1914 EK 1 repaint opinions?

[George Stimson]

I'm thinking of stripping the horrible repaint job off of this otherwise lovely KMST EK 1 (the kind with the hinged pin-securing device on the catch) and repainting it again. Normally I wouldn't even consider such an action, but I feel that the current repaint job is so atrocious that I couldn't make it any worse.
What do you all think?

[George Stimson]

A slightly different view. (Just terrible! )

[Tiger 1]

George,

A quality repaint would be much more presentable than what you have now. I can't see the logic in keeping it as it is as it is not original now anyway. Your cross deserves to be properly restored. Good luck.

Tony

[Mike Kenny]

Hi,

George, I'd be in favour of stripping this one as well. If you are careful, there might actually be some of the worn original finish left, although that may be optimistic given that the frames look like they've been worn almost smooth!

Should we have a poll on what colour you should refinish it? Black gets boring after a while!

Regards
Mike K

[EKman]

I agree, repaint the thing with love after the results of the poll are in.

[George Stimson]

Okay, I think I'll go with the restoration idea. And I'll post a running, illustrated progress report here as I go along.

First step: more opinion. What kind of stripper should I use? I was thinking of using acetone.

[Eric Stahlhut]

I'd carefully reconsider, given the fact that KMST cores never really had a great level of detail to their cores in the first place (IMO). Are you sure that you will be able to strip off the new paint and still have the remaining 'old' paint intact? Would it be possible to 'age' the current paint job instead?
In any case, the residual paint on the frames needs to go!
Someone know anyone in Latvia?

[George Stimson]

Although it would be good to be able to do so, I'm not particularly concerned with finding the old paint intact under what's on there. I just want it to look better than it does now (most likely by doing a better repaint than has been done).

Acetone okay?

[George Stimson]

Can someone post an untouched KMST so I can see what an un-repainted core looks like?

[blinky]

Acetone is nasty. What kind of paint is it?

[George Stimson]

"What kind of paint is it?"

I have no idea.

[blinky]

ok, maybe you'll get lucky....try alcohol first....just a little bit on a Q-tip and see if anything lifts off.

[Dick Pumphrey]

Hi George,

I would also vote to refinish your EK. I have had very good results in the past on refinish projects for EK's with Krylon semi-flat black spray can paint. Several very light coats and a careful clean-up and your cross will look good as new.
Regards,
Dick

[Tiger 1]

George,

Acetone will do a fine job of stripping the paint. A Lacquer thinner which has acetone as a component will also do the job. Just a word of caution ,acetone can be absorbed thru the skin so wear some latex or other chemically impervious gloves when working with it.

I have an original intact KMST that I will try to get some pictures to you somehow. PM me with postal address or PO box if that's okay with you.

Tony

[Tiger 1]

George,

Ooops! I hit the button twice!

Tony