Date:         Mon, 8 Aug 2005 11:39:35 -0400
Reply-To:     Roger Sisler <rogersisler2000@YAHOO.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Roger Sisler <rogersisler2000@YAHOO.COM>
Subject:      Re: Painting Poptop White and Heat Transfer

www.vanagonauts.com has a article on painting the pop top.It shows a person
who painted with the top still inplace. I did mine with the top removed.The
directions given will get you a very shiny top , even with semi-gloss.It
will knock your  eyes out.I like the flat, and added lots of gloss reducer
and still got shine.Looks great, but it is different and took alot of
getting used to . Primer and top coat will cause the texture dimpels to be
lost.Using a brush will cause disaster.Could not use this method no matter
how much I tried.Went out and bought an air compressor and sprayed the
top.Had no choice---  the top was a mess.Primer can be brushed on , but not
the top coat. Lots of work here I must say.Just dont know how anyone can
beat the manufactures job.I intentionally sprayed "orange peel"finish to
get my texture back.That was easy for a beginner, right? If anyone has a
dirty top, I recomend just using chlorox and detergernt with a sponge or
brush.The new top seems to attract dirt much easier than the old. With the
old, I seldom had to clean it.Remember, you will also need to buy a new
skylight gasket,ect.While I had the top off,  I flipped it over and glued
1/2 inch foam rubber sheets to the interior.If I could have any finish on
the pop top, that was not origional, I would go for the primer specified by
vanagonauts,then top coat it with semi gloss clear coat(maybe with
additional gloss reducer).Sounds wierd, but when you see this primer
finish, you might just want to preserve it.