Paint Your Wagon - with a roller!

[CovKid]

You're welcome fella!

[ronburgundy]

Hi all

Apologies if this has been covered in this thread, but I have searched and can't find details for prep and painting of a high top. If this has been covered, I would appreciate it if someone link me to the right post!

Mine is a Westy Joker, not that it will make a difference - I want to paint it white as per the original colour.

Plan to do a bit of sealing with Tiger Seal - are there any problems using this and then painting over?

Getting the rest resprayed, but want to tackle the roof myself to try and save a few pounds.

[elmo makaroy]

i just have one more thing that i cant quite get my head around,

now that i have done my first coat (orange peely and the odd run in the paint) do i now flat back with wet and dry untill smooth and then paint the next coat?

or do i just lightly sand the paint to provide a key and not worry about the runs and paint on another coat and do the flatting back with the wet and dry at the end on the final coat?

hope that make sense, i basically am not sure if i use wet and dry between every coat or just on the last coat?

[Cruz]

Flat back smooth otherwise you will just accentuate the flaws with the next coat

[folkers]

Finished sliding door panel today - painted with Rustoleum Marlin Blue, wet & dry 600 grit between coats, and 1000 grit before the last coat (3 in total). Really happy with the results, just needs finishing now with polishing compound - Meguiars Ultimate compound is VERY good!!

[CovKid]

Flat back smooth otherwise you will just accentuate the flaws with the next coat

Indeed but it MUST be ready for sanding back. Safest I've found is four weeks. It can appear dry but be like toffee underneath. If you sand and its making no impression, its too early. Trust me I know.

Folkers, looks great buddy. Bet you're pleased. Many are happy even with the raw finish.

[CovKid]

Plan to do a bit of sealing with Tiger Seal - are there any problems using this and then painting over?

Can be. Some say it takes months for paint to dry if you paint over some sealants. Do some testing away from the vehicle and see what happens. Rustoleum normally dry in 24 hours (touch dry before that) so use it as reference. As for prep, paint needs something to bite on to, hence sanding but otherwise its fine on glass fibre.

[folkers]

Thanks CovKid, will post some more photos up when it's been polished up!

[CovKid]

Never any rush with this remember. You can paint one year, flat slightly the next year if you want and apply another coat followed by buffout - thats the beauty of this method really. You soon get a feel for how quick you need to work and how to lose any lines.

[pierce]

Never any rush with this remember. You can paint one year, flat slightly the next year if you want and apply another coat followed by buffout - thats the beauty of this method really. You soon get a feel for how quick you need to work and how to lose any lines.

I was confused by this myself;

so would an ideal timeline for this be;

Prep >

First coat >
Wait 1 month >
Flat back >

Second coat >
Wait 1 month >
Flat back >

Third coat >
Wait 1 month >
Flat back >

Cut >
Polish >

Finished

[BOXY]

My first coat has been drying for about 18 months. I think I'll give it a bit longer just to be safe.

[pierce]

My first coat has been drying for about 18 months. I think I'll give it a bit longer just to be safe.

wow thats patience

[Cruz]

I've done a coat every May for two years. Both times I aimed to do one in September too but never got round to it. Determined to do 2 coats this year and polish it up

[ronburgundy]

Plan to do a bit of sealing with Tiger Seal - are there any problems using this and then painting over?

Can be. Some say it takes months for paint to dry if you paint over some sealants. Do some testing away from the vehicle and see what happens. Rustoleum normally dry in 24 hours (touch dry before that) so use it as reference. As for prep, paint needs something to bite on to, hence sanding but otherwise its fine on glass fibre.

Brilliant, thank you for the advice CovKid.

Will probably paint, then seal rather than the other way round in that case.

[pierce]

I've done a coat every May for two years. Both times I aimed to do one in September too but never got round to it. Determined to do 2 coats this year and polish it up

Thats the beauty of it I suppose .

I might just buy one tin of paint then, I am going for the original Pastel White, I wonder if they can mix it exact every time?