Painting my top with Durabak. Any last minute tips?

[Hobbes9112]

I am finally getting a few weeks away from school so in the next few weeks I will be taking the top off the Jimmy and repainting it. After reading a bunch about Durabak here on the forums, I think that is the best way for me to go.

I am going to order one gallon of the dark gray tomorrow. I am buying the UV protected type, but I am still a bit worried about fading. Has anyone used the dark gray on a top? Besides some masks, sand paper, cleaner, and elbow length gloves, any other things I need to pick up? Any tips or suggestions?

Thanks!

 

[hammermachine]

You too?

I just bought some too, but not for my truck cab. I'm using it for my DD step bars and for my K5 floors, (if I get them repaired first). Last year on a previous truck I was going to paint the entire body, but I ended up selling the truck first. I don't think I'm helping you any but I'll post my progress and maybe you'll learn from my mistakes.

 

[Skigirl]

I am finally getting a few weeks away from school so in the next few weeks I will be taking the top off the Jimmy and repainting it. After reading a bunch about Durabak here on the forums, I think that is the best way for me to go.

I am going to order one gallon of the dark gray tomorrow. I am buying the UV protected type, but I am still a bit worried about fading. Has anyone used the dark gray on a top? Besides some masks, sand paper, cleaner, and elbow length gloves, any other things I need to pick up? Any tips or suggestions?

Thanks!

There's always a little fading over time, but you can often use a scrub brush and remove much of it. It doesn't get chalky or anything, but the shine disappears and starts to look a little lighter than the original color.

Durabak also has a "renewer" for their stock colors to handle fading, that I think is just more Durabak thinned, but I've never used it because I mixed my own color for the body and the top, which I did oin black, seems to be holding up well, been on there for over 2 years.

Make sure you have Xylene on hand to thin the mix- you can keep Durabak usable once opened for a couple of days if you keep it thinned.

Make sure you really clean the surfaces to be Durabak'd well, and then wipe it down a few times with Xylene. Don't skimp on this step.

Durabak rolls on easily. Do the first coat in one direction (vertically), then the second horizontally for good coverage. Roll it on medium thickness and watch for runs. Stir the can of Durabak every half hour or so and keep the can covered when not in use.

Use a paintbrush for hard to roller places and dab it on.

Tape off whatever you don't want Durabak'd, including your hootus if you are inclined to flap in the breeze.