Anyone use PENETROL on their poptop?

[j_dirge]

[dobryan]

I had some streaking after the first coat on the top of a red '90 Westy. It took three coats for the initial streaks to go away.... YMMV.
_________________
Dave O
'87 Westy w/ 2010 Subaru EJ25 (Vanaru) and Peloquin TBD

"To travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive." Robert Louis Stevenson

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[Terry Kay]

As with anything application process is key.
Direct sunlight, humidity, ambient temps, what you used to apply it etc.

I've used it on many boat hulls, decks, RV's, and too many to count Westy pop tops, with zero dissapointments.

My own chalked out Grey & Maroon pop top's for example.

However, the white pop top on my 74 was too fiber open to even consider using the penetrol.
I didn't even consider using it, I used Petit urethene hull & deck urethane paint, which gave the best results.

There is a judgmental call that is required here prior to using any refinishing/ sealing product.

If the surface is so UV beat up that it's going to suck up the Penetrol as fast as you lay it on--you should have refinished it.

And if that is the case, buffing, rubbing out, or waxing isn't going to get the job done either.
In a matter of fact all's your going to be doing is opening up the surface more for faster oxidation.

Read the back of the can of the Penetrol--or go to Flood's web page.
It sure sez right up front that it is a fiberglass shine restorer.

I don't know what the RV coach nay sayer's were doing in the application process to have it screw up, and I'm not sure how you went about it either to get the grey streaks in the top.

I'd wash it down, get it into the garage, and wipe on another coat or two, out of the sun, in low humidity, and I'll bet it straightens' itself out.
I think you expected a "Mircale" with one fast coat.
It didn't happen.

Use an old T-shirt to apply--nothing with hair's sticking outa it--like a turkish towl--no good.
The top will need a hair cut when your all done.

I introduced this stuff a very long time ago to VW / Vanagonland, and have have too many folks elated with he results to believe that on one Van it didn't work.

It's an oil based product, and is compatiable with any oil based refinishing product for later, down the road repainting if necessary.

How can I say this?

The same white & bile green hulled 22 footer, after having it for two years--I repainted the entire boat with Imron.
No problems.

Like I said--if it the Penetrol didn't take in one coat, the top was too far gone in the first place and really needed to re-painted.


Good Luck,
_________________
T.K.

[indytriple]

[DeadSetMonkey]

Any photos, experience, using penetrol on white tops?
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----------------------------------------------------
'90 Syncro Westy 2.5Subi Turbo, BFGs 215/75/15 Rheins

[BoneMachine]

[jacklndn]

86 Savanna Beige Metallic with off-white, beige ("Cafe au lait", thank you) top.

Beautiful results. Washed the top well, let it dry. Used a t-shirt.

Had patches, not so much streaks for about a week, maybe less. After that everything just evened out. I attributed the patches to areas of heavier application. I used a circular motion to apply. I did two applications, about twenty minutes apart.

Been about a year, still looks ok, and smooth, but I'll redo it soon because after treatment it looks almost new.
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1986 Westy GL 4 spd

[Jamos]

[tam_shops]

OP, Thank you for yet another affordable suggestion!

[Terry Kay]

Being a member of the Lolly Pop Guild--do this;

Take an old Swifter, and tie a couple of layer's of old T-Shirts on the head of it.

Pour some of the Penetrol on the top and move the Swifter across the top, as you'd be waving your hand.
Like you'd be applicating wax on the floor of your humble abode.

It'll get the job done where you can't reach in short order---

Another Mysterious problem solved.
_________________
T.K.

[madspaniard]

Climb on top of the pop top roof, do the center area first, leave the edges last and use a ladder to finish the edges.
_________________
1991 Westy auto w/ Peloquin TBD

"The only difference between me and a madman is that I'm not mad” - Salvador Dali

[dobryan]

[madspaniard]

Good point, I'm sure don't want to be responsible for somebody cracking the poptop. I have climbed up there several times and it sounds like I'm heavier than the OP but each van is different. I never stood up on the roof, more like laying flat.
_________________
1991 Westy auto w/ Peloquin TBD

"The only difference between me and a madman is that I'm not mad” - Salvador Dali

[BillWYellowstone]

Other camp heard from. I used Penetrol on my f/g sailboat some years back, the finish was just dull and this was suggested. Looked great for about a month. Then it started looking streaky. Granted, this is in a slat water environment.

I would be a little hesitant on using on the top based on my experience, the results posted here would make me reconsider.
_________________
Live Fulltime in motorhome
Have 86 Westy Camper 2.1 rebuilt
Work in Yellowstone NP year round.

[davevickery]

Someone should try 3M fiberglass restorer and compare it to Penetrol. I would but I already put Penetrol on my top, plus I haven't been able to find it in a store yet. The boat community seems to recommend the 3M product.

On a side note, I used the pentrol on the rubber interior around the seats and battery boxes and it looks nice. Kind of an armor all look without the slippery effect. It takes a while to dry so it isn't sticky and for the smell to go away. Used it on the bumper end caps too.

[j_dirge]

[Terry Kay]

News update;

If yor fiberglass pop top is that chaulked out and dull, you have two options;

Repaint it, or get some semi permanent bling back in it, by re-oilng it.

And this is why the top looks flat & dull, because the UV rays have baked out all of the oils in the gelcoat.
It's just a plain fact of life.

Now, & I don't really care where the vehicle is located.
It could very well be in the North or South Pole, Baswanna,Timbucktu, or BFE for that matter.

Fiberglass is fiberglass and it'll dry out from the sun, and there is absolutley no way in Haties that your going rub-a dub-dub that chaulked top back to a high luster finish--And Keep It That Way Without Repainting It.

You'll be buffing your gonads off, and then laying a coat "New Finish" (good for a year and 200 car washes) every day.

This is all within the law's of physic's,chemical reality, and basicly good common sense, regardless what the row boating community on the left coast does.

The Penetrol is a re-oiler, re-fortifier if you will, and the fasted way that I know to get the fiberglass top to look as good as new and keep it that way without repaintng it, or scubbing your ass off with rubbing coumpound--or any faux fiberglass restoration product by 3-M--which I have used and came up empty handed, and real tired.
Componded by the issue of the top not all all being a smooth finish to be rubbing out.
Wanna elabotate on how your going to Rrub out, polish, & wax a textured finish?
I'd like to see this done--a u-tube episode would be good for laughs anyway.

The Penetrol Has Been
Tested, Used, and Highly Approved, Here In The Industrial Capitol OF The World.
Smack Dab in the middle of the good ole USA, and works very well here.

I did my 87 5 years ago , and it still looks as good as the day I did it. --and maroon to boot.
Take that to the bank.

The rest of you in BFE, Somalia, Bombay, or wherever-- can do it your way.

Lay some White Whale Sperm Oil on it--see if that works out for you OK, if not, repaint it with Imron,or Petit Deck & Hull paint, or do a simple wipe with the Penetrol.

There are all of your realistic options.
_________________
T.K.

[tam_shops]

[Terry Kay]

For the out of pocket expense of 9 bucks, the Penetrol is the easiest way to poptop color rennovation, some personal satisfaction of getting it looking real nice--and it'll stay that way for some time.

If it startts to fade a little down the road--give it another wipe down.

Not complicated, really simple application & results.

Sounds to me like j dirge is preparing class action litigation againt the Flood Co. or something else goofy like that, for the print being too small--he obviously can't see the print.

Right on the back of the can
in Plain English is sez;
"Restores Faded Fiberglass"

I wonder what the means in his native tongue?

Anyway--discounting his allegid non-use, and knowing all, the stuff works woderful, and is the fastest way to restoring & preserving the Fiberglass on your Pop Top.
_________________
T.K.

[dobryan]

Tam,

I really like the Penetrol product. If you decide to use it be sure to give your top a gentle scrubbing with a light abrasive (like the back of a kitchen sponge) to remove as much easy to remove oxidation as you can. You don't want to scratch the surface, just get off the easy to remove oxidation....
_________________
Dave O
'87 Westy w/ 2010 Subaru EJ25 (Vanaru) and Peloquin TBD

"To travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive." Robert Louis Stevenson

MD>Canada>AK>WA>OR>CA>AZ>UT>WY>SD
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=620646

Building a bus for travel in Europe (euroBus)
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=695371

The Western Syncro build
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=746794