Primarily Petroliana Shop Talk Forums Shop Talk Petroliana Forums General Petroliana Discussion clear coating old signs

does clear coating a old porc. or tin sign reduce it's value?

Yes

YES, but will also retard the rusting & can always be stripped with paint stripper IF someone wishes to restore/repaint it.
IF it looks better & for your own enjoyment while in your possession, do it.
db
IF your thinking of re-selling, DON'T CLEAR COAT & give an accurate description.

[This message has been edited by Dick Bennett (edited 11-28-2007).]

It obviously brings back the shine to an oxidized porcelain sign. I would like to clear a few of my fairly bad signs but have been told that the clear will turn yellow over time. How is this? I've never heard anyone ever give an explanation. If clear doesn't turn yellow out in the weather on your car then how can it on a sign?

Mike

[This message has been edited by Mike Smith (edited 11-28-2007).]

Professional grade automotive clears made in recent years should hold up very well against yellowing if they are applied according to recommendations especially film thickness (number of coats). Older and cheap clears may not hold up to yellowing.

All clears have some color to them. Modern clears have color that is invisible to human eyes to block harmful ultraviolet rays. Some clears are more yellow than others right out of the can. This is obvious only with greater film thickness or on white and other light backgrounds.

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Jim "Oldgas" Potts
Your host and moderator

Question on this Topic:

Can you remove clear coat from a TIN sign that has yellowed? In other words, is the yellowing permanent?

I WOULD THINK THAT THE YELLOWING ON A TIN SIGN THAT HAS BEEN CLEAR COATED WOULD BE PERMANENT! SAME PROBLEM WITH METAL PAINTED SIGNS THAT HAVE HAD OTHER ADS PAINTED OVER THEM... THEY'RE TOAST!

~DOC

I would agree on the tin signs. As for porcelian you could just strip it off as long as the porcelian is not course of pitted. That could make a mess on the sign. The only way I would clear coat a sign is if I was going to keep forever & it was in bad shape anyway. That way the value of it would not be dinged bad since it was a rough one anyway.

On the few porcelain signs that I own I cleaned & polished the oxidized porcelain sign back to a nice shine using a fine rubbing compound or "CERAMA BRYTE" a glass-ceramic cooktop cleaner.
Wayne

I guess there's different levels of oxidation. All the signs that I have seen that have lost their shine and have a chalky appearance are toast. There's no polish out there that will ever bring it back. I've tried about every suggestion on this board on a couple of rough signs and nothing will bring it back. However if you clear it, then wow the shine and color is back almost like new. Transmission fluid will also bring the color and shine back immediately but is kinda messy.

Mike

[This message has been edited by Mike Smith (edited 11-30-2007).]

In situations like your talking about Mr Smith. We use good ole reliable Marvel Mystery Oil, as it will enhance plus do all kinds of other neat things including protect and preserve. It will also absorb completely into the medal leaving no residue at all ..

[This message has been edited by oldschool (edited 11-30-2007).]