How to: Paint a hard top

[joe's_yj]

Im doing a write up on how to paint a hard top. there isnt much information out there on doing it. Heres how i did mine

i recommend washing it before you start

Heres a picture before i started

First thing to do is get your supplies. you will need the following:
Krylon fusion any color you want, i used 3 cans i recommend getting 4
Masking tape
Newspaper
Scottbrite pads
Towel

Now the first thing to do is scuff the hard top, and then wipe it clean with the towel. This is just to get dirt and other things off.

Next, start masking the top, and remove the vents on the side also remove the molding around the windows, they will pull right out. Label them.

Now your ready to start painting, when you spray do a 50% percent over lap of the last coat. This will prevent streaks. do about 2-3 coats.

First side done

Wear a mask and have good ventilation, anything is better then nothing, i had 3 on here

painting

Once everything is dry, carefully pull the masking tape and newspaper off.
finished product

still holding up

Before:

After:

[timatoe]

Excellent thread, I'll be doing this over the summer while the top's off.

[ONE80LBS]

Thanks for the write-up, I just painted mine this week and it turned out pretty good.

Before


After

[shrewd]

sweeet. Good info, gonna try this week.

[1sik78cj7]

I wanna do mine too, just a little confused on the window moulding part. Is that from the side window glass or just the stuff around the door openings?

[frontlinedude]

BLACK JEEPS RULE I really dig it,
anyone ever paint a hardtop with the spraycan dupli-truck bed coating?

[zduff93]

yeah i have used the dupli color bed liner. it works well just wash the top, scuff it up, tape, and wipe it down with denatured alcohol then paint and it leaves a nice rough texture on it.

[MlSTER_ROGERS]

that looks great, did you use any clear coat or just the fusion?

[OurJeepLife]

I need to repaint my stock fog lights on my 99 tj.. and went through the same procedure of prepping the surface and taping off the lights.. I wasn't willing to totally remove the lights from the front bumper and get extremely detailed on this..

But I was amazed at the coverage and finish of Krylon's Fusion plastic paint.

[MichTrooper50]

Thanks for sharing your experience. We are prepping our top for paint...will use Interlux Perfection (tm) Is there a reason you did not remove the top from the Jeep?

Todd 1982 CJ8

[Bethlehem]

How does the Krylon Fusion hold up as far as sun fading is concerned? I know that Krylon spray paint is extremely prone to fading quickly. At least it was 15 years ago when we were spray painting our cars. We had to repaint every 2 months or so because it faded so fast. (Yes, I was a hoosier)

[cvwfl03tj]

I used Krylon on my tops and fenders. Lowes' brand of plastic paint on my milk jugs. I painted my soft door uppers with upholstery paint. The biggest PITA was getting the flairs off and back on. Next time, I'll buy new flares and paint them first.

If it lasts through the end of hunting season, then it's okay.

If you want to see better picks, email me. The one on the left is the only one I've posted here (yet)

[dirtboll]

looks good again how has it held up to fading and also when its washed any chippin or peeling from scrubbing? no primer or clear coat?

[ema02]

Thanks for this one.

[cvwfl03tj]

So far, so good. I haven't had the opportunity to hit the woods yet, so I'm not sure how scratch-resistant the paint is. I'll find out this coming weekend.

It's rained almost everyday since I painted it and the water just beads up and rolls off. No primer, no clear coat. I guess you could do both if you had the time or inclination. I did get into some clay, but hit the car wash before it had dried on the flares. Came right off with no stains.

I'll let you know after this weekend, how well it holds up to scrubbing/etc. Plan to be in the clay, planting food plots and some pre-season scouting.