Date: Mon, 6 Dec 1999 17:32:36 -0500
Reply-To: Bulley <gmbulley@BULLEY-HEWLETT.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Bulley <gmbulley@BULLEY-HEWLETT.COM>
Subject: Shiny westy Top, was: paint job
I dunno know about the colored tops, but the white ones can rise like a
phoenix, and shine, even if moldy and chalky. Our was pale gray and covered
with mold when we bought the van.
To Do:
1) protect van paint with plastic sheets
2) buy one gallon of "purple power" a biodegradable super cleaner that will
clean off all the dead paint and mold in a few minutes. Wear gloves, and
goggles. Purple power lives up to its name.
3) In a shaded, cool area, spray purple power all over the top.
4) After 5 minutes, rinse with a powerful stream of water. Viola! Clean.
5) Now, polish with MacGuire's scratch-removing Polish, Chemical Cleaner,
then Wax.
It won't fix any cracks in the gel coat, but it will look like a million
bucks. Total time, 5 hours. Total cost $30, mostly for MacGuire's which you
can use on the rest of your fleet.
Best of luck,
G. Matthew Bulley
Bulley-Hewlett
Corporate Communications Counselors
www.bulley-hewlett.com
Cary, NC USA
888.468.4880 tollfree
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-----Original Message-----
From: Stuart MacMillan [SMTP:stuart@COBALTGROUP.COM]
Sent: Monday, December 06, 1999 5:03 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: paint job
I painted my top myself this summer. Just used a Scotch medium scuffing
pad with water followed by a solvent surface cleaner to get the surfaced
prepped. I took the luggage rack off, removed the seals (needed new ones
anyway), masked off the skylight opening, (remove the skylight but not
the seal for it) and draped painter's plastic all around the van and
shot three coats of PPG Delthane catalyzed polyurethane enamel.
I was going to flatten it down, but it looks great with the gloss. They
actually were fairly glossy when new, but didn't stay that way for
long. The paint and materials ran about $170 (1 qt paint, reducer,
catalyst, scuffing pad, lacquer thinner for clean up, plastic, etc.),
flattener would have added another $30.
You could probably do all the above prep and get it done for a bit less
than $500. No sealer is needed, which would add another $70 to the cost
of materials. I can send you a picture if I can find it!
Bob Berkemer wrote:
>
> Well, got my new (nice used) pop top and I'm getting ready to have it
> and the luggage carrier painted to match the body, (as was from the
> factory). Went to one of the "big" auto body places yesterday and they
> quote me a price of $1,000. This seems a bit high to me. Went to another
> shop that was recommended by my VW mechanic and they quoted $500.
> Hummmmmm.....
>
> Anybody out there had their top painted and do you have any
> recommendations? I want it to look as close to factory as possible and I
> get nervous when they start talking about all the prep sanding. A smooth
> shiny top isn't what I want.
>
> TIA
> Bob, 84 westy
> Menomonie WI
>
> P.S. Looked at a shinny new green diesel beetle today..... I want it!!!
--
Stuart MacMillan
Manager, Case Program
800-909-8244 ext 208
Getting your share of the Net yet?
http://www.cobaltgroup.com
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