Painting fiberglass Cobra trailer

[[email protected]]

Hi,
Can anyone recommend a paint type for the fiberglass top of the Cobra trailer? Looking to spray paint a couple coats of white paint followed by the clear coat.
Thanks,
GK

[Tim Taylor]

Any good polyurethane should work. I would use a single stage rather than a two stage base and clear coat. I like PPG single stage like the Concept series.

[CLewis95]

On Friday, January 18, 2013 9:38:00 AM UTC-6, wrote:
> Hi,
>
> Can anyone recommend a paint type for the fiberglass top of the Cobra trailer? Looking to spray paint a couple coats of white paint followed by the clear coat.
>
> Thanks,
>
> GK

I plan to do the same thing someday .. I would be interested in hearing from anyone (experienced) in giving an estimate for doing this.

Curt - 95

[Uncle Fuzzy[_2_]]

On Friday, January 18, 2013 7:59:37 AM UTC-8, Tim Taylor wrote:
> Any good polyurethane should work. I would use a single stage rather than a two stage base and clear coat. I like PPG single stage like the Concept series.

Yabbut.... @ around $450/gallon, concept is a bit spendy for a trailer.

[Discus 44]

On Jan 18, 7:59*am, Tim Taylor > wrote:
> Any good polyurethane should work. I would use a single stage rather than a two stage base and clear coat. *I like PPG single stage like the Concept series.

"Concept" is an Acrylic Urethane material. Polyurethane it is not.
Must use a breathing system for safe application. Yes, it is
expensive. Maybe use a good auto paint.

TU

[[email protected]]

On Friday, January 18, 2013 10:38:00 AM UTC-5, wrote:
> Hi, Can anyone recommend a paint type for the fiberglass top of the Cobra trailer? Looking to spray paint a couple coats of white paint followed by the clear coat. Thanks, GK

Your best bet is to use whatever the local guy that is going to spray it is used to.
5U has done a couple trailers and they look pretty nice. I think he is using the basecoat/ clearcoat method. Maybe he can ring in.
I have a fair bit of experience with PPG Concept(single stage AU). It is expensive and fairly nasty to be around requiring space suit and deicated breathing supply. It does come out nice though.
This is not a job that is worth trying to do yourself. Convince your local painter to let you do most of the prep and pay him to do the expert part. It will be money well spent.
Good Luck
UH

[CLewis95]

On Friday, January 18, 2013 12:58:05 PM UTC-6, wrote:
> On Friday, January 18, 2013 10:38:00 AM UTC-5, wrote:
>
> > Hi, Can anyone recommend a paint type for the fiberglass top of the Cobra trailer? Looking to spray paint a couple coats of white paint followed by the clear coat. Thanks, GK
>
>
>
> Your best bet is to use whatever the local guy that is going to spray it is used to.
>
> 5U has done a couple trailers and they look pretty nice. I think he is using the basecoat/ clearcoat method. Maybe he can ring in.
>
> I have a fair bit of experience with PPG Concept(single stage AU). It is expensive and fairly nasty to be around requiring space suit and deicated breathing supply. It does come out nice though.
>
> This is not a job that is worth trying to do yourself. Convince your local painter to let you do most of the prep and pay him to do the expert part. It will be money well spent.
>
> Good Luck
>
> UH

Hank thx for comments but I don't want to do ANY of the work! :) ... I'm looking for an approx estimate on entire job (fiberglass top only).

[Tim Taylor]

TU, actually AU is polyurethane, it is considered a 2 or 3 part, single stage polyurethane. This means you mix at least two parts, base plus catalyst and shoot only one type of paint in several coats.

UH and UF are correct. The cheapest way to go is to use what your local discount paint shop uses. Companies like Eastwood sell single stage products for around $100 per gallon. Depending on how much prep your trailer top needs you could likely find a discount shop that will do a top for about 1 AU (aviation cost unit is $1,000).

[Tim Taylor]

TU, actually AU is polyurethane, it is considered a 2 or 3 part, single stage polyurethane. This means you mix at least two parts, base plus catalyst and shoot only one type of paint in several coats.

UH and UF are correct. The cheapest way to go is to use what your local discount paint shop uses. Companies like Eastwood sell single stage products for around $100 per gallon. Depending on how much prep your trailer top needs you could likely find a discount shop that will do a top for about 1 AU (aviation cost unit is $1,000).

[Charlie Papa[_2_]]

On Friday, January 18, 2013 10:38:00 AM UTC-5, wrote:
> Hi,
>
> Can anyone recommend a paint type for the fiberglass top of the Cobra trailer? Looking to spray paint a couple coats of white paint followed by the clear coat.
>
> Thanks,
>
> GK

I went through these questions a couple of years ago. I was sick for a season in Florida, and the pine pollen becomes mildew, which burrows down into the gel coat until wax wouldn't take it off. So I started asking advice, and I got so many answers: 2 part poly, 2 part poly + clear coat, just mix 30% clear coat in with the poly, forget the poly and just use clear coat.

Then I phoned Tim Mara. He suggested the Cyclo polisher (http://www.wingsandwheels.com/page44.htm), which I thought was rather pricey. Tim promised I would not regret it. I bought it and used it with Aqua Buff fibreglass buffing compound, - 90 minutes with the 1000 and 60 minutes with the 2000 (no longer available I believe), and then some Nu Finish car wax, and it looks ALMOST new.

And I have used this reciprocating buffer on other projects, let bursary kids at my club use it and other members, and all love it.

I suggest you talk to Tim at Wings and Wheels.

[Tim Taylor]

On Jan 18, 3:25*pm, Charlie Papa > wrote:
> On Friday, January 18, 2013 10:38:00 AM UTC-5, wrote:
> > Hi,
>
> > * Can anyone recommend a paint type for the fiberglass top of the Cobra trailer? Looking to spray paint a couple coats of white paint followed by the clear coat.
>
> > Thanks,
>
> > GK
>
> I went through these questions a couple of years ago. *I was sick for a season in Florida, and the pine pollen becomes mildew, which burrows down into the gel coat until wax wouldn't take it off. *So I started asking advice, and I got so many answers: 2 part poly, 2 part poly + clear coat, just mix 30% clear coat in with the poly, forget the poly and just use clear coat.
>
> Then I phoned Tim Mara. *He suggested the Cyclo polisher (http://www.wingsandwheels.com/page44.htm), which I thought was rather pricey. *Tim promised I would not regret it. *I bought it and used it with Aqua Buff fibreglass buffing compound, - 90 minutes with the 1000 and 60 minutes with the 2000 (no longer available I believe), and then some Nu Finish car wax, and it looks ALMOST new.
>
> And I have used this reciprocating buffer on other projects, let bursary kids at my club use it and other members, and all love it.
>
> I suggest you talk to Tim at Wings and Wheels.

CP,

Thanks for the comment and reminder. Forgot to add the note about
mold. If the repaint is only about mold or mostly, try bleaching the
trailer with a dilute bleach solution then polish and wax. I like to
polish the finish with a polishing compound to remove any wax and open
the paint or gel coat up. Wash the surface with soap and water. Then
dilute bleach about 2:1 or 3:1 with water and spray it on the surface
with a spray bottle (use appropriate breathing protection and clothes
that you don't mind getting bleached). Let sit for about 30 minutes
and wash the surface thoroughly with soap and water. Will save a new
paint job if the goal is to cover up the mold color.

[dbrunone]

What about aerothane?

[Mike C]

I used 'Interlux Brightside Polyurethane' boat paint last year on an old Eberle glass top trailer and it worked great. Applies easily with a roller and flows very well leaving a very nice finish. Less than $100.00 per gallon.

http://www.jamestowndistributors.com/userportal/show_product.do?pid=64

Mike


January 18, 2013 8:38:00 AM UTC-7, wrote:
> Hi,
>
> Can anyone recommend a paint type for the fiberglass top of the Cobra trailer? Looking to spray paint a couple coats of white paint followed by the clear coat.
>
> Thanks,
>
> GK