THE WD-40 IDEA ON FADED PORC SIGNS IS THAT PRODUCTS CALLED HOWARDS FEED & WAX. IT'S A CITRUS POLISH FOR FURNITURE, BUT WIPED ON AND BUFFED ACROSS A PORC SIGN, IT HOLDS IT VERY WELL IF DISPLAYED INSIDE.
Posted By: HI-OCTANE Re: Clear Coating A Old Porcelain Sign? - Sat Nov 28 2009 01:06 AM
I would say the clear coating dose brighten them up. But depends on the damage also. But if you plan on selling it. a collector will be totality turn off . I agree with AMERICAN GARAGE on the Howards Feed-n wax. Good luck.
Posted By: advertologist Re: Clear Coating A Old Porcelain Sign? - Sat Nov 28 2009 01:42 AM
Another product that I have found that works real good on porcelain to take the dullness away and make them shine like new is "Baby Oil", last so long like the other products and then needs to be re-done.
Posted By: coheley5 Re: Clear Coating A Old Porcelain Sign? - Sat Nov 28 2009 02:14 AM
Have used car cutting wax to remove all the old dirt and grease and the best wax I have found is called ICE, I wax all my signs with it and it gives a clear coat look for about four months and then I rewax.The only signs I ever clear coat are painted ones that are flaking and you could lose anyway.
Posted By: 57-Chevy Re: Clear Coating A Old Porcelain Sign? - Sun Nov 29 2009 12:56 AM
Clear It!!!!! Enjoy it!!! We only have a short time here on Earth and NONE of this STUFF will ever matter in the end!! God Bless!!

Michael

Romans 6:23
Posted By: gasoildude Re: Clear Coating A Old Porcelain Sign? - Sun Nov 29 2009 12:59 AM
That is very true Mike wink
Posted By: mattthegasman Re: Clear Coating A Old Porcelain Sign? - Sun Nov 29 2009 02:08 AM
I think KZ1000, and "THE DOC" have said it well, their ideas are easy things to do without alot of effort and it looks great, (I've done the same) and like GULFIEND said, if you dont like those ideas toss out more money and try and find a better example of that sign. Matt
Posted By: Rich Taylor Re: Clear Coating A Old Porcelain Sign? - Wed Dec 02 2009 06:06 AM
Thanks to all who gave me there views on clear coating and the tips on how to brighten a faded sign with out clear coating it. The sign I have will not be clear coated after all, being it is not completely faded. I won the sign on Ebay and knew the blue was kinda faded by the pictures the seller had posted. The sign is a one sided mid 1930's Standard Of California Ethyl porcelain sign, red, white, blue and yellow color's. Not many one sided signs like this one were made most were two sided and placed in pedestal stands or what we refer to as lolly pop signs now. The lower blue on the sign is faded but after using Meguiar's cleaner wax the blue appeared darker. I might also give Howard's polish a try, as suggested by Doc to further improve the blue color. The other color's are bright and appear fresh considering the age of the sign. I can only think that the blue reacted more to the years of sun exposure, maybe it being a dark color or a poor batch of blue color mix when made.
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