Speaking of painting...
There has been a lot of talk about painting or getting your van painted.

I too, have wanted to do this but after hearing of thousands of dollars to
get a van painted, have put this way on the back, back burner...

My van has knicks and scrapes all over it, a few of them are throught the
base (white) coat and to the metal. Once, I bought some touch up spray
paint, that the auto guy "told" me was the match, but when I sprayed it
on...well, it wasn't so close.(This was pre-Internet and I didn't know any
better...)

Anyway, can a Auto paint place do a single coat or some kind of touch up deal
just to get things up to spec?? Most of the van looks great still and I am
very careful with it now. I just wish I could get it looking semi-perfect
without having to spend a fortune. I could afford a couple of hundred if this
could be done. Any tips on vendors? I live in Houston, TX.
THANKS all in advance.

Stuart MacMillan wrote:

> 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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