Paint Your Wagon - with a roller!

Post by **cozmik** » 16 Apr 2008, 13:00

Just took delivery of 3 litres of the dark blue and a litre & half of the white (for the roof), bought all my masking tape, thinners & rollers from B & Q, bit of wet'n'dry, rust treatment & filler for couple of minor rust spots. Now just waiting for the first good looking weather weekend of the spring to get her all prepped and ready to apply some paint!

Never done anything like this before so am shizzing myself! Can't wait to get started though..goodbye NATO green artex!

Am gonna take the bumpers & grills off as am replacing/repairing them. Don't know anything about masking so am gonna stick the masking tape over the bits I don't want paint on..that sounds about right

...any last minute tips CovKid?

Post by **ding-dang-dhu** » 16 Apr 2008, 16:08

cozmik wrote: ...any last minute tips CovKid?

I'm sure he will be along in a mo, so can I add my tuppence worth?

Don't do it if you have snow on the roof, as that tends to melt allover your panels.

Do get a little roller, cut one down or even a nice wee brush. This is because there are bits rollers don't reach.

The white will look awfull to begin with, start with the blue. I wished I'd done that.

Set aside as much time as you can manage on the day, It took me a solid 12 hours or so. But i am on the slow side.

Most importantly have fun, I had a smile the whole time i did it. i can't wait to get started again.

If I can help with anything, feel free to drop me a line

Good luck

Pete

Post by **windysurfer** » 16 Apr 2008, 16:43

i made enquiries today about getting paint mixed and its no much dearer than any of the colours they list ! for a 2.5L

can/will they mix VW colour codes?

I'm after LD5D - Chagall Blue.

What this paint like for touch ups.

I'd like to sort out the odd rust patch but don't want to paint the whole van.
Will it blend in ok with my current paint?

Post by **cozmik** » 17 Apr 2008, 10:08

ding-dang-dhu wrote:
cozmik wrote: ...any last minute tips CovKid?

I'm sure he will be along in a mo, so can I add my tuppence worth?

Don't do it if you have snow on the roof, as that tends to melt allover your panels.

Do get a little roller, cut one down or even a nice wee brush. This is because there are bits rollers don't reach.

The white will look awfull to begin with, start with the blue. I wished I'd done that.

Set aside as much time as you can manage on the day, It took me a solid 12 hours or so. But i am on the slow side.

Most importantly have fun, I had a smile the whole time i did it. i can't wait to get started again.

If I can help with anything, feel free to drop me a line

Good luck

Pete

Thanks Pete, good tip about the cut down roller for hard to get into areas. I have also got some little foam brushes.

Think I am going to have to do the white first though as it is the roof. It's got a coat of white primer on it at the moment and I figure start from the top as it doesnt matter too much if anything runs down onto the NATO green as it's gonna be painted blue over it.

What thinners ratio did you use on yours mate? I was going to go for 10%-15% to start with and see how it goes on the roof. Also, how many coats of the light blue did you do on yours?

Cheers Coz

Post by **ding-dang-dhu** » 17 Apr 2008, 12:05

My system was Try it and see, no maths were used as in %'s for the thinning. You find out pretty quickly what works and what doesn't. Too thin and it runs out of control. Sorry I can't be more exact.

I have only applied one coat of the blue so far, and it looks wicked. I plan to do 3 or 4, if I get the time.

Where did you get the foam brushes from, they sound perfect.

Take loads of pics, its great to look back and smile.

Good luck

Post by **5rise** » 17 Apr 2008, 21:24

Still think its way too cold to paint at the mo. May/June is perfect. In fact ChickenKoop and I found that if its relatively warm outside, by the time you've worked your way round the bus, its ready for a second go. This time of year it can take hours and hours to dry.

Sorry, had been following the thread up to this point. I thought the paint had to be flatted back between each coat - is this saying something else Covkid?

Post by **cozmik** » 17 Apr 2008, 22:03

ding-dang-dhu wrote: Where did you get the foam brushes from, they sound perfect.

I bought the pound shop roller sets for the foam brushes that come in them and for the trays then got my actual painting rollers from b&q, just like it says in the CovKids original thread.

I'm definitely waiting for a while until the weathers a bit warmer & more predictable, probably end of may, beginning of june. Got plenty to do on the inside to keep me occupied converting from a plain panel van..just finished installing the r'n'r bed, now hand stitching leather upholstery for it.

I'll try to get the missis to take some pics while I'm doing it, she's more of a photographer than me.

Post by **chriscburgess** » 18 Apr 2008, 14:45

Is this system any good for painting wheels and bumpers?

Post by **pedro100** » 18 Apr 2008, 14:57

maybe im stupid...well no maybe about it but what the hell is flatting back??? really interested in doing my bus but clueless!!!

Post by **mike the van** » 18 Apr 2008, 21:19

I am getting to the point of prepping the van, whats the approach with treating the rust, sand back as much as possible , bare metal , prime it ???

i have got to treat rust round the cut out windows as is a panel van conversion and the seams as well.

Does the rutoleum smooth rough areas of sanded down rust ??

Cheers

Mike the van

Post by **cozmik** » 18 Apr 2008, 22:32

It's all on the thread. Sand as much as you can and treat with Actan (or whatever rust treatment) which reacts with the rust thats left and stops it spreading, fill it, sand it, paint it as soon as its dry.

Flatting back means sanding down with some fine wet and dry paper and soapy water. Paint it, leave it a week to harden, flat it, paint it flat it x 4, t-cut it, polish it, wax it if you want a really nice finish.

I've done my bumpers with smooth black hammerite which looks ok, better than before anyway. There's a thread about painting wheels somewhere on here, I think that was the black hammerite he used as well.

Seriously, just read the thread right through a few times until you've got it all straight in yer head. CovKids done a really easy to follow guide for the complete beginner. Mind you, I haven't actually started mine yet, waiting for the right weather as I'm doing it outside..but confidence is high!

Post by **pedro100** » 21 Apr 2008, 08:20

cheers for that......picking the paint and away we go, just need some damn sun now!!!! me and the mrs cant wait, tatty blue bus to sexy beautiful bus for under 50 nicker wicky wicky wah wah

Post by **cozmik** » 24 Apr 2008, 20:36

I think they're gonna need a new category at the shows this year..Best Hand Job..

Should get a few hits on Google image search anyway, although probably be a few pages down.

Post by **Pepperami** » 26 Apr 2008, 10:41

I have nearly finished my drivers door. It's off the bus. If you feel like it's not going very well at times perservere it'll all come good. Having all my rusty old panels replaced at the moment but as soon as they are done. BLING CAMO!!!

Website · Post by **syncrosimon** » 29 Apr 2008, 09:23

Here are some photos of mine done last night 1900hrs, now dry. Very pleased, looked awful initially, then smoothed out over next hour. Terrible weather, rain and wind. Doesnt look much better for this week.