Painting you PT

[BobRip]

I spray painted my PT with some JD matching green. I did little prep work and it is not holding up everywhere. Any suggestion on cleaning solvents, sanding, etc.

Things were kinda slow on this site, so I thought this might liven things up.

Bob Rip

 

[ponytug]

Dear Bob,

Prep work is 90% of the job. Sand, degrease, prime, and paint. If the surface is oily before you sand, degrease first, sand, and then degrease again. The other 10% is the paint, and painting.

For areas that have rusted, I have had good luck with rust converting solutions that put down a layer of black iron phosphate/oxide. Paint adheres really well, and the rust doesn't recur easily.

I have always been happier with brush on paint, and two part paint finishes, when compared to spray paint. Spray paint in a can is never going to be a great finish, but you probably don't want to go to the effort of mixing up a two part paint, painting it on, and dealing with the leftover, paint which will congeal pretty quickly. If you do, there are lots of great polyurethane, and epoxy paints out there. Local autobody shops will usually mix you up a pint or two fairly cheaply, but it will be 3-20X the price of spray paint.

Personally, I just try to keep the rust at bay on working machines. Funnily enough, I'll touch up the smallest scratch on a car. It isn't entirely logical, but there it is.

All the best,

Peter

I spray painted my PT with some JD matching green. I did little prep work and it is not holding up everywhere. Any suggestion on cleaning solvents, sanding, etc.

Things were kinda slow on this site, so I thought this might liven things up.

Bob Rip

 

[MossRoad]

I just take the grinder to it, wipe it down with paint thinner, a shot of primer and a shot of JD green. Mostly have to do this around the front wheels where sticks and vines spin the paint off along the inside of the wheels. That seems to last a couple - three years.

 

[BobRip]

I just take the grinder to it, wipe it down with paint thinner, a shot of primer and a shot of JD green. Mostly have to do this around the front wheels where sticks and vines spin the paint off along the inside of the wheels. That seems to last a couple - three years.

Peter and Moss, thanks for the input. My internet has been down for a couple of days, so I am late in thanking.
Maybe this winter I will pull the wheels and do some touch up.

 

[PABenz]

I am thinking of using the rollon bed liner made by Herculine for the bottom and sides of my PT, maybe even on some attachments. I read good things about that product on several websites including JC Whitney. I think you can also paint over the product with Green if you like. Good Luck.

 

[BobRip]

I am thinking of using the rollon bed liner made by Herculine for the bottom and sides of my PT, maybe even on some attachments. I read good things about that product on several websites including JC Whitney. I think you can also paint over the product with Green if you like. Good Luck.

The bed liner has a high coefficient of friction. Will that create extra drag when you bottom out on the ground of whatever?

 

[cqaigy2]

The bed liner has a high coefficient of friction. Will that create extra drag when you bottom out on the ground of whatever?

That's a good question. I know i've slid the bottom across logs, rocks and mud to name a few. My Dad's pickup has a bed coating on it that has held up real well, but sliding heavy items doesn't happen.

 

[SnowRidge]

I think the bed-liner might hide incipient cracks rather well, which would not be a good thing. It would also make repairs that much harder.

The rough bottom point is a good one, too.

Paint is cheap and easy. These things aren't show cars.

 

[Phils]

I put the Herculiner in my pickup bed 10 years ago. It has faded and flaked off in some places. The worst thing is that it "chalks off" for lack of a better term. That is, it you put something in the bed and drive somewhere, when you pull that something out it'll have some black on it.

I acknowledge this wouldn't be the same as using it underneath a PT, but I wouldn't do it. After a few years it won't look good and it may look worse if it was painted over. My newer truck came with Line-X in the bed and I think it'd be great for the underside of the PT but what a pain to get it done.

Phil