How have YOU painted YOUR hardtop? *The Hardtop Guide

110214 Views 27 Replies 15 Participants Last post by wwch99tj, Sep 30, 2014

3025826

Discussion Starter · Nov 6, 2012

Hey everyone like the title says how have you painted your hard tops? What has worked and what hasn't? What do you think is best? A complete thread on this topic is missing so I hope you all can contribute. Links to good write ups would also be helpful!

I personally am looking to paint my hard top black to match the body, with near professional quality results. I bought a Yj top and did all fiberglass work to have it fit perfectly on my Tj, as well as some broken upper sliders cheap on ebay. I'm having a surprisingly hard time finding others who have painted their hard tops or done major touch ups on the body which is what I'd like to do. (Quoted at $1500 by multiple shops for hard top and upper sliders painted to match only on the outside, which I find unacceptable)

The Process (As I've already sanded considerably I'll omit that)
1. Primer
-It looks like an epoxy primer or urethane would be best to prime with from what I've read.
2. Paint
-A lot of folks seem to think krylon fusion a good paint choice for their hardtop (I am skeptical). Having put in a considerable amount of work so far I believe in going with the most durable and professional method. I'd like to choose a paint that matches and that will hold up
3. Clearcoat
-Haven't seen anyone discuss this in any detail. Obviously if anyone knows a highly scratch resistant clearcoat that can hold up to trail use it would be ideal, possibly even to go over the whole body with once I finish fixing all body scratches

1 - 20 of 28 Posts

Lookin2buy

· #2 · Nov 6, 2012

As a custom painter by trade, I would pretty much ONLY use automotive grade paints. Krylon fusion is made for plastic...and since the hardtop is already painted, the proper steps were already taken to ensure good adhesion.

I'll admit, I just rattlecanned my a couple weeks ago to freshen it up quickly...and I left it right on the jeep and just masked off with some tape and painters plastic. I did use VHT epoxy paint which is black satin and self-priming as well as resistant to salt so figured I would see how it lasts over this winter....

Now, once I put the soft top on in the spring, here's how I will do it:
1. Prep the surface by scuffing it with a grey scuff pad then degrease
2. Apply black sealer (why sealer, because I can paint it wet on wet)
3. Black Base
4. Clearcoat! Yup, for sure....

I will probably add a flattening agent to the clear to give it a satin finish....may even use a matte clear and just hit it with enough coats till it develops a satin finish (more coats of matte clear, the more gloss....so with 4 coats of clear, I'd probably be satin to semi...might just need 3 coats.

The biggest reason I'd use clearcoat is for the UV protection, and would certainly hold up better and longer than a single stage black with clear mixed in...

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Dextreme

· #3 · Nov 6, 2012

I washed mine, taped off the glass. Sprayed it with a few coats of Krylon Fusion (2-3 cans). Done.

Looks brand new!

Oh, and if I take the Jeep through low hanging paint scratching limbs, its a $5 fix to slap on a fresh coat.

cedar

· #4 · Nov 6, 2012

Are there two kinds of Krylon Fusion? One for plastic and one regular?

Dextreme

· #5 · Nov 6, 2012

cedar said:
Are there two kinds of Krylon Fusion? One for plastic and one regular?

Krylon: Products: Fusion for Plastic®

The revolutionary no-prep, superbond Fusion for Plastic® now makes painting plastic possible.

No sanding or priming required
Bonds easily to most plastics, PVC, resin and more
Fast dry; fully chip resistant after 7 days

For use with
Wood, Metal, Wicker, Wrought Iron, Plastic, Hard Vinyl, Glass, Plaster, Ceramic, Paper, Paper Mache

Lookin2buy

· #6 · Nov 6, 2012

Dex - the problem is, the fusion is made to adhere right to plastic...in its bare form. If it's been painted...it's no longer plastic

Sure, underneath it is...but the substrate itself, is no longer plastic, so you'd never to need to use fusion over something already painted...

Any paint will stick to any surface practically....at first....it's a matter of how long will it stay on? And without any UV protection, it will be prone to fading quickly too...

Dextreme

· #7 · Nov 6, 2012

Lookin2buy said:
Dex - the problem is, the fusion is made to adhere right to plastic...in its bare form. If it's been painted...it's no longer plastic Sure, underneath it is...but the substrate itself, is no longer plastic, so you'd never to need to use fusion over something already painted...

Any paint will stick to any surface practically....at first....it's a matter of how long will it stay on? And without any UV protection, it will be prone to fading quickly too...

Understood...but it sprays nice and even, it adhears to plastic and/or existing paint, and its durable. Simply works.

My point is that ya can have a $15 Fusion paint job that looks good....or you can have a $1000+ professional paint job that looks super awesome, but will bring tears and agony at the first nick/scratch. I personally prefer to spend $15 on Fusion and spend the $985 on something more functionally cool.

But everyone has different spending priorities. :thumb:

Neil F.

· #8 · Nov 6, 2012

I used Fusion on mine inside and out 4-5 years ago. The outside did fade some. There were a few tiny areas that did chip/peel in aprticular in the groove around the side window. Probably due to overspray getting in there first. I redid the exterior a month or two ago.

beetle

· #9 · Nov 6, 2012

5

sanded it down with 80 grit, then 150, then 220. masked off the windows and sprayed with rattlecan bedliner

Done:
it's muddy in these picture but came out really smooth in real life and matches the rest of my rig (fenders, mirrors, etc.)

i can take more pics that focus just on the hardtop when it stops raining if anyone wants

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Neal5280

· #10 · Nov 6, 2012

beetle said:
i can take more pics that focus just on the hardtop when it stops raining if anyone wants

I would like to see some detailed pictures, did you clean after final sanding if so what did you clean it with?

beetle

· #11 · Nov 6, 2012

After the final sanding I was head to toe in paint dust. I literally looked like a coal miner. Used a compressor to blow off most of the dust and wiped it down with a wet cloth and then with mineral spirits. That is what I read about people using on their fenders and had success with it when I did mine. I did 2-3 coats and sanded out a couple runs and drips that I had. I also had to pick out a bunch of dead flies haha. Gave it one more coat and felt like it was good to go!

Neal5280

· #12 · Nov 6, 2012

Nice how many can's and what brand did you use?

beetle

· #13 · Nov 6, 2012

I think I used around 5 cans of "Rust-oleum spray on bedliner", but it could have been a couple more.

Colt45

· #14 · Nov 6, 2012

For the finally cleaning I always use this stuff called final wipe. I cant remember who makes it I will have to look. But it works really well. Doesn't leave the film like mineral spirits does. I have really good luck soaking the floor all around the area I'm painting with water too. I soak it with a hose then let it sit for a half hour or so then soak it again and paint. I never have problems with dirt when I do that.

MarkGLHS

· #15 · Nov 6, 2012

really nice work BEETLE, your TJ looks great.

i know the thread is about do-it-yourself jobs but i paid only $400 at a pro shop to repaint my hardtop in base coat-clear coat and it came with a lifetime warranty.

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3025826

Discussion Starter · #16 · Nov 6, 2012

Those all look great! Looked into using some monstaliner on the outside (I just did the tub) but decided against that look.

I just talked to a cousin who owns a paint shop and he's got me pretty sold on some acrylic paint his buddy used to paint his hardtop about 5 years ago. It's held up really impressively and apparently doesn't need any clear coat or any primer.:thumb: (he also informed me any paint works much better when used side by side with primer/ clearcoats of the same brand). So I'm going for it this friday, I'll include a writeup and pictures when it's done!

Heliotropic

· #17 · Nov 7, 2012

I used Raptor Liner on mine. The write up is in my signature (the painting portion is in post #8).

wwch99tj

· #18 · Nov 7, 2012

4

I used rustoleum (quart) mixed 50/50 rolled on with a high density roller.
I completely sanded it smooth and rolled then wet sanded and polished

When I first finished it

Last month when I installed it for winter

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3025826

Discussion Starter · #19 · Nov 7, 2012

Damn that rust oleum turned out awesome. If I didn't already have my paint bought I might be rethinking it, hope it turns out as nice as that

sport454

· #20 · Nov 7, 2012

These are some good tips. I'm still not sure what I am going to do with mine. I will make up my mind after I get the rest of the Jeep prepped and painted. When I do make up my mind I will post up my results also.

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