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Subject: The Ditzler Paint Story

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Tim Daley(MI)    Posted 07-27-2013 at 11:17:20 [URL] [DELETE]        [Reply] [No Email]  
  • The Ditzler Paint Story
  • Here's a link to the Ditzler/PPG Paint Company story of their history. They were a major vendor to Ford as a paint supplier. There is a huge complex on Gratiot and 20 Mile Rd. in Mt. Clemens, Michigan that used to be a Ditzler plant but is now owned and operated by DuPont. Interesting story...enjoy.

    Tim Daley(MI)

    Keith(CA)    Posted 11-16-2013 at 09:13:08 [URL] [DELETE]        [Reply] [No Email]  
  • Re: The Ditzler Paint Story
  • When using a chemical paint remover on the original 49N paint it takes multiple coats to remove all the paint compared to soy bean oil based alkyd paint.

    Have removed the paint on most all the parts and have not detected any primer.

    Based on my research, with the opinion, the original paint is a "Stoving Paint",
    which was heat cured.

    Stoving paint is still manufactured today.

    Many manufactures are now opting to use heat cured stoving paint compared to heat cured powered coat, since the painting process can be performed in house rather than out sourced powder coating.

    The stoiving paint process results in very durable finish similiar to power coat and is difficult to detect any difference.

    Tim Daley(MI)    Posted 10-20-2013 at 08:46:05 [URL] [DELETE]        [Reply] [No Email]  
  • Relevant Info
  • Henry Ford experimented with the soybean and found it had many useful properties, one being the oil extract could be used in paint making. It is rumored that in the day, Chrysler offered their hydraulic brake system to Ford in exchange for the right to use the soybean oil formula in their paint. Chrysler had the best braking system then but nothing more can found on the subject so whether it is true or not remains unknown. It is ironic that today, the TISCO brand of paint, parent company Van Sickle Paint, uses a soybean oil base for their paints. Full circle...

    Tim Daley(MI)

    Gaspump    Posted 07-27-2013 at 16:34:51 [URL] [DELETE]        [Reply] [No Email]  
  • Re: The Ditzler Paint Story
  • Still more changes, DuPont went out of the paint business and sold those lines to Axalta. I knew a whole bunch of the DuPont folks especially in the racing group as they have sponsored the #24 for 20 years. Last year was DuPont's last and this year DuPont has not appeared on the car but many of the familiar brands formerly owned by DuPont have. Starting in July Axalta has been featured very prominently and frequently on the car. The head of DuPont racing has made the switch to Axalta Racing but many others did not. Lots of new Axalta folks show up at the races but I do not know them as yet. Not sure where Ditzler stacks up in all of this.

    Nice article, Ditzler has a great history with Ford and is known for its top quality.

    Tim Daley(MI)    Posted 07-29-2013 at 21:21:13 [URL] [DELETE]        [Reply] [No Email]  
  • Re: The Ditzler Paint Story
  • Thanks for the additional information, John. What can you tell us about Ford using primer before applying paint? Did they use primer? I have come across some parts on my '48 8N with a yellow base coat or primer underneath the red yet other red parts don't show any signs of a primer.

    Tim Daley(MI)

    Keith(CA)    Posted 11-16-2013 at 09:39:26 [URL] [DELETE]        [Reply] [No Email]  
  • Re: The Ditzler Paint Story
  • Purchased a pre owned battery holder for my 49N since original was totally corroded. It was painted red , but some of the red was flaking and has yellow paint underneath the red.

    Thought this battery holder might have been off a commerical tractor?

    aka, raVen

    Gaspump    Posted 07-30-2013 at 10:53:19 [URL] [DELETE]        [Reply] [No Email]  
  • Re: The Ditzler Paint Story
  • They used differing techniques for under top coats. One of the most successful was the hot dip process. Whole car bodies and sheet metal parts were completely dipped in a hot solution, not sure of its make up and it was somewhat secret. I'm sure it had some phosphoric acid but couldn't be very strong as the tanks were right on the the assy lines fully inside the buildings. Parts went right into the tanks on conveyor belts and came out the other end ready for painting. Some sub lines primed but usually only smaller parts. Processes changed from year to year too.

    Just wondering, Ditzler was a PPG product since way back about the 1960's. You mentioned the original Ditzler plant there now has DuPont on it, wonder if PPG sold the plant to them but not the Ditzler line?

    GregW    Posted 12-04-2013 at 23:28:44 [URL] [DELETE]        [Reply] [Email]  
  • Re: The Ditzler Paint Story
  • Ditzler is owned by PPG since 1928, was never part of DuPont.
    It's really just a brand, not a separate entity or company since 1968.

    Keith(CA)    Posted 11-16-2013 at 10:26:57 [URL] [DELETE]        [Reply] [No Email]  
  • Re: The Ditzler Paint Story
  • Found a U-Tube segment on the Dodge Charger plant showing dipping the entire welded up unibody in a tank on conveyor. The tank contained zinc and phosphoric acid creating a zinc phosphate coating on the steel for corrosion, typically called parkerizing. Then the structure went to robot controled prime painting.

    Also found footage showing painting the N main assembly at the Dearborn plant.
    Film was done in black & white. Color appeared dark and not painted over a light colored primer but appeared to painted on bare steel.

    John Pawelek    Posted 10-01-2013 at 19:51:48 [URL] [DELETE]        [Reply] [Email]  
  • Re: The Ditzler Paint Story
  • The plant was actually FORD paint. Yes, they made their own for their cars. It was not used in all of their plants as they had PPG, Dupont, and BASF as suppliers. When the car industry went to basecoat/clearcoat Ford only made the one pack colors and did not get into the b/c business. Ford sold the Ford paint business and the plant in the 1990's?? to Dupont.

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