prepping and re-painting a hard top

[thixon]

Nick,

If you're gonna buy paint, and put in the time, then you really need to pay attention to the prep side of things. 95% of the job is in the prep. If you don't do it right, you won't be happy with it. Sounds like Bertha has you covered, so I won't preach.

The only thing I'll add is this. If you go with an epoxy primer (which is a great choice on bare aluminum), and a 2K paint then you need to consider buying a respirator, and covering up when you mix and spray. Someone above mentioned isocyanates. Read up on them. Anyone telling you that anything less than positive pressure air fed respirator will work doesn't know what they're talking about. You can buy a hobby air for $500 or so nowadays.

Unless you just want to do it yourself, you might consider a local paint shop. It would cheaper for you in the end.

[NickDawson]

might start calling for quotes from a shop... but again, all that's on hold
The truck does not like to be pampered and reacts accordingly to idea of being painted.

I thought if I could brush or rent a sprayer and get something that looked half decent than it would be worth it. But we we start talking about health risks and epoxy paints then maybe a pro job is the way to go.


Although the idea of building a spray booth does seem kinda fun....

[galen216]

Just rattle can it. Rustoleum almond gloss. Did my old truck like this and it still looks good. Total cost ~ $20 and one afternoon.

[thixon]

Galen 216,

Since you brought up rustoleum, I've sprayed a truck or two with the gallon sized rustoleum with an HVLP. It was pretty easy to spray, and turned out pretty good. Took FOREVER to dry though.

Nick, that might be a cheaper, safer option for you. You can use a regular canister type respirator (home depot/lowes) for organic solvents. Ace will custom tint the paint for you.

[NickDawson]

Could always try that and if the results stink then I'm no worse off than I am now and could take it to a shop...

[luckyjoe]

Nick,

I took my 109" roof down to bare aluminum. It had about 7 coats of different colors. I used a gel stripper from the big box home store - a gallon container with a plastic spray-bottle shink-wrapped to it. Worked fine, even with so many layers, water clean-up, and I have a lot left over too.

I used NAPA etch primer in spray cans (actually in process of completing this). Next step will be brush paint in 110 white, then sand/paint/sand/paint. I've seen a couple brush jobs that even looked Pro...

I'm planning on a warm weekend or two in the next month, and I'll knock it out.

Regards,

[amcordo]

I also did this! Just make sure you add paint thinner to the gallon BEFORE spraying it on. Rustoleum on its own (that is Rustoleum in the gallon form, rather than the aerosol form) is pretty thick and has a tendency to both orange peel and take forever to dry unless you thin it down a fair amount. I want to say I mixed it something like 1/8 thinner and still probably could have gone more...

Galen 216,

Since you brought up rustoleum, I've sprayed a truck or two with the gallon sized rustoleum with an HVLP. It was pretty easy to spray, and turned out pretty good. Took FOREVER to dry though.

Nick, that might be a cheaper, safer option for you. You can use a regular canister type respirator (home depot/lowes) for organic solvents. Ace will custom tint the paint for you.

[thixon]

Amcordo,

I did thin it, but I don't remember with what, or how much. Basically I followed the instructions. What I do remember is that it wasnt as forgiving as automotive grade paints when it came to runs at the recommend ratio of paint to thinner.

The other thing I've noticed is that it oxidizes pretty fast, so if you're after a quick patinad look, that might be the way to go.

[amcordo]

I'd agree with all that. I painted it a dark color and will be going back and painting it almond sometime when it warms up. The dark color will fade FAST. In any case, if you're looking for something that's economical and looks alright at ten feet then look no further. But show-car quality it aint. And it scratches fairly easily since rustoleum is such a soft paint.

Amcordo,

I did thin it, but I don't remember with what, or how much. Basically I followed the instructions. What I do remember is that it wasnt as forgiving as automotive grade paints when it came to runs at the recommend ratio of paint to thinner.

The other thing I've noticed is that it oxidizes pretty fast, so if you're after a quick patinad look, that might be the way to go.

[kevkon]

Put it in perspective. I assume Nick has no auto body experience and no equipment. All he wants to do is to paint his top! Should he invest $1000 dollars in equipment and paint?

[Nium]

Just get some exterior grade house paint, 35 year plus, and apply with roller. Mine hasn't started peeling yet and it's been over 10 years! Maybe use some Kilz to prime it first.

[thixon]

Kevkon,

Exactly. He's probably better off taking to a shop. $400 or $500 and he's out of there with a newly painted top (less if he strips it for them). Plus, he won't take ten years off his life inhaling paint fumes (like me!).

Nium,
Awesome. Actual house paint? Did you roll it or brush it?

[Nium]

Nium,
Awesome. Actual house paint? Did you roll it or brush it?

Yep, actual house paint. Brushed it on and you can barely see the brush strokes, especially from the street . Don't remember which paint it was like I said it was over ten years ago.

[jrd51ox]

I'm painting the sides of my hard top to match the body this weekend. The sides are in great shape and were freshly painted with DuPont Centari limestone less then two years ago by the previous owner. So I decided to spray right over the old paint. I was able to get some Pastel Green 38504A right in a rattle can. I used it before in the past when I did the interior, very happy with the quality even though it's expensive spray paint. I used this company out of Broadview, IL. They mix it fast and I always get it a few days later. Might be an easy alternative for a series without any bare metal showing. Hope this helps someone.

http://www.touchupspraypaint.com/proddetail.php?prod=KTNDPCT01

[jgkmmoore]

House paint...YES!

Don't write off house paint for sure. In the NW and parts of Alaska, A lot of fishermen paint their fishboat hulls with it, and it often outlasts marine paint. Do the prep tho, and use self etch in a can on any bare metal spots to avoid 'fisheye'. Don't have to get a real solid coat...fog it on a couple times, lightly, and it will flash fast and give the paint real bite. Don't shoot the self etch on any paint that has been less than 6 months.
When you buy the housepaint, and you want an eggshell finish, you can buy a flattener to add to your gloss paint. Many colors can be had in eggshell right in the can. I recently had a poor result with a 'less expensive' HLVP gun, and couldn't make it shoot a flat coat to save me. If you don't have any spray paint experience, probably better to stick to the old fashioned sprayer.
Good luck!