About this episode
The hosts pivot from food talk into a Brain Buster on historical automotive coatings, including japanning and Ford’s plant-based paint research. They explain how different coating structures affect protection, contrasting “closed cellular” layers with porous primers. The discussion also briefly detours into safety-tech trivia, comparing hydraulics and airbags, before ending with a Duel truck question.
Rose talks Henery Ford and soybeans. Emily solves the mystery what came first airbags or hydraulics.
Check out Ron Aguirre's 1956 Chevy Corvette The X Sonic
Recorded @iapdx
Recorded & mixed by Emdognightmare & Queen of the Vans
Editor: Emdognightmare
Production & research Queen of the Vans & Emdognightmare
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Hugs, thank you & high fives to Greg Meleney for the killer tunez!
Japanning
"Rose BB27: Yeah, and it's funny how, like, Japanning is well known in old... Like, we had that automotive magazine that talked about it from 1920."
Japanning is a way to coat something so it ends up with a tough, shiny surface. In car history it was used as a finish, but the same idea shows up in decorative crafts too.
Japanning is a coating technique that creates a hard, glossy finish by applying layers of resin-based material and then curing/baking it. In automotive contexts, people used it as a protective, decorative finish on parts, and the term can also refer to similar decorative enamel work on non-car items.
Ford Mustang
"...'t think of any horse hood ornament other than a Mustang. Now the question, uh, was what plant was Henry F..."
The Ford Mustang is a sports car made by Ford. It’s a two-door car (and sometimes a convertible) that’s designed for driving enjoyment rather than just commuting. People often mention it because it’s one of the most well-known car models in the U.S.
The Ford Mustang is a classic American sports coupe/convertible that’s known for its long-running popularity and recognizable styling. It often comes up in automotive discussions because it represents a major chapter in how “pony cars” became mainstream, and it’s a frequent reference point in car history and culture. In a podcast, it may be mentioned as an iconic example of a car name people immediately recognize.
plant-based paints
"Rose BB27: Now the question, uh, was what plant was Henry Ford making a paint from? He experimented with, uh, plant-based paints. What were they? Rizzo guessed soy, and he's absolutely correct"
Plant-based paints are car paints that use ingredients from plants (like soy oil) as part of the recipe. The goal is still the same: make a coating that hardens and protects the car’s surfaces.
Plant-based paints use oils/resins derived from crops (like soy) as part of the paint chemistry instead of relying entirely on petroleum-based components. In this segment, the hosts connect Henry Ford’s research to soybeans and explain why it could still form a protective film layer like conventional automotive coatings.
closed cellular
"Rose BB27: Well, that's what paints are. They're a film layer that protects things from the atmosphere. They're, um Closed cellular is what like an epoxy is Okay ... whereas like a polyester primer is porous, right?"
“Closed cellular” is a way to describe a coating that’s more sealed and less likely to let moisture through. That’s why some paints protect the metal better than more porous coatings.
“Closed cellular” describes a coating structure where the material forms sealed cells, which helps it resist water and air getting through. The hosts contrast this with more porous coatings like polyester primer, explaining why some paint systems protect better.
polyester primer
"Rose BB27: They're, um Closed cellular is what like an epoxy is Okay ... whereas like a polyester primer is porous, right?"
A polyester primer is a base layer you put on before the final paint. The key point here is that it can be more “open” or porous, so it may not block moisture and air as well as some tougher coatings.
A polyester primer is a type of primer used under topcoat paint, but it can be more porous than certain other coating chemistries. In the discussion, that porosity is used to explain why it doesn’t seal out the atmosphere as effectively as a “closed cellular” coating.
Duco
"Emily BB27: Um, Ford reluctantly used Duco in '27, but he hated paying for something that he didn't make, especially something that GM-"
Duco is an old paint product used on cars. It was one of the common ways manufacturers got a durable, good-looking finish before they started experimenting with newer paint sources.
Duco is a brand name for an early automotive lacquer/enamel paint system associated with mass-market car finishes. The hosts mention Henry Ford using Duco in the late 1920s, then moving toward plant-based paint research later.
synthetic baked enamel
"Emily BB27: And in '34, he made a synthetic baked enamel that contained 35% soy oil, and the next year he was using a million gallons to paint Ford cars with it"
A synthetic baked enamel is a type of car paint that hardens after being heated. Heating it helps it become tougher and more durable on the car.
A synthetic baked enamel is a paint/enamel formulation that’s cured by baking, forming a hard, durable finish. The hosts tie it to Ford’s plant-based paint efforts, specifically mentioning an enamel containing soy oil and its large-scale use on cars.
airbags
"Emily BB27: Answering your BB question about hydraulics or airbags, I believe hydraulics came first, and trains have been using them forever."
Airbags are safety cushions that pop out during a crash. They inflate very fast to help protect your head and chest from hitting the steering wheel or dashboard.
Airbags are occupant-restraint devices that rapidly inflate during a crash to reduce injury by cushioning the driver/passenger. The hosts discuss a trivia-style question about whether airbags or hydraulics came first, but the key automotive meaning is the crash-inflation safety system.
hydraulics
"Emily BB27: Answering your BB question about hydraulics or airbags, I believe hydraulics came first, and trains have been using them forever."
Hydraulics means using fluid pressure to move things. In cars, it can be used to power systems that need strong, controlled movement.
Hydraulics is the use of pressurized fluid to transmit force and motion. In automotive safety/controls discussions, it often refers to hydraulic systems that can actuate mechanisms quickly and reliably (the segment frames it as a historical comparison against airbags).
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