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JC Whitney - Everything Automotive
JC Whitney - Everything Automotive
Eastwood's Money Saving Kits for Auto, Car, Truck, and Motorcycle Restoration Enthusiasts
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Whether
you're starting a new project, or getting ready for the next phase of
the job, be sure to check out Eastwood's extensive offering of auto
restoration kits. Put together by the experts at Eastwood, these kits
will help you get professional results on your project.
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Fabrication Kits
Fabrication
Tool Kits
Shrinker Stretchers, Planishing Hammers, English Wheels, Panel
Flangers, Bead Rollers, Punches, Jigs, Tube Bending
Body
Hammers, Mallets & Sandbag Kits
Mallets, Hammers, Sandbags
Grinding,
Smoothing, & Sanding Kits
Expander Wheels, Flap Discs, Cleaning/Stripping, Carbide Burrs,
Abrasives
Specialty Coatings
Specialty
Coatings Kits
Golden Cad Kits, Rust Prevention Kits, Bedliners, Detail Paints,
Wheel Paints
High
Temp Exhaust Coatings Kits
High Temp Coating Kits, Exhaust Detailing Kits
Trunk
Paint Kits
Trunk Paint Kits in a variety of colors
Painting/Airbrushing
Pinstriping
Kits
One Shot Paint Kits, Beugler Pro Kits
Airbrushing
Kits
Top Feed, Suction Feed, Compressors, Gravity Feed
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HotCoat Powder Coating
ONLY
AT EASTWOOD!
HotCoat
Kits
Deluxe and Original HotCoat, Performance Kits, Accessory Kits
HotCoat
Powder Sampler Kits
Powder coatings in a wide array of colors, arranged in economical
kits - choose from standard colors, high tech colors, iridescents,
and prep kits
Infrared
Curing System Kits
Curing systems for HotCoat powder coatings.
Welding
Welding
Accessory Kits
Spotweld Cutter Kits, Stitch Welders, Jigs
No
Weld Panel Repair Kits
No Weld Panel Repair Kit, No Weld Panel Adhesive Replacement
Body
Solder/Lead Kits
Body Solder Kits in Basic, Standard, and Deluxe
Alumiweld
Kits
Alumiweld Standard and Deluxe Kits
Mig
Welder Kits
Starter Kits, Mig Kits, Conversion Kits
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Buffing/Polishing
Exterior
Polishing Kits
System One, Final Finish, Flitz...Kits for Vinyl Windows, Taillights,
Headlights, Glass Polishing
Sanding
Block Kits
Flexible, Semi-Rigid, Teardrop, and True Flat Sanding Blocks
Smoothing
& Buffing Kits
Wheel Buffing and Smoothing, Manifold Smoothing Kits, Motors
Buff
Motor Kits
Buff Shop Motors from 1/3 HP to 1 1/2 HP, Cabinets, Pedestals
Buff
Wheels, Compounds, and Combo Kits
Buff Shop Kit for Stainless Steel, Aluminum, and Brass...Buff Wheels,
Facers, Bobs, Fast Cut Systems
Vibratory
Tumbler Kits
Wet/Dry, Vibratory, and Media Tumblers and accessories
Chassis
Restoration Kits
Full
and Partial Chassis Restoration Kits
Gas
Tank Sealer Kits
For Cars and Motorcycles
Getting
Ready to Buff?...Read this time-saving tech article first!
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©Copyright
2007, The Easthill Group, Inc.
 Panel Repair/Replacement
If you are restoring a collector vehicle, you will most likely experience rusted
or heavily damaged body panels. Sometimes you can repair the damaged panel,
but other times you are better off replacing it. Several factors to help you
determine whether or not to replace the panel are:
Extent of damage
Availability of replacement panels
Cost of replacement panels
Quality of replacement panels
Difficulty to repair vs. replace
Whether you decide to repair the panel or replace the panel, Eastwood has the
products you need to get the job done right. In fact, even if replacement panels
are not readily available, Eastwood has the tools
and equipment for you to fabricate your own replacement panels.
From start to finish, Eastwood has your needs covered. Eastwood carries everything
from sheet
metal, cut-off
wheels, shrinker/stretchers,
metal
shears, welders,
weld-thru
primers, body
fillers, seam
sealers, panel
flangers, panel
holding systems, a No-Weld
Panel Repair Kit, and more.
To install a replacement panel, first, hold up the replacement panel and see
how much it will replace. If the damaged panel suffers from rust, you need to
make sure you cut out all of the rust. If the replacement panel replaces more
then is necessary, trim the replacement panel to replace only what is needed.
By doing this, if you ever have to carry out this repair again, you can cut
up a little further and get to good metal.
Before you begin to cut out the damaged panel, be sure to make reference marks
and take measurements. This will allow you to use these reference marks and
measurements to fit up the replacement panel. Once you have your reference marks
and measurements, cut out the damaged panel. Eastwood's pneumatic
saber saw, pneumatic
cut-off wheel, metal
shears, air
nibbler, or pneumatic
shears work well for cutting out the panel. If you are replacing a full
panel, use our spot
weld drill
bits to drill out the spot welds. Removing the old panel is time consuming
and tedious, but to get the best results, you will want to take your time.
Once you have completely cut-out the damaged panel, trial fit the replacement
panel. Oftentimes, you will have to trim, bend, and hammer the replacement panel
to get it to fit. Our large selection of body
hammers and dollies
work great for massaging the panel's fit. Make sure to use your measurements
and reference marks to properly fit the panel. Now, before the panel is welded
into place, would be a good time to apply Rust
Encapsulator to those hard to reach areas. Once you are happy with the panel's
fit, use axial
pliers, intergrips,
panel
holding system, magnetic
welding jigs, rivets,
vise grips, or sheet metal screws to hold the panel in place.
Before you start to weld, double check the fit and alignment. Only when you
are happy with the fit, begin to tack weld, every few inches, the panel into
place. Take your time, and jump between the welds to fill the gaps. You want
to make sure that you do not heat up one area, or you could seriously distort
the metal. Our Anti-Heat
Compound helps to keep heat damage to a minimum.
Once you have the panel completely welded in, use a flap
disc on your angle
grinder and grind down the welds. Again, do not heat up one area, or you
may distort the metal. Once you have the welds ground down, wipe the panel down
with PRE.
This will remove any contaminants from the surface. Now you can apply seam
sealer
to the seam, or you can use a body filler to blend in the repair. Metal-to-Metal
works well to smooth out the repair, and it also does a good job to seal out
the elements from your repair. Once you have seam sealed or blended the repair
with filler, you are ready to prime
and finish the repair with paint, or undercoating
(depending on the repair).
If you do not have a welder, or do not want to risk distorting the metal by
welding the repair, Eastwood has the solution for you. Click
here to read about panel repair using our No-Weld
Panel Repair Kit. ©Copyright
2007, The Easthill Group, Inc.

Powder Coating 101
What is Powder Coating?
So, you've heard of it, but, you're not quite sure exactly what powder coating
is. According to the Powder Coating Institute's web page, "Powder coating
is an advanced method of applying a decorative and protective finish to
a wide range of materials and products that are used by both industries
and consumers. The powder used for the process is a mixture of finely ground
particles of pigment and resin, which is sprayed onto a surface to be coated.
The charged powder particles adhere to the electrically grounded surfaces
until heated and fused into a smooth coating in a curing oven. The result
is a uniform, durable, high-quality, and attractive finish." There, so now
you know! Or do you?
Eastwood's
HotCoat® guns, like most powder coating guns, apply a negative electrostatic
charge to the flour-fine powder (that magical mixture of "pigment and resin").
This charge is high voltage; up to 25,000 volts (100,000 volts on industrial
guns), but fortunately very low amperage (the amps are the part of electricity
that can really hurt you). Since this powder is made of resins, we know
that it falls in the general classification of "plastics". As a member of
the plastic family we know that it is a poor conductor of electricity. So
once the particle is charged, it gives up that charge very reluctantly.
This is what causes the powder to "cling" to the substrate being coated.
The negative ions in the particle slowly fight their way to the positively
charged substrate. This slow flow of ions from particle to substrate is
what holds the particle on the substrate. Putting it another way, think
of the positively charged substrate as "sucking" the negative ions out of
the particles, causing them to stick.
Why Is Powder Coating Better?
- More Durable - Powder coating gives consumers, businesses, and industry
one of the most economical, longest-lasting, and most color-durable
quality finishes available. Powder coated surfaces are more resistant
to chipping, scratching, fading, and wearing than other finishes. Color
selection is virtually unlimited with high and low gloss, metallic,
and clear finishes available. Thanks to the UV resistance of many of
the powders, colors stay bright and vibrant longer. Texture selections
range from smooth
surfaces to a wrinkled or matte finish, and rough textures designed
for hiding surface imperfections.
- Protects the Environment - Powder coating is also highly protective
of our environment. While liquid finishes contain solvents which have
pollutants known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), powder coating
contains no solvents and releases negligible amounts, if any, of VOCs
into the atmosphere. Thus, there is no longer a need for finishers to
buy costly pollution control equipment. In addition, most powder coating
overspray that does not adhere to the part can be retrieved and reused.
Although this is not always practical for many low-volume users, this
can virtually eliminate the waste commonly found in liquid finishing
processes.
- Saves Money - Elimination of VOCs and reduction of wastes saves money and helps companies comply more easily and economically with the regulations of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. In fact, one of the major elements in expanding the market for powder coating has been the implementation over the past 30 years of stringent air pollution control legislation.
Where Is Powder Coating Used?
- Appliances - The appliance industry benefits from powder coating on front and side panels of ranges and refrigerators, washer tops and lids, dryer drums, air-conditioner cabinets, water heaters, dishwasher racks, and cavities of microwave ovens. Powder coating has also replaced porcelain enamel on many washer and dryer parts.
- Architecture/Building - The architectural and building market powder coats aluminum extrusions used on frames for windows and doors and modular furniture. Many highway and building projects use powder coating on light poles, guard rails, signs, posts, and fencing.
- Automotive - Henry Ford once said, "You can have a Model-T in any color you want. So long as it's black." For an industry once focused primarily on manufacturers' needs, powder coating is transforming the automotive industry with faster production times and lower operating costs, plus irresistible value propositions for consumers. For years, conventional liquid coatings were the standard for the automotive industry. But these coatings can emit dangerous VOCs at their application stage. Powder coatings eliminate most environmental concerns and the need for costly waste disposal systems. Because powder does not run or drip, the result is a uniform, superior-quality finish.
Conversion from liquid to powder clearcoats for auto body exteriors is moving
rapidly. Powder topcoats resist acid rain, the sun's ultraviolet rays
and road and weather damage, helping cars retain their "showroom look"
much longer and improving their resale value. BMW and Volvo are using
it on their new model cars, and GM, Ford, and Chrysler have formed a consortium
to test this technique on their production lines.
Powder coating has made substantial inroads as a primer for car, van and
pickup truck bodies in the United States. Auto body primers in colors
will be next.
There is huge market potential for high-heat resistant powder coatings
on aftermarket mufflers, which resist corrosion, protect against nicks
and prolong the life of the muffler. Some companies are already applying
heat-resistant powder to aftermarket mufflers, and the new-car market
is thought to be two or three years away. Powder coating is also applied
to wheels, grilles, bumpers, door handles, roof racks and exterior and
interior trim. "Under the hood" uses include oil and fuel filters, brake
pads, engine block casings, suspension components and radiators. Pickup
truck and SUV owners can purchase powder coated side steps, bed rails,
luggage racks and toolboxes as dealership add-ons or in aftermarket stores
and catalogs.
Performance car owners can find powder coated special suspension units,
carburetor parts and valve covers, plus flashy rear-view mirror mounts
and other exterior adornments.
Everyday Products - There are also innumerable everyday uses for powder
coated products such as lighting fixtures, antennas, and electrical components.
Farmers have powder coated tractors and farm equipment. Fitness buffs
powder coat golf clubs and golf carts, ski poles and bindings, snowmobiles,
bicycles, and exercise equipment. Shop owners have powder coated display
racks, shelves, store fixtures, and vending machines. Office workers use
metal furniture, computer cabinets, mechanical pencils and pens, thumbtacks,
and other desk accessories that are powder coated. Parents have powder
coated baby strollers, cribs, metal toys, and wagons. And home owners
have lawn mowers, snowblowers, barbecue grills, patio furniture, garden
tools, electronic components, bathroom scales, tool boxes, and fire extinguishers
which benefit from a powder coated finish. The powder coating boom has
just begun - expect more exciting uses in the near future.
Powder
Coating Guns and Kits
HotCoat
Powders
Powder
Coating Books and Videos
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©Copyright
2007, The Easthill Group, Inc.
Painting Your Car Yourself: How to Do It Right
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PAINTING YOUR OWN CAR
If you are restoring
a vehicle, a milestone in the restoration process is when you have the
vehicle painted. At this stage, although still far from finished, the
project really starts to take shape. Depending on your skill level and
ambition, you may wish to tackle the paint job yourself.
If you have never
painted before, the idea of painting your vehicle may seem like a fun
project, or it may seem overwhelming. Although there are proper techniques
to spraying, nothing is out of the scope of a hobbyist that is willing
to practice and learn. To get you started, Eastwood offers books,
videos,
paint
guns, paints,
technical
advice, and all of the supplies you need to paint your vehicle. When
you see your vehicle freshly painted, the sense of accomplishment is the
greatest reward.
A large part of a
successful paint job is directly related to the preparation efforts. Painting
a vehicle is a tedious process that involves a lot of preparation. If
you do not properly prepare the vehicle for paint, you will see defects
in the finish and you may experience adhesion issues. In terms of preparation,
we are referring to: rust repair, damage repair, bodywork, block sanding,
using the correct products, keeping the surface clean, proper sanding,
etc. If you are willing to put in the time and work, the end results can
make it worth all your effort.
Everyone has different
reasons for wanting to paint their car - maybe you like to be able to
say you did "all" of the work yourself, maybe you can not afford to have
it painted, maybe you want to learn something new, maybe you want to be
certain of the work that is going into the vehicle before and during paint....and
the list goes on. Regardless of your reasons, there are certain things
that need to be considered for a successful paint job.
GETTING STARTED
To get started, you
need to develop a game plan. The key to a successful paint job is planning
your steps, taking your time, and properly prepping the surface. If you
are in a hurry, DO NOT attempt to paint your car. If you cut corners
prepping the vehicle for paint, this will be seen in the final finish
or shortly down the road. To properly paint a vehicle, there is a lot
more involved than spraying paint onto the vehicle. When developing your
game plan, here are several things to consider:
? Do you have a place
to prep and paint the vehicle?
? Do you have (or
are you willing to purchase) the needed tools to paint a vehicle?
? Will the vehicle
be stripped to bare metal or are you going to paint over the existing
finish?
? Are you painting
the complete vehicle (door jambs, trunk area, underhood, etc) or only
the outside?
? What type of paint
do you plan on using? - Acrylic Enamel, Urethane, Acrylic Lacquer, Base
coat/Clear coat, Water-based, etc.
? What brand of paint
system are you going to use?
If you are considering
the idea of painting your vehicle, first think of where you are going
to prep and spray it. Do you have a dry place to store the vehicle while
you are prepping it? Ideally, you will want to be spraying in a clean,
dirt-free, temperature controlled environment. Are you going to rent a
spray booth, paint in your garage, or paint in your driveway? Is it legal
to spray a vehicle where you plan to paint? All of these factors must
be considered before you think about picking up a paint gun. Tip -
If it is illegal for you to paint your vehicle in the area you live, you
can still strip it down and prep it for the body shop. This is a good
way to save money.
EQUIPMENT OVERVIEW
Speaking
of paint guns, you will need the proper equipment to paint a vehicle.
At a bare minimum, you will need a paint gun, an air compressor that can
meet the demands of your paint gun, and a moisture
separator. The moisture separator will ensure that you have a dry
air supply. Moisture in your air supply is an easy way to ruin a paint
job. Another option is a turbine paint system, such as the Accuspray.
These systems do not require an air compressor, and the turbine systems
ensure that you have a dry air supply.
In addition to the
spraying equipment, there is safety equipment that you will need. You
will need a painter's
suit, an approved respirator,
goggles, and disposable nitrile
gloves are a good idea. The chemicals in today's paints are dangerous
and can be absorbed through your skin and eyes. When working with these
chemicals, you must follow all precautions and make sure you use all of
the required safety equipment.
PAINT GUNS
There are two general
paint gun designs: gravity feed and siphon feed. Gravity feed guns have
the cup mounted on top of the gun and use gravity (and air pressure) to
feed the paint into the gun. Siphon feed guns have the cup mounted under
the gun and use a pick-up tube to deliver the paint to the gun.
In addition to gravity
feed and siphon feed designs, paint guns are commonly known as either
HVLP
(high volume low pressure) or conventional. HVLP paint guns pass a high
volume of paint through the gun's nozzle at a lower pressure (as low as
10 psi at the air cap). Conventional paint guns require high pressure
(60 psi or more) to spray the paint. HVLP paint guns generally have higher
transfer efficiencies, meaning that they put more material on the item
you are spraying. This results in less overspray and less wasted material.
Some areas require that you paint with an HVLP paint gun or a compliant
non-HVLP paint gun.
We recommend that
you use a gravity-feed HVLP paint gun. With a siphon-feed gun, there is
always a little material left in the bottom of the cup that doesn't get
sprayed. The gravity-feed design allows you to spray the full cup of material.
Also, you should consider using cup
liners or the 3M
PPS system. Both of these items will allow you to spray at different
angles, even upside-down. Eastwood offers a variety of paint guns from
DeVilbiss,
Binks,
Sata,
Sharpe,
and more.
Depending on the type
of paint you plan to spray, you may need additional tips & nozzle
caps for the gun. Some paint guns come with tips and nozzle caps to spray
heavy primers, while others are better suited for spraying lighter-bodied
paints and clears. For lacquers, enamels, urethanes, base coats, and clear
coats you will want a spray gun with a 1.3 - 1.5mm fluid tip. For spraying
water-based automotive paints, such as Auto
Air, you will want a spray gun with a 1.0mm fluid tip. For heavy paints
and primers, a spray gun with a 1.8 - 2.2mm fluid tip is ideal.
TAKE IT APART OR NOT?
When deciding to paint
your vehicle, how far do you plan on taking the vehicle apart? Are you
going to remove the hood, trunk, doors, glass, etc, or are you going to
tape it up and paint while it is together? Taking everything off allows
you to make sure there is no hidden damage and it allows you to get paint
into all of the nooks and crannies. However, you will have to deal with
gapping
the panels, reinstalling glass, replacing seals, etc.
If you decide to paint
the vehicle while it is still together, remove as many of the small items
as you can - antennae, door handles, lights, locks, wipers, etc. Nothing
looks worse than a nice paint job that has overspray all over items that
shouldn't have been painted. If you are leaving items on the car that
are not going to be painted, be sure to use a quality automotive masking
tape and masking
paper....newspaper does not cut it. Newspaper is porous and can allow
paint to get through to the surface below. Tip - To get paint under
seals that are installed, an old trick is to take some nylon clothesline
or coated wire and to put it under the seal and then mask off the seal.
This will lift the seal enough to allow paint to spray between the seal
and the body of the vehicle.
STRIPPING THE VEHICLE
Do you plan on stripping
the vehicle to bare metal or painting over the existing finish? Stripping
the vehicle to bare metal allows you to see what is hiding under the paint
- rust, body filler, shoddy repairs, and other damage. You'd be surprised
what has been found under existing layers of paint. Stripping the vehicle
to bare metal also allows you to know exactly what products are being
used. If you paint over an existing finish (this is perfectly acceptable
Powder Coating
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AUTO ACCESSORIES Online store bargains, automotive_accessories, sales alerts, clearance sales, discounts
AUTO ACCESSORIES
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OnTool
Looking for tools and equipment to assist with your automotive repairs? Visit their tool shop and find almost any tool you need for automobiles, shop work, or around the home.
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Perfect Auto Parts
Comprehensive online catalog of bumpers, fenders, doors, radiators, header panels, grilles, headlights, taillights, trunk lids, step bumpers, condensers, and other auto parts for most major makes and models.
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Street Beat
Auto accessories and parts for most makes and models including trucks, vans and suvs. Completely customize your vehicle with body kits, specialty tail lights and lenses, performance accessories, conversion kits, and more.
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AutoSport
This online autoparts store has quality acessories and parts you need, including nice performance products to help maximize your auto's potential.
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AutoAnything.com
AutoAnything is one of America's largest and fastest growing online retailers of specialized automotive accessories. Find top quality products from trusted name brands at great prices. Their custom and universal products are designed to provide protection, comfort, safety, style and enhanced performance for all cars, trucks, SUVs and vans.
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Import Parts Bin
Over 50,000 automotive parts for most major import vehicles. From Acuras to Volkswagens, you can get most major auto parts at great prices.
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