Original reference photography from the Cola Machines archive. Select any image to inspect the machine, mechanisms, identification plates, and restoration details.
Durable paint comes from a complete, compatible coating system and disciplined preparation.
Professional rule: Read the current product label, safety data sheet and technical data sheet. Test the complete process on a hidden area or sample panel. Product examples are editorial references, not paid endorsements.
Plan the finish
Decide whether to preserve original paint, perform a sympathetic repair, or refinish completely. Photograph colors beneath trim and inside protected areas. Modern camera scans and spray-out cards are more reliable than assuming one “Coke red” fits every plant and decade.
Metal and primer
Finish welding and panel straightening before filler. Apply filler over the substrate approved by its maker, block it flat, and seal with compatible epoxy. Use high-build primer-surfacer for sanding scratches and minor waves—not rust holes. Guide coat every blocking stage.
Blocking and masking
Long blocks preserve flat cabinet sides; soft pads follow crowns. Progress through the paint maker’s specified grits. Remove or properly mask gaskets, data plates and mechanisms. Back-mask jambs to avoid hard edges. Clean with the approved waterborne and solvent cleaners and use lint-free wipes.
Topcoat choices
Single-stage urethane can resemble a durable commercial enamel; basecoat/clearcoat offers easier metallic control and more correction room. Two-component urethanes may contain isocyanates: they require professional spray facilities, supplied-air respiratory protection where specified, ventilation and legal waste handling. A cartridge mask is not a blanket substitute.
Product-system rule
Choose one manufacturer’s compatible epoxy, surfacer, sealer, color and clear whenever practical. PPG, Axalta, BASF, Sherwin-Williams Automotive and similar systems publish technical sheets with mix ratio, flash time, temperature, gun setup and recoat window. Those sheets outrank internet recipes.
Watch the work
These clips illustrate the written guidance above. Videos remain hosted by and credited to Soda Time Restorations.
Body work and priming on a Vendo 39
Broad-panel inspection, guide coat, localized filler work, and repeated sanding and priming are used instead of trying to bury waves in one heavy coat.
Painting a Vendo 39
The finish is built through preparation, staged masking, and controlled color application. Treat the demonstrated products as one restorer’s system, not a universal recipe.
Before you begin
- Photograph and label every original part.
- Provide ventilation and task-appropriate PPE.
- Keep sparks and flame away from coatings and solvents.
- Stop when structural, electrical, refrigeration or hazardous-coating work exceeds your training.