Paint Your Wagon - with a roller!

[Cruz]

Despite an early shower (pre-paint) I got 3/4 of the van done yesterday by 6pm and the temp only went down to 4 overnight so everything is hunky dory. Got the last side done this morning and I can vouch for the sun being hot enough to make sure you still paint in the shade at this time of year..........the side of the van in the sun was baking hot.

[CovKid]

Yes, when its like that, you do need to turn it round to ensure the paint has time to flow. If you don't you'll get a nasty textured effect and virtually no time to get any roller lines out. Other than that, today was great for painting actually. You may find it needed marginally more thinners in fact. This is why ambient conditions dictate the mix and why working to a fixed formula isn't a good idea. The best way is aim for thin evaporated milk consistency then regardless of ambient, it should be right on that particular day.

[Cruz]

You are right Covkid. Having done 3 previous coats I knew to alter the mix to the conditions. Friday needed less thinners than Saturday.

[Trundler]

Well I tackled the roof on Saturday. As Cruz says, it was surprisingly warm and sunny in the Lancashire tropics! My house casts a handy shadow late in the morning but I was still prepping at that time. By the time I got to painting the sun was coming round the house again and I began to have some difficulties, despite using a slightly thinner mix to compensate.

I was dashing backwards and forwards around the van with the steps, trying to get a coat on before the paint went off but the finish has ended up patchy. I worked from front to back and the finish towards the rear is definitely better. I’m happy with the two rearmost sections. The front section is very ‘grainy’ in places so will need quite a bit of flatting in 3 weeks or so, before putting on the 2nd coat.

The switch to RAL3005 (wine red) from RAL3004 (purple red) was definitely a good move though, being almost a perfect match with the existing paint.

Incidentally, I get the paint mixed at Ace Décor in Preston. I’ve only bought two one-litre tins up to now but I’m about to go back for the 2.5 litre now that I’ve settled on the colour.

Photos to follow when I get them off the camera!

[CovKid]

Yep, painting in the sun is definately not a good idea. If you need to paint the roof, suggest you tackle this as soon as the dew is gone in the morning and ideally on a slightly overcast day to give you time.

[Trundler]

Good advice again CovKid. This weekend was a bit awkward though, with rain forecast for Sunday morn

I've now figured out how to post pics as attachments (hopefully):

Rear roof 1.JPG

Front roof 2.JPG

Front roof 1.JPG

[CovKid]

Yep, not enough thinners and/or painting in full sun. Forget about it for a month, flat and redo.

Lovely colour though!!!

You want 'wet' paint rather than toffee so it'll flow and skin. You may have overworked it ofcourse. The roof is harder because of all the reaching and running around so painting in sections helps with that. However, because of the limited working time you have, you will probably need to up the thinners more to extend the drying time and paint in very thin but smooth coats.

May also be worth making a much better platform to work at that height as you'll have less running to do then.

[baaaron]

Hi guys,

I`ve been reading this thread + the wiki page back and forth (+ I´ve got the DVD) and I soon want to start with my camper as well. It first needs a complete rust treatment afterwards painting in a barn.
What I´ve been asking myself all the time is: how much paint do I need including the roof with two colour paintjob (refer to the picture; white will be fresh white again, yellow will turn blue).



Maybe you could give me some advice about that, I was calculating with white/blue each 2,5 liters + additionally 750ml - would that be enough?

thanks in advance & regards

[CovKid]

2.5 litres will 'just' paint a van but don't put yourself under pressure. Its relatively cheap anyway.

[Trundler]

Yep, not enough thinners and/or painting in full sun. .... You may have overworked it ofcourse.

Yes, I think all those are possible.

A more overcast day and/or slightly thinner mix and paint quickly, smoothly and confidently. That's my aim for this weekend, if it doesn't rain! It's the tailgate next.

I think I probably used a slightly more heavily-loaded roller towards the rear as I gained confidence in both my technique and the fact that the paint would last! It covers very well though (the similar colour obviously helps!) and I've only used about a third of a litre to do this first coat on the roof.

[mrdp]

Hi All,
I was /am intending to do a two tone paint job .I have got the marlin blue and 9010 white.I have a few thoughts you people maybe able to advise on. 1.is it much harder to do a two tone paint job ?I am assuming its best to do 1 coat of first colour let it dry then 1 coat of second colour let it dry, then flat both at the same time. Then second coat and so on. 2. am I mad. Is it better to just do the blue all over? Also if I do the two tone, which look. The blue on lower section and all up the front blue with a white side windows/top section or a complete split line so the front is also two tone a bit like a bay ?? i'm never sure how I feel about the two tone with the one colour front??? for ref I have a 1990 van with the twin square headlights and big bumpers/sideplanks and the headlamp spoiler thing if that affects the looks . What do you guys think ???

[Trundler]

It will obviously be a bit more tricky doing two-tone - you will just have to choose youre dividing lines quite carefully. Personally, I like two-tone for Splittys and Bays but think the Type25 looks better in one colour.

Having said that, I will probably do the band covering the side windows (only) in black, just for a bit of contrast.

[Cyrus]

Hi guys,

I`ve been reading this thread + the wiki page back and forth (+ I´ve got the DVD) and I soon want to start with my camper as well. It first needs a complete rust treatment afterwards painting in a barn.
What I´ve been asking myself all the time is: how much paint do I need including the roof with two colour paintjob (refer to the picture; white will be fresh white again, yellow will turn blue).



Maybe you could give me some advice about that, I was calculating with white/blue each 2,5 liters + additionally 750ml - would that be enough?

thanks in advance & regards

This is the classic t25 two tone colour scheme, with a one colour from and two tone sides and rear. I haven't seen a two tone front end so can't comment on how it'll look.

[Nessi911]

Avenue Coatings will mix any colour and post the paint to you.[/quote]
Does that mean I can ask for VW L90D and get the correct colour/shade? Sorry if this sounds a dumb question.[/quote]

Not sure if they can do every single VW colour on the planet, but I asked them for LH5G Medium Blue and it was spot on.[/quote]


Just be on to Avenue paint all day to day and their unable to find VW Medium Blue LH5G now, as it may have been mis-logged on their systems , any thought on other stockists gents that could match without needing to send in a sample. They were a bit disorganised to be honest had to make 4 calls today.

[Trundler]

Well, I've now done the tailgate. Fairly happy with the finish (see pics) though it does seem to have 'bloomed' slightly around the window (not really visible in the pictures) - possibly because of the cold damp weather on Saturday. It hasn't covered completely, but I didn't expect it to!

There always seems to be an issue of some sort but hopefully, by the time I've been right round the van, panel by panel, twice, and I'm ready to do the third coat (ie the one that really matters) I'll be a dab-hand at the game!

I got more bubbles this time but got rid of them by light stroking with a foam brush.

Tailgate1.JPG

Tailgate2.JPG