Paint Your Wagon - with a roller!

[boatbuilder]

Took the bubbles out with a large dry brush.

In my experience of painting boats, this works extremely well to flatten out any bubbles.
Ideally you would need one person rollering and one person going after with the dry brush just tipping it off before the paint gets too tacky.

Check out the varnished deck on my old boat... done using the roller and brush tip-off method...its mirror smooth.

http://one.xthost.info/boatbuilder/boat/fin10.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[uniB]

Took the bubbles out with a large dry brush.

Check out the varnished deck on my old boat... done using the roller and brush tip-off method...its mirror smooth.

http://one.xthost.info/boatbuilder/boat/fin10.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Wow, that looks pretty impressive!

[The Bobdogs]

Been prepping the van for a couple of weeks on and off...

Weirdly prepped the bottom half more as it's what I can see when sat in the boat!

Thanks to Mark (3rustateers) for the spray it with primer, sand it back and re-fill the grey bits, tip..


Anyhow, a neighbour of mine on the marina suggested using Masons paint...it's been used on narrowboats for years and you can get pretty much any colour mixed.
So I went and bought 3 litres of what I call old english white (gypsy racing cream!)...
Never rollered a van before, and went with a thinning mix of ' weak custard' and started throwing it on. Took the bubbles out with a large dry brush.
This is the first coat, and how pleased am I with the finish!!!!!

Nice! Looking proper smart Andy.

Did you manage to get the pop top repaired properly yet?

Hi Martin,
Pop top still gaffa taped at the mo...trying to get at least one coat all over the van before going to the Isle of Man at the end of the month. Stupid busy at work so not much free time. Have to use the bus for work tomorrow so quickly nailed stuff back on tonight!

[avant-garde]

Can I just clarify the paint /thinners mix ratio. Everyone is talking % ...something like 10 - 18%

When it comes to mixing paint I only understand ratio's.

Can someone tell me if my calculations below based on the 10-18% as mentioned in this paint your wagon thread are right please.

Paint ratio of 1:6
1 part paint, 6 parts thinners.

Does that sound right for 10 - 18% ?

I look forward to reading your replies.
Thanks in advance.

[CovKid]

It depends on ambient temperature, this is why there isn't an exact measurement here - only a guide. It should resemble evaporated milk.

[Llamapup]

Can I just clarify the paint /thinners mix ratio. Everyone is talking % ...something like 10 - 18%

When it comes to mixing paint I only understand ratio's.

Can someone tell me if my calculations below based on the 10-18% as mentioned in this paint your wagon thread are right please.

Paint ratio of 1:6
1 part paint, 6 parts thinners.

Does that sound right for 10 - 18% ?

I look forward to reading your replies.
Thanks in advance.

I'm with you on ratios. I use 1 part thinners to between 5 and 6 parts paint. I just ladel the paint into a click-lock tupperware containter. If you mix enough paint you can soak your roller in there before you paint to get all the bubbles out. Then just secure the lid ready to paint annother day.

It does take a little trial and error, but to be honest, you can just experiment with paint ratios on your first 2 coats. Particulary as you will be doing some sanding back between coats anyway. Its when you get to your final coat that it makes a bit more of a difference. But by then you will have a good understanding of what to expect the finish to look like when its mixed properly.

The main advice I can give is just to prep well (obviously), work methodically, and just to get stuck in. It really is a simple and worthwhile endeavor.

[CovKid]

Nicely put. If you think too hard about it, the job never gets done. In fact the coat I put on a few weeks ago was thinned down to roughly the right consistency and I literally trickled a little more white spirit into the paint tray and used the roller to mix it in - had no probs.

[martin t25]

i picked up my paint today. i had another few hours of prep to do, so set about giving the van a final rub down with wet & dry, did one side ,front, back, then one side of roof with sterp ladders , thought to my self i will just square up the van to make it easy to get round with the steps , stuck van in reverse , went back about a meter , BANG .
ide only gone and backed over £30 worth of paint that ive been waiting for for 2 weeks
this could only happen to me

[uniB]

ooops!

Having seen the pic in your garage Martin, I'm confused as to why you're painting it – your van looks mint!

i picked up my paint today. i had another few hours of prep to do, so set about giving the van a final rub down with wet & dry, did one side ,front, back, then one side of roof with sterp ladders , thought to my self i will just square up the van to make it easy to get round with the steps , stuck van in reverse , went back about a meter , BANG .
ide only gone and backed over £30 worth of paint that ive been waiting for for 2 weeks
this could only happen to me

[CovKid]

I am sat here speechless. So sorry Martin. Bet you're gutted......

[Cruz]

Took the bubbles out with a large dry brush.

Is that the same method as the narrowboat technique as seen in the video below?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3UCEbGZmz0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Anyone tried the technique with Rustoleum?

[uniB]

Is that the same method as the narrowboat technique as seen in the video below?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3UCEbGZmz0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I was watching that video when this one caught my eye
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKCF965S ... re=related

[chuckle-bus-tom]

Ordered up a litre of vactan today, got my tins of rustoleum out of the cupboard under the stairs and have set aside the weekend for doing this seasons spruce-up! Fair bit of seam rust to sort after all the salt on the roads, but I've still got half a liter of each colour left to finish up. This will be coat four, so once it's dry I'll take a view on polishing up. It still looks pretty good as it finishes. Going to do my wheels White too.

[Cruz]

You will prep and paint in a weekend? I'm on day 2 (9am-6pm) and I'm still not yet half way round the van

[CovKid]

Yep, NO way can you prep and paint in a weekend unless its a dogs dinner. Prep takes a few days, longer if areas are bad. Takes 10mins to paint a whole side but more like 10 hours to prep it so its spot on.