OEM Hardtop painting

[wheelie_lv]

Haven't got much time to search - is there ant topics of OEM Hardtop painting DIY with preparation photos/info?

What i've already got - the problem is with glue after vinyl stripping - you should remove it completely, and priming

Also, this quote from r3vlimited:

...huge amount of prep work is required to do the proper job, the hardtop is made of some funky material that requires special primer and bondo compounds, not just the regular stuff that you use for the car, it's sort of a mix between the marine and automotive. I've primered my top twice to get rid of all the imprefections, huge work ....
http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=117987


Any info would be appreciated

[DaveD]

Having watched my body man do mine 3 years ago I know how much work goes into this...you cannot use chemicals to remove the residual adhesives left when you take of the vinyl at they react with the fibreglass ..it all has to be done by hand as with a machine you can grind through the roof. which is hollow ..then you have to use a special hi build base to mask all the imperfections ( i can find out which if you want ..all I know is that it was yellow) then primer then spray



best of luck ..he said he wouldn't do another and Dips has quoted a price on here of £500 to get the job done

What exactly do you want to know?

[daimlerman]

My boatyard reccommend 'acetone' for cleaning fibreglass mouldings without causing damage,but I have yet to find a DiY source of the stuff!

[DaveD]

acetone is aka nail varnish remover ...and my sprayer used "spray putty" for the initial build coat give ..it a google

I found this stuff

http://www.autopaint-pro.co.uk/1l-refac ... -355-p.asp

[daimlerman]

acetone is aka nail varnish remover ...and my sprayer used "spray putty" for the initial build coat give ..it a google

I found this stuff

http://www.autopaint-pro.co.uk/1l-refac ... -355-p.asp

Correct,but you try buying the stuff in the quantities you would need for stripping the glue from a hardtop,or the inside of my boat cabin!

[DaveD]

http://www.reagent.co.uk/solvents/aceto ... 2AodsC11Pw

[daimlerman]

http://www.reagent.co.uk/solvents/aceto ... 2AodsC11Pw

Well done and thank you,sir!

Email sent...but 25litre drum is an awefull lot...

[DaveD]

It will last your wife a few years...or you can flog it up the trent marinas

[daimlerman]

They do a version called Acetone LRG in small quantites,2.5ltr.

Order now placed,cost including delivery is £28 or so.I've been looking for this stuff for two or three years!Thanks again,Dave.

[daimlerman]

They do a version called Acetone LRG in small quantites,2.5ltr.

Order now placed,cost including delivery is £28 or so.I've been looking for this stuff for two or three years!Thanks again,Dave.

And it arrived this morning!

Wish I had your searching skills,Dave!

Zone is well more than the sum of it's members,as this demonstrates.

[gjj107]

i use acetone in my job its a great degreaser but is evil stuff keep it well away from any paint cuz it will strip it !!are you sure its safe for use on fibreglass?i would have thought there is a chance it will melt the resins.we only use it on metals as a degreaser im not saying dont use but perhaps try it on a small out of the way area first to check its safe

[daimlerman]

My boatyard reccommend 'acetone' for cleaning fibreglass mouldings without causing damage,but I have yet to find a DiY source of the stuff!

gjj107,I appreciate your concerns and would add that I have been trying to remove old glue and headliner foam,fresh material needs a squeaky clean surface to adhere to,so I am hoping that this stuff will do the job.

[gjj107]

only one way to find out i guess!! i will be interested to hear the results as i may have found an old hardtop in a local scrapyard that requires refinishing

[lukescott]

Come on guys please.......... any updates ? I'm looking at an OEM roof that i will buy and get it sprayed the same colour as the car. I'm curious to see the problems yopu guys have. My paint shop guy says that the problem is when you strip the vinyl off. Apparently it hides a multitude of problems (uneven surface) that can need to be filled or smoothed out & this would be the main labour cost.

[gooner1]

Luke, copied from an old thread.



"Both types of hardtop are generally vinyl covered - the BMW ones only came that way new, and only in black or, rarely, blue, and both usually with a cream headlining AFAIK. Colour coding a BMW one is an expensive process as to do it properly requires removal of the rear screen to get rid of the vinyl in there and so prevent leaks. However, one that has had this done is probably worth paying a premium for as then all it may need is spraying to match your car. I don't know much about the Weissman ones - they never appealed to me really."

Apparently, if the Vinyl is removed there will be a honeycomb
of adhesive that is a cowson to remove.
Might be better to get one already done, and change the colour to suit if needed.

[lukescott]

Thanks Gooner. I've just come off the phone from my bodyshop guy. He has done one is the past and knows what a bastard of a job it is. He said if I'm not in a hurry and willing to have it done between his other jobs (and I am) then max cost is €500 euro.