The Siren Board

I know for the billionth time that he is a siren vet on here, I respect that of him 100% I have watched all of his Youtube videos, and that is how I first got into sirens 5 years ago. He has inspired me to yearn doing a siren restoration. I'm not saying I disagree with what he said, I am saying that it annoys me when someone always has to be the first one to pop in randomly with a fact that is inevitably obvious. My biggest pet peeve on here is when member's who display the name of Administrator, Moderator, Siren Expert, what ever, that they take advantage of that "high authority" label, and take things too far. I am not implying that every member carrying that label is that way, but through the daily posts I see, it makes me moan too. They think they have to correct every single little thing someone says and it drive me nuts. It is also disrespectful when people stick their noses into other people's topics. I'm don't smoke anything and I'm sticking to my story. You can moan at me all you want, I just want to carry my life on as normal.

Now everyone just take a deep breath and settle down. Lets get back to talking sirens please.

Andys Live WX wrote:I know for the billionth time that he is a siren vet on here, I respect that of him 100%

By implying he's a troll?

Whatever. I've said my peace. I was loving the work you were doing on your 3T22 restoration until this.

By implying he's a troll?

Whatever. I've said my peace. I was loving the work you were doing on your 3T22 restoration until this.

Did you read what I just posted???

Andy, you seem like a reasonable guy but please take a second here. Eric simply shared that he felt you did a better job than Federal used to do. Eric knows his stuff, even I wasn't aware of that fact as I thought Federal would have some pretty nice work (I wasn't around then I wouldn't know). I accept he knows more than I do, which kinda goes along with respecting your elders. Eric, who I am sure has many better things to do than to go around shoving things in peoples faces as you purportedly accuse was NOT bashing another members statement, just taking the time from his day making your work seem even greater. I hope you realize I'm just trying to make it known that it may be a good idea to think about what you say and what was said before you say it.

Andy, you seem like a reasonable guy but please take a second here. Eric simply shared that he felt you did a better job than Federal used to do. Eric knows his stuff, even I wasn't aware of that fact as I thought Federal would have some pretty nice work (I wasn't around then I wouldn't know). Eric, who I am sure has many better things to do than to go around shoving things in peoples faces as you purportedly accuse was NOT bashing another members statement, just taking the time from his day making your work seem even greater. I hope you realize I'm just trying to make it known that it may be a good idea to think about what you say and what was said before you say it.

Thank you for your post man. I feel that some people on here could reword what they said. I sometimes have a hard time interpreting if they are applauding me or bringing me down, and I didn't realize that he was actually encouraging. I'm really sorry about that. I just get into really bad moods sometimes and it makes everyone unhappy. Actually I apologize to everyone on here, I really don't know why I just did that. I feel terrible now.

I'm sure with time relationships will mend and it'll all be ok again just remember to sit for a bit and ponder what others say. Now back in topic, I will agree that 3T22 is looking pretty sharp Andy! I'll have to take some tips for when I re-do the bolt.

What kind of paint are you going to use? You probably saw what I chose, but after putting on two coats, the finish on the surface is pretty course and rough. Kind of like that of sand paper. I'm using a 1.3 sized nozzle on my HVLP sprayer that I found out yesterday. The guy who recommended I use this paint said he puts that kind of paint on with a 2.0. Could that be the reason why I'm not getting the smooth finish I'm looking for?

I'll have to do some research. The paint that's on there now was rustoleum applied over the lead paint. That was mistake 1 and 2. I'll have to strip everything off and then go from there. Where do I go about finding the guns?

I bought the FX3000 from NAPA here in town for about $500. They do make cheaper and smaller sprayer sizes, but some of them don't have big enough nozzle sizes for the paint to get through that I'm using. I went to the body shop guy and he said the surface should not be textured like it did for me on the projectors and intakes. My sprayer came with a 1.3, which unfortunately was not checked on the box it came in so I had no idea what I was buying. I should of known better, but live and learn. So I went and ordered the largest nozzle they make for them which is a 1.8 and that should stop it from plugging up and splattering beads like its doing to me. But I'm just gonna leave the job it did on the cones and projectors, its gonna be outside anyways and up on a pole so no one will really notice it. I it will be a few days before the nozzle arrives because they have to order it direct from Graco the manufacturer. So I will not be doing any more painting until then.

For a working siren that's going up on a pole, "good enough" is good enough. Seriously, you're right, when it's up on top of a pole as a working siren, all that really matters is that it's got good solid coverage that's thick enough to not have any places where it'll wear through any time soon, and that it's a good hard long-lived finish. A bit beady and rough-textured? No big deal, it's still probably a better finish than factory. Save the "wet-sanded metal, primer, wet-sand, two dozen thin coats with wet sanding after each one, a top coat, then wax the hell out of it so it looks like you could stick your hand into the paint" level of auto show-quality finish for one you're keeping at ground level, preferably indoors as a museum exhibit.

That said, you might be able to smooth up the finish, if you really want to, by sanding the paint with fine-grit wet/dry sandpaper used wet, then adding a topcoat to it. You also might consider using some sort of clearcoat lacquer (gloss, semi-gloss, or flat, take your pick--they make all three) to give it a topcoat over whatever finish you put on it, to make it last that much longer in the weather without maintenance. (These are suggestions, of course, for the exterior finish--I've never done my own restoration, so I don't know whether the clearances would allow that level of finish work on the chopper.)