Rustoleum Topside thinning

[Seldomseensmith]

I'm prepping for paint and was hoping to hear from people that have painted with Rustoleum. I'll be rolling with foam roller and brush as needed. Going over existing gel coat with some patch repair work. Thinned? And if so what have you used, how much and how did you feel about the results?


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[Dudley]

Depending on what kind of a job you want, you could check out $50 paint job, They are using rustoleum and doing about 6 coats with cutting and polishing.
$50 dollar

Your results may vary

[Bob Miller]

FIRST... Be sure you get Rustoleum Topside Marine Paint. It's designed to go onto fiberglass AFTER application of Rustoleum Marine primer.


I have done two pop-up campers in the past year with those products using the roll & tip method with excellent results. Best price is on Amazon. One coat of primer and two coats of color usually does the job. No thinning is required or desired unless you are spraying.


For the very best paint over fiberglass I recommend and have used Interlux Briteside marine coating. It's a bit (?) more expensive but results in a sprayed-on look over fiberglass. I did my Hunter Compact with that with excellent results.
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j...90491159,d.cGU

[Seldomseensmith]

My plan is no primer. Sand old gel coat and roll on. My expectations are fairly low. My camper is not a show piece. I just want it one color. I bought 4 quarts of rust topside. I won't thin it. Let you know how it goes.


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[Bob Miller]

Without using primer you can almost guarantee that it will start peeling within a year of sun exposure.

[Seldomseensmith]

Bob, is it from experience that you say that? The manufacturer doesn't suggest using primer on previously painted surfaces. They suggest sanding with 150 grit sandpaper. At 7500' elevation in the desert the sun eats everything alive so nothing will surprise me. I'll park it in the garage and get 3 years out of it hopefully. By then I'll be rich and just buy whatever I want. hahahahahahaha.

[Jim Bennett]

Originally Posted by Seldomseensmith

My plan is no primer. Sand old gel coat and roll on.

I would never consider not using a primer before coating with a topside paint. I have not used Rustoleum, so maybe they have some special formulation, but all other more commonly used manufacturers, like Epiphanes and Interlux, both recommend it's use, especially if over patched areas, or bare fibreglass, areas. A good primer with any kind of paint, is mostly made of polymers that adhere fast to the surface it is put on, and allow the paint on top a great surface to bond to.

When doing all the prep work needed before painting, often much more effort than the painting itself, the little added effort and cost of a primer seems to make sense.

As far as thinning goes, use what is recommended by the manufacturer, if at all. I know with Interlux Brightside, they say you can use up to 10%. It can help the coating level a bit, but too much and you risk getting runs.

[Bob Miller]

I didn't bring a can of Rustoleum Marine Coating with me, and I am about 1500 miles from what I have, but I found this on the Rustoleum site:


"About Wood & Fiberglass Primer
Rust-Oleum® Marine Coatings Wood & Fiberglass Primer primes bare, lightly rusted and previously painted surfaces. Apply to wood or fiberglass surfaces above the waterline. Sands easily."


I've been painting since "Candy Apple Red" was invented and the most common causes of paint bonding failures (peeling)has always been a lack of proper preparation or failure to use the correct primer.


In as much FGRV's are "forever", I can't see intentionally doing something that's not going to have a long life span as well.


BTW: From Post #4, What is "Rust Topside"? That's not a listed color for Rustoleum Marine Coatings.

[Seldomseensmith]

Originally Posted by Bob Miller

BTW: From Post #4, What is "Rust Topside"? That's not a listed color for Rustoleum Marine Coatings.

I just meant Rustoleum Topside. I'm going with the Sand Beige color.

[Seldomseensmith]

One coat in.


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[Seldomseensmith]

I'm super excited about how the paint came out. I have a little more touch up to do but mainly complete. Two coats and loads of prep and there she sits.


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[Uncle Cereal]

Looks good! How's the paint job one year later?