E108 Zolatone Trunk Spatter Paint! 1956 Chevy Bel Air Restoration

Trunk Spatter Paint! In Episode 108, we spray Zolatone Onyx Black spatter paint in the trunk with a Harbor Freight 64 oz. pressure pot sprayer. From the factory, the 56 Bel Air trunk would have been painted the body color, but because Christine is a resto-mod and not a factory-correct restoration, we're going to use this spatter paint to create a durable finish that will last forever!
Bill Thomassie
"Christine" 1956 Chevy Bel Air
2-door Sedan Restoration
Music Credits:
KZbin Standard License:
"Greaser" by TrackTribe
• TrackTribe - "Greaser"...
"Bar Crawl" by J.R. Tundra
• Bar Crawl - JR Tundra

[@greggonzalez7396]

That spatter paint looks great. I have always liked that look.

[@RestoringChristine1956]

Same here! Surprisingly, everyone that has commented has liked that choice. No one has given me any flack over the fact that it's not factory original.

[@davetyson2331]

looks good

[@RestoringChristine1956]

Thanks!

[@kidjeff4304]

Cool product! the look of it makes me think it would be durable like a quasi-bedliner.

[@RestoringChristine1956]

It does dry hard as a rock. You can throw tools, tires, and jacks on it and it will not chip!

[@jraposo911]

Nice job 👍 Bill ,

[@RestoringChristine1956]

Thanks!

[@JohnBarr-ys9zl]

I have sprayed mountains of Zolotone. Typical setup is a Binks 2001 with pressure pot. Back in the 90’s we sprayed it with a cheap Croix gun but had to be filled more often.

[@RestoringChristine1956]

Surprisingly, it says that you can spray it with an HVLP gun, but they don't mention it at all in the in the actual directions. And the coverage is really inefficient. It took almost all of 2 quarts to spray that trunk, and what I had left wasn't enough for the gun to pick up.

[@markfurry2807]

I was considering using Raptor liner in mine? I’ll have to check this stuff out. It has more a factory look to it. Cars like these need to be able to carry “auto first-aid supplies”. You never know when something like say a steering gear might go out 😉. On the resto-mod cars, it does not have to be original “but” I do like the factory type appearance it gave you. Nice work Bill! Looks awesome!

[@RestoringChristine1956]

I'd definitely have no hesitation to use the Zolotone. I put it in the trunk of the 71 Cutlass almost 10 years ago now, and it's almost bullet-proof. If you've got a good prep, you'll need a chisel and hammer to chip it!

[@joewolf4483]

Looks fine ... I'm a good one for using tough coatings rather then worrying about proper color scheme ... comming together now ...

[@gladememmott3001]

What are some good products out there that are affordable? Including undercoat please???

[@RestoringChristine1956]

The Zolatone isn't exactly cheap, it's about $50 a quart. And undercoating is mainly sold in aerosol cans. I've used Eastwood, 3M and the brand that my paint supply shop carries, and all work well. Eastwood may be the best priced.

[@RestoringChristine1956]

That's where I'm at. The previous owner of Christine (20 years ago) covered the entire trunk in carpet, so even that wasn't factory.

[@gladememmott3001]

@@RestoringChristine1956 harbor freight has a rubberized undercoating in a can. I used the one labeled professional and I was completely sold and absolutely blown away!!! You have to test it first because spraying it certain distancing from the panel gives you different affects but it's beautiful 😍.... And it's about $8 for a XL size spray can. You will not be disappointed

[@rustyrodgarage2686]

That turned out great

[@RestoringChristine1956]

It looks even better this morning now that it's levelled out and flattened!

[@dougscriver7726]

Looking awesome

[@RestoringChristine1956]

Thanks!

[@alslade1746]

I sprayed the trunk in my 1st gen Camaro with Zolatone. Epoxy primmer 1st. Used a cheap HVLP gun with 2.0 tip. Had to go very slow. I sprayed a tach coat and then a cover coat. It took 1 quart. The thing I didn't like was the smell. I've sprayed a lot of paint and the odor from the Zolatone was horrendous. It took 2 weeks to clear the odor out of my shop. This was 6 years ago and it looks as good today as the day it was painted. This stuff is very tough.

[@RestoringChristine1956]

It does have a particular smell, but I find it to be sweet and not too off-putting. The two trunks that I've done now didn't get by with 1 quart, so I ordered 2 to be sure, which is almost as much as a gallon. I just knew though that those extra 2 quarts would go to waste on the shelf.

[@MagaRickn]

Very interesting! I will have to give this some serious thought. I have used some paint similar to this in a Krylon can to do some shelving once upon a time. It does cover well. My trunk has always been original bright white, even though my car has always been orange with a black roof. :) I'm thinking this product will hide some old surface rust imperfections, after it has a good primer coat. Looking good!! :)

[@RestoringChristine1956]

Well, it looks so much better after drying. You can't see any of the spots I wiped before switching spray guns. Its very forgiving of surface imperfections and is practically bullet proof.

[@mikealdag7309]

nice , looks great !

[@RestoringChristine1956]

And it looks even better now that it's dry!

[@bradreeves7534]

Thought that might be the way you would go. Looks good😊

[@RestoringChristine1956]

It fits my resto-mod theme.

[@oacumulador]

Installing the trim and mouldings will be fun 🎉😅

[@RestoringChristine1956]

I'm not at all looking forward to polishing all of the stainless on this car. There's a LOT!

[@gwise5557]

Beautiful work

[@RestoringChristine1956]

Thanks, I appreciate it!

[@gladememmott3001]

I just picked one of those guns up on a close out for $6😂😂😂😂.... Harbor freight is honestly awesome 😎

[@RestoringChristine1956]

You'll find a use for it, but it's got issues with the quality of finish. Even primer comes out orange peeled. Still, I use it...

[@gladememmott3001]

@@RestoringChristine1956 IL probably use it for a high build primer then. Something that's going to get sanded down anywhere and I love the bigger tip...... Yeah,That's what she said LoL 😂😂😂😂😂

[@sheet-son]

Nice 👌

[@RestoringChristine1956]

It's coming along - one less thing!

[@richrdwilliams4741]

I think that is what i will use for my 56 210 build, after i get the trunk pan extension and tail pan done, Just trying to see if i want to keep spare tire pocket, and whether I want to do wheel tub extensions for wider tires. Yours is looking good, thanks for the video's

[@RestoringChristine1956]

Christine has the 8" Corvette Rally wheels with 225 R70 tires, and they barely fit on the rear. In fact, to get the passenger's side out, I have to have the weight on the driver's side to help kick down the axle when I'm trying to fish the tire out. I have no experience with tubbing a car, but that's as wide as I believe you can fit without modifications. As for the spare tire well, it was designed for a skinny biased ply tire. I'm planning on keeping it (it's new) and buying a skinny spare tire to fit.

[@richrdwilliams4741]

I have 7" rally wheels on the rear with 265-r75 15, and they are real tight, I do have a 8", but has shallower back spacing. I tried checking fit without tire, and i think it is out too far, so that wheel is out, so not sure if it corvette or camaro spec's. I really want to use that size tire, I really like the big tall tire look. I still not sure about spare tire well, It is a pretty good junk drawer catch all.@@RestoringChristine1956

[@reijerlincoln]

Schweet.

[@RestoringChristine1956]

It looks even better the day after!

[@jamesharrington9826]

Could you not add about 10 to 15 % reducer so it would spray easier n you might have been able to used the other gun ?

[@RestoringChristine1956]

Maybe, but I don't know how that would affect the final product. It hardens on its own to a ridiculously tough surface. The first gun sprayed it with a ton of pressure, but it was bouncing off the surface and not sticking. Where the spray was hitting wad staying uncovered. It was really odd.

[@jamesharrington9826]

@@RestoringChristine1956 Reducing it will help you spray it easier. You will have extra cause you reduced so just spray another coat. It shouldn’t effect the durability. You can even add some catalyst if you so desire.

[@joshuagautreau6555]

Thanks for the video; did you have to buy a new tip on the harbor freight gun or did you use the 1.8 inch nozzle, the one that came with the gun? Also you say you use less pressure on the second coat but it seems like you wrote more on the video. Is it 10psi on the second coat and 20-25psi on the first coat? 🤷‍♂️

[@RestoringChristine1956]

I used the gun exactly as it came out of the box, and the 2nd coat should be LESS pressure. www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=images.tcpglobal.com/_instructions/Zolatone-20-series-application-guide.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwiT5My-ioGHAxUkG9AFHXoaCbUQFnoECBwQAQ&usg=AOvVaw0O28qV5OeMOqe-eQjoYeBX

[@joshuagautreau6555]

Last question, did you leave the same paint in the gun from the first coat to the second coat? It looks like you can wait about two hours before using apply the second coat correct? Not sure if that is the same for you.

[@RestoringChristine1956]

@joshuagautreau6555 I wouldn't leave it in if waiting that long. It may not harden in the pot, but it will clog the tip.

[@joshuagautreau6555]

Sorry I lied, one more question. 🙋🏽‍♂️ How long did you wait before you did the second coat?

[@rongamble9884]

How much material do you loose by having to prime the hose on pressure pot how much of that paint would I need for a 67 camaro trunk?

[@RestoringChristine1956]

You don't lose too much in the hose, but I've found that 1 quart isn't quite enough and 2 are plenty, allowing some extra for mistakes and touch up.

[@rongamble9884]

@@RestoringChristine1956 can you reduce that product if you wanted like maybe acetone?

[@RestoringChristine1956]

@rongamble9884 , I wouldn't. It's meant to be laid down straightbout of the can. One problem would be trying to blend the reducer into it without breaking the little beadlets up. It would likely become just a solid color with a little swirl.

[@rongamble9884]

@@RestoringChristine1956 👍understand so last question how did you clean your equipment up straight lacquer thinner?

[@RestoringChristine1956]

@rongamble9884 yes, it's pretty soluble.

[@68cutty]

[@RestoringChristine1956]

Thanks!

[@user-qv7xz1jt6j]

looks good

[@RestoringChristine1956]

Thanks!