Painting a hard top

All i did was sand and paint. I used the cheap wallyworld spray paint and it lasted for years, with no peeling fading or anything..... I used a sanding block to prep. wiped down with denatured alchol and painted......

Same for me on my CJ, sand, wipe, spray.

If you have a textured fiberglass hard top like the one on my YJ, you should do some thinking before you attack it with sand paper. First, sanding will no doubt destroy the finish and second, it will be hard to sand it completely smooth. Go to your local body work supply, and find out what chemical cleaner and etching primer they recommend.

If you have a smooth hard top, disregard this post.

Earle

I used Softscrub and water before I painted mine. Preserved the texured finish and the paint went on with no problems. Looks great after a fresh coat of lacquer based, satin black trim paint.

Scott

I just painted mine. Just cleaned the top real good with Marine clean and rolled on rustolium satin black. It looks like new, also as I did not sand it it still has the textured look.

I just painted mine and it looks great.

Used Marine Clean to clean it up good and painted with a satin finish rustolium.

Still has the textured look and looks new

My best guess on a textured top would be to use a scotchbrite pad so that you rough it up well without damaging the texture. You may want to use a mild soap solution maybe Dawn, let it dry. Then a degreaser/dewaxer, then after it is all dry again, a tack cloth, self etching primer, let it dry, another light scuff, tack cloth again and paint. If you are doing it in your garage be sure to dampen the floor and cover anything you don't want to get overspray on. Oh, and this time of year is bad for painting too cold in most places unless you have a heated place to do it.

Be sure to mask off anything you dont want painted and you should be ok.

Kate

: > If you have a smooth hard top, disregard this post. : >

: > Earle : >

: >>

: >

: >

: :

Post a link to a pic ?

Dave Milne, Scotland

I dont have a photo account, I'll try to set one up and post a pic this weekend.

That's actually an excellent idea.

Due to the factory texture, a roller would work really well, unlike typical vehicles painted with rollers!

I've painted textured roll-up doors on trucks with enamel, applied with a short nap roller, and it came out well. I never thought of using one on a Jeep hardtop.

I once watched a guy paint his car with a 4 inch brush and a can of latex house paint. That was a unique finish !