07-22-2008, 11:27 PM
Hi,
The set is definitely in need to cabinet repair and a repaint. Touch up would be futile at best
Don't worry about the stripper, I have never heard of any brand 'melting' a cabinet.
Good suggestions on using body shop type materials. I use fiberglass resin to make the missing pieces, then if needed, a very thin layer of Bondo or spot putty to fill the pinholes.
Make sure when you repair the crack, you apply somethng to the backside to give the crack support. I will use either the fiberglass resin, as it flows out pretty smooth, or some 24 hr type epoxy. You can roughen up the insde where the epoxy is going to be, as it will give a good surface to grip onto. A slick surface might result in the epoxy not sticking well.
Don't worry about the decal on the front. Trying to go around it, then refinish, you will see it, and will not look good. A smooth paint job, then a new repro decal will look better.
As for the underside label. First, I would have a good sharp high res photo of it. You probably can't get the bottom in the scanner to lay flat against the glass, and the image would not be in focus. Use a high res setting so you can get a lot of detail. Maybe use a Macro setting for close ups. You can always resize during printing to keep the details intact.
After you have saved the image in a few shots. (you can make a repro label and age it accordingly) you can clean up the image in a graphics program, fill in small torn places, etc.
For the removal if you want to go that route.
I have heard that if you take cloths soaked in acetone and layed them on the label for a few hours, the label will peel off. It will take time to soak in, it shouldn't harm the label. Just keep the cloths from drying out.
Some guys have masked off the label using Post-It notes, but you need to not let the paint soak thru the paper during spraying.
Some have masked off using tape , but leaving the masking tape to not touch the label, only touch about 1 /16 " outside of the label. If the color match is not close, you willsee the thin area where the masking tape was.
Just some ideas to throw out there, good luck with your Hippo.
Gary.
The set is definitely in need to cabinet repair and a repaint. Touch up would be futile at best
Don't worry about the stripper, I have never heard of any brand 'melting' a cabinet.Good suggestions on using body shop type materials. I use fiberglass resin to make the missing pieces, then if needed, a very thin layer of Bondo or spot putty to fill the pinholes.
Make sure when you repair the crack, you apply somethng to the backside to give the crack support. I will use either the fiberglass resin, as it flows out pretty smooth, or some 24 hr type epoxy. You can roughen up the insde where the epoxy is going to be, as it will give a good surface to grip onto. A slick surface might result in the epoxy not sticking well.
Don't worry about the decal on the front. Trying to go around it, then refinish, you will see it, and will not look good. A smooth paint job, then a new repro decal will look better.
As for the underside label. First, I would have a good sharp high res photo of it. You probably can't get the bottom in the scanner to lay flat against the glass, and the image would not be in focus. Use a high res setting so you can get a lot of detail. Maybe use a Macro setting for close ups. You can always resize during printing to keep the details intact.
After you have saved the image in a few shots. (you can make a repro label and age it accordingly) you can clean up the image in a graphics program, fill in small torn places, etc.
For the removal if you want to go that route.
I have heard that if you take cloths soaked in acetone and layed them on the label for a few hours, the label will peel off. It will take time to soak in, it shouldn't harm the label. Just keep the cloths from drying out.
Some guys have masked off the label using Post-It notes, but you need to not let the paint soak thru the paper during spraying.
Some have masked off using tape , but leaving the masking tape to not touch the label, only touch about 1 /16 " outside of the label. If the color match is not close, you willsee the thin area where the masking tape was.
Just some ideas to throw out there, good luck with your Hippo.
Gary.
