Ever painted a fiberglass Leer Cap?

Hi all, I've come across an opportunity to pick up a white leer cap in very good condition for $200.00. My problem is I do want it to somewhat match my truck, although it does not have to be a perfect match. With that being said, has anyone bought a Leer Cap and tried to paint it yourself? I'm not sure that you can even sand down and paint a fiber glass cap, and I do not want to go to a body shop because I am on a tight budget. Any suggestions?

 

I haven't done it myself, but I don't see why you wouldn't be able to sand it down and re-paint it. It would be a lot of work, but probably do-able. My shell is a different color and also scratched up I'm thinking of repainting also. I'll probably just have a shop do it though.

 

With a silver truck,I'd wet sand the cap with 600 grit paper.prep work is everything.get rid of all the shine.

 

For automotive paint you need to go a lot higher grit than 600 for the final sand. I'd go 1-2000 grit.

OP, how good of a paint job are you looking for? The paint itself isn't overly cheap, do you have a compressor, paint gun and a place to paint? It's doable but there's a touch to doing a nice paint job.

 

You could easily sand the camper, you wouldnt need to sand it down to the base all you would need to do is sand it a little past scuffing it with at least 1500 as the final sand paper, a good primer and 2 coats of ANY paint but obviously good paint is better maybe something with a flex additive since i believe those are fiberglass and a good clear coat. Not hard at all and totally doable!

Paint probably going be around 150-200

 

It doesn't have to be a perfect paint job, I do have a spray gun and compressor. I do a lot of spray work involving wood. There is a chain restaurant called Friendly's, not sure if you ever heard of it, but me and my grandfather do all of the wooden clocks that they have in their restaurants. My grandfather's sight is terrible so I do the spraying. I think my hand is steady enough to do it. I was just wondering if anyone else has attempted it before I try lol

 

You really think the paint would be 150 to 200 bucks?

 

I'm an auto painter for 17 years.1-2000 is to wet sand and polish

 

Silver is a tricky color sometimes.you can make it blotchy and have the metalics stand up( applied to dry)

 

For decent paint i believe so.

 

What do you think a shop would charge to paintit to match it to my truck?

 

Hmm. . . well even with that it is cheaper then buying a new cap. . I wonder if a shop would be much more than 200.

 

If you prep it,I'd say about $200-$400 depending on shops. Shop around.I'm sure you could find someone on Craigslist In your area.

 

/\/\/\/\ what he said

 

hmm. . . maybe I will prep it and bring it to a maco or something. I know a guy that did all of his own prep work on an old civic, he brought it to maco and they only charged him 400 to paint and clear coat the entire car. . I would assume it would be cheap for them to do a lear cap if its already sanded

 

I didn't expect all these answers so quick, thanks guys! . .It's the girlfriends birthday so I'm taking her out right now. I'll be back on tomorrow, seriously thanks for the responses.

 

Last time I had a bike painted, I did the prep and the guy who was going to paint it for me made me use 1,000 grit. You're telling me I could been fine with 600 Dammit, coulda saved me a whole lotta sanding!

 

Depends on color,grit,and how good you are at prep work.you could go up to 800. You could go up to 3000 if you were paintng a 100 point show car. You could use 220 if your painting a non metallic color or single stage and polish it.It doesn't hurt to go the extra step. 400-600-800. You wouldn't start at 800

 

Damn... I did 100, 220, 400, 600 and he had me take everything back and do 800 and 1,000. It probably wasn't necessary but the guy is kind of a perfectionist. He's got a Harley that he's had offers upwards of $40k for, beautiful machine and he made my bike look incredible.

 

do you do all the wooden clocks in all friendlys? like the ones in pennsylvania too? my sister did a painting thats inside the one in lancaster pa....

wouldnt fiberglass caps be gel coated? isnt that alittle different prep then on a car?