Paint Your Wagon - with a roller!

[Trundler]

Some people seem to have achieved good results with it. I'm only doing a boat hull in any case.

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/112238215686060515/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I will be testing on a suitable piece of scrap this weekend...

[CovKid]

It'll need laquer to stabilise it. Rather you than me I must admit.

It takes regular stirring to get consistent results. Eat your weetabix before you start.

[Trundler]

Will do...

..and I'll let you know how I get on.

[Trundler]

Well, I've done some testing and I see the difficulty. It's difficult to get the metallic particles evenly distributed to give a uniform finish. My best results were by rolling and then 'tipping' with a dry brush. Unfortunately it was very windy when I was doing it so it quickly attracted a load of dusty bits. I think, with a little more experimentation, a reasonable finish can be obtained and the beauty is, if I don't like the finished result I can always flat it down and treat it as an under coat.

I will post some pics once I start properly; although it's a boat it's all good info for painting vans as well.

[CovKid]

When you spray metallic, those particles are fairly evenly distributed and become embedded in a slightly transparent binder and normally you'd apply a lacquer over that to achieve a smooth finish and help protect the paint. With a roller you'll effectively be 'working' it to death which destroys the effect completely.

Certainly you can't match the metallic finish on cars with a roller. I'm fairly sure metallic finishes evolved with the spray gun and even then you have to constantly agitate the paint to get an even finish. I've used many paints including trick paints like flip-flop, crackle etc over the years, but personally I avoid them now. If you ever get a scratch or a chip its nigh on impossible to repair. OK on something short-term or that you never drive anywhere.

[beccalou72]

My van started life in slate blue but was converted as a new van to a mini-bus by Devon, who painted it a dark maroon. I bought it about 8 years ago and converted it to a basic camper but wasn’t sure what to do about the bodywork. Then I discovered this thread and set about replacing various bits of bodywork (including the windows) ready for a good Rustoleum rollering… The colour was non-standard and a bit dull I thought, so I picked a RAL number that was similar.
Initially I experimented with Purple Red (RAL3004) but I found that too bright so I switched to Wine Red (RAL3005), which is just a touch lighter than the colour Devon had painted it. It’s not Marsala Red but not a million miles away!

I’m quite happy with the results, though it’s still work in progress as always…

Nice colour, did you paint the whole thing, if so how much paint did you need?
Thanks

[brookseysblues]

Hi Cov Kid, Wonderful post and amazing the trend you have created!!
I have read the wiki article many times and am a complete novice to all of this. If you get the right weather (big if I know) over what time frame can you realistically achieve the whole job of rollering? and I mean starting on a van that has had the body work all prepped. Also if you put a coat on how long before you can start another? Thanks Pete!

[boatbuilder]

Some people who spray it put on a few coats at once waiting say 20 mins or half hour between coats. But that wouldn't work with a roller and even if it did , the paint would be soft for a long time.
So with a roller you have to wait days and preferably weeks until wet sanding and re coating.

[CovKid]

Its all on the DVD (see below)

[Trundler]

[quote="beccalou72] Nice colour, did you paint the whole thing, if so how much paint did you need?
Thanks[/quote]

To be honest I can't recall the total amount. A 2.5 litre tin certainly did most of it but I do recall buying an extra litre at some point.

We did it more or less a panel at a time, with some panels getting one coat and some two coats. The whole van still needs another coat and some areas need some rework/new metal but that's the beauty of this method; you can keep reworking as often as you like and each time the van gets a bit better

[Trundler]

Anyone who wants to continue following the metallic paint on the boat story can do so here:

http://www.shetlandowners.co.uk/shetlan ... cded66e67b" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

But you'll need to register to see the pictures.

I will get back onto the van sometime soon because I don't expect the boat to take that long to paint - it's a much simpler thing than the van!

[beccalou72]

[quote="beccalou72] Nice colour, did you paint the whole thing, if so how much paint did you need?
Thanks

To be honest I can't recall the total amount. A 2.5 litre tin certainly did most of it but I do recall buying an extra litre at some point.

We did it more or less a panel at a time, with some panels getting one coat and some two coats. The whole van still needs another coat and some areas need some rework/new metal but that's the beauty of this method; you can keep reworking as often as you like and each time the van gets a bit better [/quote][/quote]

Thanks for response, that's not a massive amount of paint really.

[seanmc1970a]

Really surprised how good this paint is
I was having problems finding a company that did marsala red, then found Rawlins who I also bought a pastel white from.https://www.rawlinspaints.com/paints-an ... color.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I've started at the top, well the hightop and its looking good after two coats. Sand prep and sand again are paying off. Will leave it a week before applying the hightop final coat and another week to buff it up.
Plenty of other jobs to be getting on with in the time being, will post some pics when I'm done

[CovKid]

Its partly the paint but mostly attention to detail, ambient temperature and having a feel for the roller.

[easy1977]

hi im new here, and just been reading about people painting their van's. i am wanting to do the same thing only in matt black, been quoted 1500 quid for it to be done, by some garage. is this a streight paint over the paint job? and what about any kind of finish products is use after?

ps sorry if this as already been asked