Paint Your Wagon - with a roller!

[Zebedee]

After flatting the final coat of paint is it possible to polish it by hand without the use of a motorised buffer?
I know it would take more effort and elbow grease but is it even possible?

[CovKid]

Yes ofcourse. Flat with 1200 and try with ordinary brasso to see what I mean


If you check the WIKI, I give an example of the finish tou can achieve by hand. It still looks like that a year later. I suspect Brasso and T-cut do similar jobs - worked for me.

["WEAZLECHIN"]

bloody hell..........................
i bet youve had to give your job up, to be in total control of the original thread, and to answer the questions??
41.000 + views

[CovKid]

I don't mind really. Good to see so many have a go at this. The bizarre thing is that its travelled the whole country and I'm starting to see T25s in my own area that have also been rollered.

Latest project I'm working on is a DIY rock n roll bed that is light, ISN'T made of MDF or ply, is VERY strong (easily up to the stresses of a vehicle impact), can be sized to fit in width available and will allow for an LPG tank to fit in part of the space. It can also be unbolted if it ever needed to be. I've done this job twice but wasn't at all happy with the strength, materials or the weight of what I'd built so came up with a perfect solution for anyone who just buys the hinges and wants a strong, easy to build and lightweight version. Hopefully it will go down well in the WIKI.

After that I'm building an interior lighting system that will turn heads - watch this space.

As for visits on this thread, yeah its a popular one, especially in this awful recession. Least we can all keep em looking respectable for a few more years yet.

[jake1953]

Hi Covkid,
Good news about your r&r bed plans. I've bought the hinges so when do we see the 1st airings of your bed?

[CovKid]

Shouldn't be more than a couple of weeks. Will start a new thread just for R n R beds as its a subject that comes up a lot and I've never thought much to the heavy prefabricated MDF versions. It should be versatile/adaptable enough to fit any layout and give peace of mind in terms of the safety of any youngsters in the back as we'll try to cover seat belts along with that. In the meantime I don't want to take this thread off track as its bringing up some great pointers from others painting with rollers. Will take plenty of photos to cover that project though. It will be based on the hinges sold by Marcle but the principles should work with any hinges. http://www.marcleleisure.co.uk/store/rr01.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[jake1953]

cheers mate,.Off on holiday on sat for 2 weeks and on return will be doing the roller painting. I'll post up photos on completion.

[rainman]

A couple of befores



and some afters





It doesn't stand up to close inspection and I've still got stuff to do inside but it's getting there. MOT booked for next week, may the lord have mercy on its soul.

[Clive51]

Looking great mate, all the best with the MOT

[chuckle-bus-tom]

Just ordered up a 2.5 of white and 2.5 of Grey! Going to source a more vibrant Lime Green for detailing and then get stuck in with some early morning sessions!

Will obviously keep a photographic diary and share!

[shortbloke]

Just done the first coat on mine over the weekend, all over including the roof on my bus - which is a bitch to do!

Spent a lot of time on the prep work, rust killing and zinc priming where needed. So far not totally happy with it, looks very bumpy in some places but I know its early days and Im still learning.

Hardest thing for me is when I see a run I cant not go over it, cant help but think in some areas Im causing more harm than good finish wise, especially as I know the paint has been there for 5-10 mins or so and shouldnt be touched.


Anyway, silly question but when flatting back with 600 between coats, is there a need to use a rubbing compund or similar on heavy runs or orange peel, or just use a heavier grade paper like a 240-400 on these areas??

[CovKid]

Probably a heavier grade. Rubbing compound will just polish up runs. You must resist the temptation to go over areas that have 'gone off'. You have a max of a min really to catch errors with relatively warm temperatures. It does sound as though you have WAY too much paint on the roller, mixe too thick, or you're trying to apply too much in one go. An old melamine board is good to practice on and get the mix right.

[Flibbertigibbet]

I am going to attempt to roller my van this summer , read most of the thread , thing is I couldn't make mine look any worse if it goes wrong

[CovKid]

If ya get yer mix right and PRACTICE first, you'll probably make a great job of it.

[rainman]

thing is I couldn't make mine look any worse if it goes wrong

That was my logic too. Although it's by no means perfect, I'm happy with the result, especially when I compare it to the 'before' pics. Mine's had two coats and that'll do for now but I'll probably sand it and apply another coat at some point. It's very satisfying too, plus I know now exactly what the body's like underneath the paintwork.