Painting a Fiberglass Camper Shell

wmdana

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Looking for advice on which paint to buy for painting a fiberglass camper shell. My plan is to topcoat SPI epoxy with a SS paint. Living in Calif I am limited to the low VOC paints. My choice of paint is Nason, Utech U280, Auto Art Motocryl 50 LV, and PPG Delfleet Essential. Any advice on the coverage and quality of these paints. The color I am painting is Oxford White so should I use white epoxy or gray as an undercoat?

Thanks, Jim
 
Motocryl or Utech would be good choices for single stage. The color of your undercoat doesn't really matter as long as you seal it in the correct color. That being said either white or gray would work well.
 
I've used both single stage and basecoat from Automotive Art and in both cases coverage is very good and quality is high. I am in the middle of painting a large aluminum Argosy camper. That was Motocryl but was not the low VOC. The color I painted was a light beige, almost flesh color, sprayed over gray epoxy and had complete hide and coverage after the first pass. Like Chris already said, white or gray are both fine. I personally prefer the gray epoxy because it covers better than the white.
 
Thanks for the replys. That was info I was looking for. I'll go with the Motocryl even though I have to travel out of the area to buy it. I'll go with the gray epoxy as I have some here at the house and don't have to buy the white and save a couple of bucks

Thanks, Jim
 
Thanks for the replys. That was info I was looking for. I'll go with the Motocryl even though I have to travel out of the area to buy it. I'll go with the gray epoxy as I have some here at the house and don't have to buy the white and save a couple of bucks

Thanks, Jim
If it helps at all, you could buy it online from @Chad.S at Auto Rod Technologies here in MI.
 
If you know the paint code of the truck, simply give them the code and they can mix it to match.
The color code of the truck is YZ. When I was at the paint store that sells Auto Art the person there said that I should bring in a object off the truck to match the paint. He stated that mixing the Motocryl can sometimes come out on the yellow side or sometimes on gray side and with the price of paint I want to be sure of the match since I have to travel out of the area to buy it. I would like to support Chad but if the paint doesn't match then I am screwed. I am also using part of this paint to touch up the truck so that is why color match is important.
 
Ford I'm assuming. YZ is Oxford white. Pretty easy color to mix and one that there are not a lot of variants of for many many years. None of us are pushing Chad's business because we want to drum up support. More so because you mentioned having to drive a distance to get it.
I'm curious about what that Jobber said to you because generally when you get a jobber to mix a color it's yours regardless of whether or not it matches. I have no idea why he would want a sample unless he was planning to scan it. Which doesn't always give accurate results. Usually gets within a couple of shades either way. Rarely have I had the camera give me a dead on match. The only way you are going to ensure a close match is by doing sprayout cards. If they dip a stick in the color and compare it to your sample that is no comparison.
Personally Chad understands color, mixing color and probably will get as close as anyone can. Oxford white is not a difficult color to mix or match though. Like I said above the amount of variants is pretty small over the many years the color was used. Be sure to give the jobber the year of your truck as well. That will help narrow it down.
If you want to be absolutely certain though you need to do sprayout cards and compare that to your existing color. That is the only way to ensure color match. If the Jobber you are going to use tells you otherwise they are blowing smoke up your kazoo.:)
 
Depending on the age of your truck, getting a dead on match may/ will prove difficult. One reason why we have to blend everything in collision. If you can afford it, ordering a small amount (smallest mixable amount) and getting some sprayout cards (available at any paint jobber) and doing a sprayout will be a good decision.
 
Thanks Chris for sharing your knowledge. Yes, the color is for a Ford truck. I just thought that if I gave the code to the jobber it would be a no brainer. I guess thats what I get for thinking. I'll give Chad a call and order through him as I do like to support the people on this site.
 
The reason I go through Chad (aside from the fact that he’s only an hour away from me) is that I trust him completely to carry quality products, he carries everything (so you can get your tape, masking paper, mixing cups, etc) but maybe most importantly, he’s a painter and very good fabricator himself so he’s very technically knowledgeable and is going to give you good info.
 
The reason I go through Chad (aside from the fact that he’s only an hour away from me) is that I trust him completely to carry quality products, he carries everything (so you can get your tape, masking paper, mixing cups, etc) but maybe most importantly, he’s a painter and very good fabricator himself so he’s very technically knowledgeable and is going to give you good info.
I live in Calif so I am quite a distance away from Mich. I was looking at your project on the Argosy trailer and you are doing a remarkable job considering the size and the fact you are painting outside
 
And when you Look in the can at the paint Color, It will Not look 'right. Ford Whites look 'dirty white' and your first thought is Wth?... LOL..
My first Ford White was New 07,08 (don't remember exactly) Dually tailgate for a good friend who bought a ecoat replacement after leaving it down and,well you know,I opened the base can and remember it well.
Called my jobber and asked what did he send me, "Just spray it,its right".
It was. Then I got my brand new Iwata Lph-400 out of the box,my payment for this job,and spayed the Clear on it.
Felt really bad because the tailgate looked SO much better than the OEM 'peel.
Told him I'd redo it but he really didn't care.
 
And when you Look in the can at the paint Color, It will Not look 'right. Ford Whites look 'dirty white' and your first thought is Wth?... LOL..
My first Ford White was New 07,08 (don't remember exactly) Dually tailgate for a good friend who bought a ecoat replacement after leaving it down and,well you know,I opened the base can and remember it well.
Called my jobber and asked what did he send me, "Just spray it,its right".
It was. Then I got my brand new Iwata Lph-400 out of the box,my payment for this job,and spayed the Clear on it.
Felt really bad because the tailgate looked SO much better than the OEM 'peel.
Told him I'd redo it but he really didn't care.
Thanks Mike for the info. At least now when I look at the color and it doesn't look right I'll just spray it. I ordered the Auto Art Motocryl from Chad this am so it's a done deal. I want to thank everybody that has given me advice as it is greatly appreciated. That is why this forum is so great, no BS.
 
Still do some spray outs just to See what.
Or just blend the surrounding Truck in while your at it.;)
 
Thanks Mike for the info. At least now when I look at the color and it doesn't look right I'll just spray it. I ordered the Auto Art Motocryl from Chad this am so it's a done deal. I want to thank everybody that has given me advice as it is greatly appreciated. That is why this forum is so great, no BS.
You got 2.5L of hardener for it right?
 
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