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fxr
Samba Member
Joined: December 07, 2014
Posts: 1139
Location: Bay area CA
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 Posted: Mon Sep 23, 2019 5:58 pm Post subject: Re: Quick pop top painting questions |
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Well done.  We've just finished painting the van itself with Brightside, and the pop-top and luggage rack will follow once we've got the van kitted out again (currently completely stripped inside).
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Jim Crowther
1984 1.9l EJ22 Westy Wolfsburg Edition
Vespa GTS 300 |
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djkeev 
Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 25109
Location: North West New Jersey
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JimmyJagged
Samba Member
Joined: October 14, 2016
Posts: 75
Location: San Juan Capistrano, CA
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| Posted: Mon Sep 23, 2019 3:32 pm Post subject: |
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| djkeev wrote: |
Ok, West Marine had my chosen paint color in stock so I picked up 2 qts. I also need to seal a few Hayward fiberglass DE filter units that are shedding "hair" so I will practice on them first and confirm the color choice.
Here is a shot of the unfaded original top color......
Dave |
Thanks Dave, and everybody else who contributed instructions to this thread over the years. Six years after your post, it is still helping fellow members. I bought the Interlux Bristol Beige without having to spend anytime researching or comparing colors. It saved me a lot of time.
My original top got destroyed when a tree fell on it. I picked up a top that had been sitting in a guys yard for 15 years. I repainted it following the instructions from this post and everything turned out great!
Before
After
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Current:
1971 Tin Top Weekender Bus
1973 Squareback
1985 Pop Top Weekender Vanagon (my 19yo son's first car. father/son project)
1985 Pop Top Weekender Vanagon w/ 2.5 Subaru
Past:
1976 Rabbit diesel (my first car). RIP. totaled by drunk driver (not me!)
1973 Pop Top Westfalia Weekender Bus. RIP. Blown engine due to 25yo ignorant of VW maintenance (me).
1986 Vanagon Transporter. RIP. totaled by drunk driver (not me!)
1987 Vanagon Syncro. I never should have sold. |
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rlamb
Samba Member
Joined: March 26, 2012
Posts: 211
Location: Sweet Home, OR
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| Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2016 4:38 pm Post subject: Re: Quick pop top painting questions |
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| nemobuscaptain wrote: |
| Been too busy at work. Have gotten back to it. |
Oh, I know how that goes. I'll post pics when mine is done.
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1984 Westfalia - Ford Cologne 2.8L conversion
2003 Passat GLX Wagon (4Motion) |
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nemobuscaptain
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Joined: March 07, 2002
Posts: 3319
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rlamb
Samba Member
Joined: March 26, 2012
Posts: 211
Location: Sweet Home, OR
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| Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2016 2:06 pm Post subject: Re: Quick pop top painting questions |
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| nemobuscaptain wrote: |
Well, I wish I had read that vanagonauts write up before ordering the paint! I'm about a quart into the priming process (with 404 epoxy primer) and I will tell you I need at least two more quarts. My fiberglass is drinking that stuff up. I'd say his 2.5 quarts of primer and 2 quarts of paint is probably going to be correct.
I only estimated a quart of epoxy primer and a quart of the paint. Definitely waaaaaay off.
EDIT: first quart (two coats) dried nicer than I thought it would. Probably one more coat will be enough. I think I COULD probably get by with just the quart. It's got like 95% coverage now, just a couple of areas that could use a scosche more paint, like around the vent skylight.
It lays down pretty well. It doesnt seem like it when you are painting sometimes.
The guy in the article talks about having stray fiberglass fibers. Sounds like his top was really sundamaged. Mine isn't quite that bad perhaps. I sanded once where a roller disintegrated on me. That seems to be all I will NEED to sand but I guess I will anyway because the instructions say to do so.
Next comes the Interlux Perfection, a two part version of Interlux Brightside. Am I the first to use this? |
I'm in the middle of a full poptop restoration now. I used Interlux Pre-Kote primer. Fiberglass hairs were gone after 2nd coat. I put a third and final coat of primer on and am about to put on Interlux Brightside Hatteras off-white. Three coats of primer and I used about 1 1\3 quarts. Sanding is a workout between primer coats!
How'd yours turn out with that other Interlux Perfection paint?
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1984 Westfalia - Ford Cologne 2.8L conversion
2003 Passat GLX Wagon (4Motion) |
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nemobuscaptain
Samba Member
Joined: March 07, 2002
Posts: 3319
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| Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2016 3:19 pm Post subject: Re: Quick pop top painting questions |
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Well, I wish I had read that vanagonauts write up before ordering the paint! I'm about a quart into the priming process (with 404 epoxy primer) and I will tell you I need at least two more quarts. My fiberglass is drinking that stuff up. I'd say his 2.5 quarts of primer and 2 quarts of paint is probably going to be correct.
I only estimated a quart of epoxy primer and a quart of the paint. Definitely waaaaaay off.
EDIT: first quart (two coats) dried nicer than I thought it would. Probably one more coat will be enough. I think I COULD probably get by with just the quart. It's got like 95% coverage now, just a couple of areas that could use a scosche more paint, like around the vent skylight.
It lays down pretty well. It doesnt seem like it when you are painting sometimes.
The guy in the article talks about having stray fiberglass fibers. Sounds like his top was really sundamaged. Mine isn't quite that bad perhaps. I sanded once where a roller disintegrated on me. That seems to be all I will NEED to sand but I guess I will anyway because the instructions say to do so.
Next comes the Interlux Perfection, a two part version of Interlux Brightside. Am I the first to use this?
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Ohio Valley Tribe, Full Moon Bus Club https://www.facebook.com/groups/294422277314227/
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Kylo Rich
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Joined: November 07, 2013
Posts: 110
Location: Mesa, AZ
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| Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2016 10:59 am Post subject: |
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Awesome writeup on the paint job, as I am doing this project now and debating what my plan of attack is.
I wonder how the top would take to just sanding off the current state. Mine is sun weathered like crazy and I feel like sanding first would be smart. Thoughts?
I am also installing a new canvas, which I see you are doing here. This is going to be a challenging project, but I am excited for the difference!
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1982 Westy "Adeline" 2.3, Air-cooled, Dual Weber Carbs - Left my job of 10 years to hit the road full-time. Instagram @KyloRich |
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gregaz
Samba Member
Joined: May 22, 2012
Posts: 404
Location: Phoenix, AZ
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| Posted: Sat Mar 05, 2016 11:46 am Post subject: Re: Quick pop top painting questions |
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I am about to do this job, and since this seems to be THE definitive pop-top repaint thread, I will leave my two findings here:
- YouTube has a good video on the "roll and tip" technique: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJ_T84GU_as
- Amazon.com has Interlux paint and primer at a really good price
Cheers! |
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casey79westfalia
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Joined: May 22, 2003
Posts: 1709
Location: Baltimore
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| Posted: Tue Feb 23, 2016 6:52 pm Post subject: Re: Quick pop top painting questions |
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I just did this today  .I base/cleared mine as well, mainly for color match and it cleans nicely. I chose to not use any matting agent to dull out the clear. Rolling is certainly cheaper and will do the job. I have done both and both will do just fine.
Here was my process I posted in my restoration thread today for anyone interested.
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=418933&start=80
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66 Westfalia
87 Westfalia Syncro "Phoenix"
88 Double Cab
76 Porsche 914
2014 Audi Q7
2010 Tdi Sportwagen
Currently looking for 62 Double Cab, 66 Westfalia Parts!
(Rear seat and pedestal, bumpers, mirrors)
http://www.baycountrymotors.com
My 87 Syncro Westfalia 1.8t Restoration
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=418933
"Do it the right way, or you'll pay for it" |
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Terry Kay
Banned
Joined: June 22, 2003
Posts: 13331
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| Posted: Tue Feb 23, 2016 6:35 pm Post subject: Re: Quick pop top painting questions |
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Mixing is free with whatever color you choose.
However, as in any automotive paint, it's going to be 4-5 times the cost of the marine paint, plus the cost of the equipment.
Rolling & brushing is a lot cheaper.
It may come down to a two tone Van, your right.
Just go to the internet provided web pages for each brand.
The Awlgrip has the best color chip selection.
More color choices.
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infoforjt
Samba Member
Joined: September 24, 2014
Posts: 7
Location: Oakland, CA
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| Posted: Tue Feb 23, 2016 5:11 pm Post subject: Re: Quick pop top painting questions |
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Thanks Terry. I think mixing and spraying may become cost prohibitive with the other brand you mentioned. I spoke with the three brands today and have paint chips in the mail. I'm hoping to at least get close enough that it looks good. If not, we may consider doing a completely different color top.
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'89 Westfalia |
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dobryan
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Location: Brookeville, MD
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Terry Kay
Banned
Joined: June 22, 2003
Posts: 13331
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| Posted: Tue Feb 23, 2016 9:28 am Post subject: Re: Quick pop top painting questions |
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An exact match from the 3 sources of paint supplier's you mentioned is going to be difficult--
Maybe close , but not exact.
The only way you'll get an exact match would be with Imron , from an automotive paint dealer who can mix with mfg. paint codes.
Then you'll have to be spraying the paint on the top, no rolling & brushing.
Iron sets up way too quick to apply it that way.
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infoforjt
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Joined: September 24, 2014
Posts: 7
Location: Oakland, CA
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| Posted: Mon Feb 22, 2016 8:31 pm Post subject: Re: Quick pop top painting questions |
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Hi,
Reviving this thread to ask a specific paint color question. I've read several threads regarding painting the Westfalia top and I'm leaning towards rolling on a marine paint as discussed throughout this thread. Our van is Titan Red so I'm wondering out of the three main brands mentioned in this thread (Interlux, Petit, and AwlGrip) has anyone gone this route and found a good match to Titan Red? I'm going to request paint samples but thought I'd ask as well.
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'89 Westfalia |
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tarandusVDub
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Joined: August 27, 2010
Posts: 1526
Location: Between Here and There
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| Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2014 8:01 am Post subject: |
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I just completed this project, and this thread was great. I do wish I'd used a closed cell foam roller, as I am now dealing with lots of strands stuck in the paint. Mostly it looks great though.
Someone said that the paint actually takes months to cure, but its ok to put the top back on the van pretty soon after painting. My paint still seems soft, although its been 36 hours now.
Assuming I don't drop it or anything stupid, is it dry enough now to put the top back on without messing up the paint with normal handling?
Recommendations for decals and rain gutter clamps?
Thanks
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1984 Westy, base model, 2WD. Plus some goodies.
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Sold: 1972 Bay Campmobile |
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djkeev
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Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 25109
Location: North West New Jersey
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dobryan
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Location: Brookeville, MD
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hoipolloi
Samba Member
Joined: February 05, 2010
Posts: 44
Location: Santa Cruz
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| Posted: Sun Oct 13, 2013 6:58 pm Post subject: |
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Alright! The project is coming along great! At least I think it is. About 16+ hours of sanding to get the original paint off the top.
I just finished laying up (most) of the primer. I like the texture the closed cell roller leaves when using the the Interlux 333 brush thiner. But I have one question:
Should I sand the Interlux Pre-Kote (primer) before starting the first layer of Interlux Brightside paint? And then sand between layers of Brightside?
I do not think I am going to roll and tip. I am just going to roll so that I get that orange peel texture that comes originally (the roller was doing a great job of leaving that look with the primer, hoping the paint lays down similarly).
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Big Blue 1987 Weekender Vanagon |
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djkeev
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(And no I do not know that paint brand so cannot help ...) 