Date: Thu, 12 Aug 1999 00:32:03 -0400
Reply-To: "Joe L." <jliasse@TOAST.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: "Joe L." <jliasse@TOAST.NET>
Subject: Re: Painting my 83.5 Westy
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Thanks for the tips. I intend to do my own preping before I hand it
over to them. A couple of places you mentioned I did not think of and they
are now on the list.
I was thinking about having the job done like you did (from the drip
rails down) as the paint above the rails seems in fair shape. But I cant
help but think that several months from now when the work is done I will
wish I had pulled the top. Looking at the job from this side though.........
What will probably happen is that I will deside to leave the top on and
then start the prep job. While I am preping it I will be constantly bothered
with the thought that I really should "do the job right" and pull the top.
My lazy side will resist the idea until the day before I actually give them
the van. At that time I will give in to my "better angles" and grab a
wrench.
----- Original Message -----
From: Roy O. <keepsake@PANGEA.CA>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Wednesday, August 11, 1999 11:16 PM
Subject: Re: Painting my 83.5 Westy
> Tips resulting from my experience with having my Westfalia professionally
> painted two years ago:
>
> 1. Ensure that the body shop/painter does a good job sealing openings such
as
> the fridge flue vent before sanding. Grit will find its way into countless
nooks
> and crannies in the van's interior, especially in cupboards, floor areas
behind
> cupboards and the cabinetry around the fridge. For the longest time, I
found
> sand in the fridge door shelves in spite of vacuuming and vacuuming and...
>
> 2. This is a good time to remove the rubber covering on the passenger and
driver
> step to see if there's any rust under there.
>
> 3. Ensure the bumper ends are mounted such that they don't rub against
your new
> paint job. Sometimes things don't fit exactly as they did before remove.
It was
> necessary to trim the bumper ends on my van to prevent "chafing".
>
> 4. My van was painted from the drip rails down. It's virtually impossible
to see
> the seam where the old and new paint meet.
>
> 5. I had the body shop sand and repaint the propane tank stone shield. I
used to
> do this myself every two years by hand. The professional job is holding up
much
> better.
>
> Roy O.
> '87 Westfalia
> ('till death us do part)
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Joe L. <jliasse@TOAST.NET>
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Date: Tuesday, August 10, 1999 10:54 PM
> Subject: Painting my 83.5 Westy
>
>
> With the paint resembling a heavy dusting of talcum powder looks
like
> its time to bite the bullet and have it painted. Finances being what they
are it
> was a choice between Macco and Earl Schreibe; Earl won (yeah, I know but
they
> seem to do a pretty good job for the money).
> I intend to do a good prep job myself before letting them have at
it
> but I am wondering what to do about that area of the Westy above the rain
> channel that the pop-top rubber rests on. The ideal I suppose is to pull
the
> entire top off so they can reach the area but I am hoping someone here has
a
> better idea.
> Anyone ever have a paint job with the top on and simply masked
off? How
> did it turn out?
>
> Any hints, suggestions or "watch out for...."s will be appreciated.
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