Any tips on painting a hardtop?

imtheant · 03-01-2007, 05:10 PM

My CJ hardtop is beat to hell and all scratched up. Anyone ever paint one themselves or do I have take it to get professionally done? If I do it at home, should I sand/prime it? Thoughts?

**gt4660** · 03-01-2007, 05:37 PM

Depends on what you want you can get a decent paint job out of a rattle can,lol. Or if you not worried about perfectiontapeup the glass and let it rip!
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w211/gt4660/DSC00980.jpg

imtheant · 03-01-2007, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gt4660

Depends on what you want you can get a decent paint job out of a rattle can,lol. Or if you not worried about perfectiontapeup the glass and let it rip!
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w211/gt4660/DSC00980.jpg

Did you paint the one in the picture with a rattle can? Does it hold up okay? Any priming?

JoonHoss · 03-01-2007, 05:50 PM

tips?

don't sand it...

do make repairs...

don't use gloss...

do spend alot of time on prep (cleaning)...

don't skip the previous step...

do it yourself at home.

Hoss

Mr.Crowley · 03-01-2007, 06:48 PM

you can sand it after a good cleaning with a scotch bright pad..But I know what your geting at about sanding,taking off the texture..

**gt4660** · 03-01-2007, 07:35 PM

It holds up ok 3rd jeep i have done, great thing about isyou can always touch it up. I did not prime it just cleaned it and sprayed...

imtheant · 03-01-2007, 08:11 PM

Okay so I'm gonna tackle it at home. Spray it or roll on the new paint?

**gt4660** · 03-01-2007, 08:18 PM

krylon, shake and go

SuB8HaVeN · 03-01-2007, 09:19 PM

Be careful sanding that fiberglass; you will want to wear gloves and a long-sleeve shirt or else you will be itching and burning for a week...

The good part is that fiberglass repairs are fairly easy (I've worked with fiberglass boats a lot, so it's simple to me at least) and you can pick up fiberglass repair kits at almost any parts store. If you have deep scratches or cracks, you will want to fill those in, then sand the surface smooth. It really depends on how bad and how deep those scratches are.

**BeesJeep** · 03-01-2007, 09:30 PM

I used a small roller and a can of satin black Rustoleom paint and it turned out great. I have also spray painted them. The roller works much better!

AggieCJ · 03-01-2007, 10:48 PM

Did mine with Rustoleum premium rattle can black satin. They make a little device that clips on to the can so you just squeeze a trigger, saves your finger. I used 5 cans and all I did was wash it down real good. Came out awesome because of satin and the texture it looks great can't tell its rattle canned.

JoonHoss · 03-01-2007, 11:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scrambeled

you can sand it after a good cleaning with a scotch bright pad..But I know what your geting at about sanding,taking off the texture..

exactly!

they just look plain wrong when they are shiny and/or smooth.

Definitely a DIY project though...Good Luck

Hoss

87whyj · 03-01-2007, 11:23 PM

I've seen pretty good lookin tops done with Herculiner, Durabak, etc... A guy I work with does MegaLiner and he says he can do metal, wood, fiberglass almost anything. The texture would be comparable to original and would last.

03-01-2007, 08:11 PM	#7
imtheant Registered User Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 590 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	Okay so I'm gonna tackle it at home. Spray it or roll on the new paint? __________________ 1983 CJ7 - Project "Surf Jeep Restoration"

03-01-2007, 10:48 PM	#11
AggieCJ Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: The Woodlands, TX Posts: 98 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	Did mine with Rustoleum premium rattle can black satin. They make a little device that clips on to the can so you just squeeze a trigger, saves your finger. I used 5 cans and all I did was wash it down real good. Came out awesome because of satin and the texture it looks great can't tell its rattle canned.

03-01-2007, 11:23 PM	#13
87whyj Registered User Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: SW Oklahoma Posts: 24 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	I've seen pretty good lookin tops done with Herculiner, Durabak, etc... A guy I work with does MegaLiner and he says he can do metal, wood, fiberglass almost anything. The texture would be comparable to original and would last.