How to Restore Color on a Fiberglass Fair Ride
Amusement rides are brought to county fairs by carnival companies that travel up to twelve months a year, setting up and operating a midway. Maintenance of the rides is crucial to operating a safe and profitable amusement company. After safety comes the presentation of the show. Cleaning rides and equipment is part of the maintenance procedure for any high quality amusement show. When painted fiberglass murals on an amusement ride need a facelift come fair season, the best way to make a ride look new is to restore the color of the paintings by following these simple steps.
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Things You'll Need
- Sunny day (65-85 degrees)
- Rubbing compound
- Absorbent cloth
- Paint brush
- Clear coat
- Water
- Soap
Instructions
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Clean each fiberglass panel and let dry before you begin to restore color on a fiberglass fair ride. Each scenery panel will need to have the face cleaned from the residues of dirt that collect on the surface during the traveling from one location to another. Use plain soap and water and absorbent cloth (towels) to wipe the surface clean. Normally, these steps would be done when the ride was assembled. For dissembled rides, you should have enough sawhorses to support each panel above the ground, keeping the panel level during the procedure.
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Place the tips of three fingers that are covered by a soft cloth into the rubbing compound so that you have at least a half dollar-sized glob on your fingers. Place the rag and compound onto the top left hand corner of the scenery panel and begin to work the compound into the surface of the paint and clear coat that covers the art on the panel. Begin to rub the compound in circles of no bigger than five inches. Rub ten times and move your fingers over to create another five-inch circle. Move from left to right, then down, then right to left, down, and so on.
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Go back to the top of the panel with a clean, dry piece of absorbent cloth and wipe away the residue left behind by the rubbing compound. Like a wax, the rubbing compound has done its job and needs to be removed. By using a towel or cloth to wipe away the panel before cleaning, you can help to blend in an even rubbing across the surface of the panel. Take away the first layers of clear coat or even paint itself, and the colors that will show through will be vibrant and new.
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Wash the panel with water. Use more absorbent cloth to remove any residue. Use plain water and completely clear the surface of the fiberglass art panel before coating the panel with a protecting clear coat. Allow the panel to dry for at least four hours before moving on. The panel will need to dry in all the corners that have been wet and you should only finish the project on a completely dry fiberglass art panel.
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Cover the art panel with protecting coats of polyurethane or varnish when finished. Depending on the finished look you want, the right clear coat will give you exactly the look you need. Use a brush to even apply the coating, allow a dry time of at least twenty-four hours before attempting to transport the panels to a new location.
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Tips & Warnings
Lighting plays an important role in the presentation of fiberglass art panels that come attached to county fair rides. Once the color has been restored to the panel, be sure that the light bulbs surrounding the panel are intact and operating. This will give the facelift an even bigger pop when finished and operating.
Fiberglass panels on a fair ride are easy to damage. The rivets that secure the panels in place can wear down the fiberglass around the edge. This wear will eventually cause the panel to come away from the supporting framework. Do not rub on the panels so hard that you cause any of the rivets to cut into the fiberglass. The age of the panel and the type of construction will tell you how rough you can be.
