Paint Your Wagon - with a roller!

[CovKid]

Just remember not to paint in full sun if the weather is this warm - reduces your working time otherwise. Best way is paint shady side then when you're happy, turn it around into the sun to go off. On a day like today, as long as everything is prepped, you can go right round in an hour or two. Looks great.

[Doogs]

Nice job, looks like you got good coverage as well, pretty impressive

[TeamSid]

I got myself a tin of RAL6005 green (£29) and some Pound Shop supplies recently , and will be having a bash at painting my van in the near future. But being a little impatient, I had a practice on an old Dexion shelf this afternoon with fairly disappointing results. I flattened the surface to be painted, mixed a ratio of 1:4 (or as near as) and using a gloss roller, applied it as spairingly as possible. The result was a sea of small bubbles which would not disappear, even when rollered over again. What do you reckon I've done wrong? Also, how do I go about preparing the hightop for painting? After my rubbish first attempt, I'm getting a little nervous!

[Andythesweep]

I got myself a tin of RAL6005 green (£29) and some Pound Shop supplies recently , and will be having a bash at painting my van in the near future. But being a little impatient, I had a practice on an old Dexion shelf this afternoon with fairly disappointing results. I flattened the surface to be painted, mixed a ratio of 1:4 (or as near as) and using a gloss roller, applied it as spairingly as possible. The result was a sea of small bubbles which would not disappear, even when rollered over again. What do you reckon I've done wrong? Also, how do I go about preparing the hightop for painting? After my rubbish first attempt, I'm getting a little nervous!

I'm not sure what ratio paint/white spirit I used,I just kept adding white spirit until I had it like condensed milk,I left the roller soaking for a while then rolled a piece of sheet metal to help get rid of bubbles before starting on the van,still loads of bubbles when painting the van but they disappeared when lightly rolled over 4 or 5 mins after applying,when I came to use the second roller that had been soaking for about an hour there was hardly any bubbles,I had read in the thread or wiki to do this but I'm impatient

[Andythesweep]

Nice job, looks like you got good coverage as well, pretty impressive

Thanks doogs,coverage is not bad considering half the van was whitish and the other half grey primer,it's going to be a long week cos I'm itching to flat it back and get a second coat on!

[CovKid]

A new roller tends to trap air. These tiny bubbles dissipate during the first few strokes. This applies to almost any paint applied by roller and you may need to slow down the rate of paint application until they clear or work out the bubbles on a piece of clean but scrap melamine finished chipboard or similar scrap. You could try leaving the roller to stand for a few minutes in the paint tray, very gently encouraging any trapped air from the roller. Initial mixing can also induce microscopic bubbles (foaming) although it is often easier to just work these bubbles out of the paint by using just the weight of the roller across the surface. I find the effect soon disappears once the roller has fully taken up the paint.

However, excitement/enthusiasm tends to take over (understandably) and people tend to go nuts with the roller on the first go then panic rather than just taking their time, which is usually the best remedy. Rollering is best done with a 'chilled' mind.

[bmouthboyo]

Ok so i have decided to go with 9010 white, can i ask should i go with matt white for the poptop roof? Or use the same? Just wondered what the done thing is here usually.

Thanks

[bmouthboyo]

Ok so i have decided to go with 9010 white, can i ask should i go with matt white for the poptop roof? Or use the same? Just wondered what the done thing is here usually.

Also can anyone comment on how best to paint the door handles, rear grill, frint grill etc?

Thanks

[CovKid]

Up to you on roof but for grills, matt black spray paint is the one.

[neil3965]

Found the post re: L90D

Posted by pierce last Feb:

For info, Avenue coating said they can supply Pastel White L90D mixed and because it had been mixed before there was no extra charge. I think it was £31.80 for 3 1/2 litres, but don't quote me on that.

[bmouthboyo]

is that Rustoleum from Avenue Coating?

Thanks

[meggles]

Found the post re: L90D

Posted by pierce last Feb:

For info, Avenue coating said they can supply Pastel White L90D mixed and because it had been mixed before there was no extra charge. I think it was £31.80 for 3 1/2 litres, but don't quote me on that.

Nice one! Very useful. Thanks

[Cruz]

Typical. I had earmarked Thursday for getting some paint on. Now it's forecast not to reach double figures IF it even stays dry

[bmouthboyo]

Found the post re: L90D

Posted by pierce last Feb:

For info, Avenue coating said they can supply Pastel White L90D mixed and because it had been mixed before there was no extra charge. I think it was £31.80 for 3 1/2 litres, but don't quote me on that.

Just called Avenue Coating and there price for 2.5 litres is £46.48 inc VAT Rustoleum charge £30 inc VAT for 2.5 litres.

Sounds a lot more but for only £16 an exact colour match has to be worth it

Cheers Guys

[2020mad]

So i am ready for the final part of my paint job the finishing, have done 3 coats and sanded inbetween each one. the final coat has been on a month and have been pushing out of garage a couple of times to get some heat through the paint on the hot days.

My question is final prep, on the dvd it shows sanding before final polish with 800? grit. i have got 50 sheets of that and 50 of 1200 grit but still worried the shine is going to be a real issue to get back? i Guess the polishing with t-cut, brasso or g3 will sort that again or is it when you add actual polish at end?, i know i am probley being a bit stupid but struggled a bit watching dvd as is a white van and probley easier to do than a very dark blue. am i panicing or should i just get out there easter weekend and start the final sand. help Martin