Anyone paint their own cap?

I just picked up a used Leer 5' midrise and want to have it painted to match my truck. I'm expecting it to cost at least $500. So has anyone tried to paint it themselves? I don't have the equipment , so has anyone tried rattlecan? If so what were the steps you took and how did it come out?

 

That's a lot of surface to evenly rattlecan unless you want to go for a black matte.

 

I plasti-dipped one before. It came out "ok". Good enough for me, since I didn't use the shell very often.

 

Modern paint system is a lot more complicated than it once was. If you have a good compressor you can purchase a cheap HVLP gun and spray it yourself. Just make sure you have good quality paint, reducer, and hardener that are compatible. Of course, then you have to color sand it, then apply the clear coat, then color sand and polish it again. Personally, I’d opt for prepping it myself and then having a body shop spray it.

 

I just did mine on friday... it came great EXCEPT two spots, i was in tight quarters and didn't notice I hit with my leg on my last pass after a nearly perfect job. I will sand and touch up.

I used bedline paint from HD

 

This guy has a nice playlist on his restoration of this $100 shell find. Rattle can paint with a high quality clear coat. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xewrzrM_Q7o

 

This past summer I sprayed @Cativelense's cap. Surface prep is key. I used PPG single stage over a PPG primer sealer. Shot through an HVLP and I have a large compressor with enough CFM. I turned the garage into a spray booth by removing the top door panel and installing 2 box fans to exhaust the garage. Plastic sheeting sealed the open area around the fan. The cap took 1 quart of primer and 1 quart of paint and I used almost all of it. Materials were about $275.00 as a reference.

You can get a decent finish with rattle cans. I've even seen a nice smooth finish on a car that was rustoleum brushed paint followed by sanding, cut and buff.

 

Thanks, great video. Definitely a lot of work, came out great. I'd be curious to know how much he spent on materials. I'm not sure if I want to tackle that myself.

 

Check out the job @ERMB did on his shell.

 

Yes, I've also seen the rustoleum paint job. They dilute the paint 50/50 with thinner I think and give it around 4 coats. Looked great when it was done

 

Thanks Doc!
Yes, I created a "how to thread" a few years back. Its pretty straight forward took me a weekend start to finish.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/step-by-step-how-to-spray-paint-with-quality-results.400182/

 

Did mine in Plasti Dip Cammo Tan. when I had my Taco

 

good job guys, but that's a project I wouldn't touch.

 

It wasn't to hard to do.

 

I paid $400.00 to get mine repainted at a local body shop. Looked brand new when I got it back. I guess it depends how fussy you are.

 

I painted one on my old truck with an HVLP and it turned out great. Got the shell off CL for about $250 that was white and wrapped. Had some body damage that needed bondo but I used to do drywall as a kid so it’s not that different, just have to work fast. Got the color match from an auto shop nearby for about $150. Never got around to clear coat it but after 5 years it still held up until I sold the truck. I know I took pictures of the process, I’ll see if I can find them.

 

I made a deal with a local body shop, I removed the windows and wet sanded with 600 grit so all the prep work was done. All they had to do was wipe it down and shoot the base/clear. Brought the cost down to $300

 

I rattled canned a LEER cap awhile ago from black to royal blue. Ended up applying several coats and wet sanded to minimize overlap marks and then put on a clear coat. Definitely not a body shop job but the color was consistent. I now have an HVLP gun and did some body work a few years ago on a Mazda 5 that turned out good. But I did spend a little over $400 for primer, PPG matching paint and two part clear coat. The key is prep, clean environment and patience.

 

I painted a cap last summer. I think it took 4 cans of paint. I used some krylon fusion just taped windows and wiped it down and sprayed away. Nothing to it. It could have come out better but I was impatiant and not picky. Put 2k in miles and paint looks as bad as when I applied it.

 

helluvan endorsement, bro.