The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Making a Stovebolt Bed Topcoat for bed using Por-15

I didn't find the answer searching through the bed finish posts. I know Mar-K is testing Por-15 and black Bear paint. I'm wondering if anyone can comment on Por-15 for the primer and the Por-15 product called Top Coat. It has UV inhibiters. I found a reference that Top Coat used to be called BlackCote if has experience under that name.

Dennis

No, but I have the Behr Exterior Latex paint over POR-15 products (done in July 2012. The surface looks nice.

http://1954advance-design.com/Web%20images/COE-Photos/bed-paint/4-bed-fr-4th-coat.jpg

Coat 1 - POR-15 semi-gloss Rust Preventative Paint (wait 2-3 hours for firm tacky surface)
Coat 2 - POR-15 semi-gloss Rust Preventative Paint (wait 2-3 hours for firm tacky surface)
Coat 3 - POR-15 Chassis Coat Black (let set overnight)
Coat 4 - BEHR PREMIUM PLUS ULTRA Exterior Semi-Gloss Enamel

Process:
1. Prior to rolling-on the first coat, we "cut-in" with brushes between each board (to get to the now-exposed-by-weathering tongue-and-groove "openings"/separations).
2. Apply with rollers the first three coats (liberal application, rolling about three feet front-to-back, side-to-side, and again front-to-back).
3. Before applying the 4th/final coat, "cut-in" with brushes between each board and then apply with rollers.

Sounds like a good option Tim. I'm doing this before putting the bed together. I think I will do the bottom/sides/ends first. After doing all coats with that then flip it and do all coats on the top. I'm curious why you switch to the Chassis Black and not another coat of POR-15 semi-gloss Rust Preventative Paint. If you were to do it again, would you still choose the Behr instead of a Por-15 product with UV protection?

Dennis

Dennis,

I tried to follow the procedure/coats that were/are described on the Mar-K website.

I might have used the Chassis Black as the third coat only because I had enough left over from doing the chassis (waste-not, want-not?)?

The POR-15 exterior coat paint is probably quite good. The Behr paint was used in the procedure described on the Mar-K website.

OK, thanks Tim.

Dennis

On my personal truck I tried the POR product called Flexcote as the topcoat over the POR 15. It has been a couple years and still looks good, but I am not convinced it is better than the Behr product tested. Incidentally the test Behr black finish is still in the weather nearly 12 years 24/7 and looks almost as nice and shiny as it started.

Mark

I'd be happy with those results. I'm going the Por-15 Behr route. It's funny as I'm just now getting to painting the boards. That is all I was going to do this go around but I couldn't stop taking things apart!

Dennis

I did my bed with Behr about 8 months ago, not a lot of time to get a good test of the life of the product but I am happy so far with the results. I hope to get the 12 years Mar-Ktech has out of his.