RE: Panel/Paint

[tcone1]

I wouldn't bother with stripping the paint. The powder coating process requires the parts to be blasted to insure good adhesion. Strip away, but the parts prep guy wont even notice rustoleum.

My panel is powder coated in a lovely medium grey almost crinkle finish that will hold up to anything...even slipping screw drivers haven't scratched it.

Tim

[kentb]

Originally Posted by fstringham7a

New decision though....value of the color....light or dark or something inbetween? ANY advice would be appreciated.

Dark, but not shinny. This will reduce reflection in the canopy at night.
I used a medium gray color on mine.

Kent

[alpinelakespilot2000]

Don't give up yet Frank. How long ago did you paint it? I've found that the Rustoleum Professional series dries quick to the touch (that's what separates the Profesional from the others in the Rustoleum line), but it takes a LONG time to cure to the point that it will not scratch easy. My whole intererior is painted with the Stainless Steel color and after 6 mos. it is tough!!!! I have no qualms about using it on my panel, though I have not found the exact color/sheen that I'm looking for yet. Good luck, though.

[WSBuilder]

Frank,
What was your prep & prime? Did you paint immediately after priming like the can says? I just used Rustoleum Pro to paint the 351 from my boat and everyday it cures harder. It takes much longer if you spray on soft primer, but it sets up rock hard if you leave it alone for a week or more. Heat lamps will help.

[fstringham7a]

Originally Posted by WSBuilder

Frank,
What was your prep & prime? Did you paint immediately after priming like the can says? I just used Rustoleum Pro to paint the 351 from my boat and everyday it cures harder. It takes much longer if you spray on soft primer, but it sets up rock hard if you leave it alone for a week or more. Heat lamps will help.

Bill, I did the prime and after it dried (85 degree morning heading for 113 afternoon here in the desert southwest) appplied the first coat of paint. I got some dusting lines at the edge of the paint strokes which I have found to be no big deal. They are eliminated with some 600 grit wet paper. I applied two more coats. The next morning I gave it a 600 grit wet sanding and wanted to have a brushed effect so I made parallel strokes with red scotch bright. I stepped back and though, man this looks good. So the next step was to start putting the panel together........WRONG........I should have waited a few days and gave it the old heat lamp treatment...but no.....as usual my lack of patiences forced me to get the panel together. As you all know by the time I got it together the panel looked pretty bad (at least for me).

The panel today is at the powder coater with the results seen by 5:00 PM today. I decided to go with mat black. $40.00.

So lessons learned. If you use rattle can be patient/let it cure/enjoy $ savings or go powder coating with it's strength/$$$$$$$$$.

Thanks again for all the advice/help/suggestions, as usual the RV family comes to the rescue!!!!!

Frank @ SGU RV7A Panel at the powder coater

[CODon]

You decided to make it black after years of thought. As an old military pilot, any color of black is right. Good luck and better sleep.

[fstringham7a]

Originally Posted by CODon

You decided to make it black after years of thought. As an old military pilot, any color of black is right. Good luck and better sleep.

Follow up to the panel/paint/powder coat saga. Got the panel back this PM and it is great looking/tough as nails/ready for wiring. I am just $40 lighter in the wallet!!!!!!!!!!Will get some ZZZZZ this evening but I am sure I will be able to creat a new problem for me and you

Thanks for the help to all you great RV builders

Frank @ SGU RV7A Panel/Wiring

[N130WN]

Rustoleum Hard Hat, Dark Machine Grey, has been holding up very well for me on the panel and interior..

[RV6_flyer]

My RV-6 will be at Oshkosh. 8th time in the past 9 years. My panel was painted with a Rust Oleum spray can. It has held up better than expected.

Look for it at Oshkosh.

RV-6
"My Sanity" painted on the cowl
10" SoCAL WVAF decal on tail
N157GS

[robertahegy]

My boulder grey rattle can Rustoleum panel still looks great after 3.5 years as does the rest of the interior I used it on. Make sure you adequately scuff and clean it. I used no primer under it.

Roberta