The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk amateur painting job

is it possible to paint the interior of a truck without a spray gun on my own. i was thinkin eiher brush on or spray paint.. any chance of this coming out good?

Depends on what you consider "good"!

Good enough maybe.
Some previous owner of my truck painted the inside flat black with a brush. I cant imagine why, except that my truck was originally green and now it's black. It's not the best (obviously) but for now it's OK and i'm not going to worry about it while I work on more important things.

I painted the insides of my doors with aresols & it came out real nice. I use Ace hardware premium brand. Some of that stuff is all thinners.

I don't see why you couldn't use a rattle can for a 'driver'. I've had my car color matched and Dupont mixed the paint and put in a spray can. If you prep it right and spray with smooth even strokes and keep your edges wet it should turn out fine. I've done some door jams and a few dash parts and it turned out ok. You can wet sand and buff just like any other paint.

I used spray cans for mine, epoxy enamel appliance paint for the dash and Rustoleum textured for everything else; doors, back of cab, seat frame etc. Granted using black made the choices of paint types/brands a lot easier. You can see photos at :

Truck Photos

I have rolled and brushed paint on my suspension pieces with good results. As long as you do it in a cool area with no sun light, it will have time to flow out smooth with no brush strokes in it,
Scott

so yah, after u were done painting it.. would u wet sand and buff it out... basicaly im lookin to save money for a nice driver, not a show car

you can even get clear coat in a spray can for a show paint if your skilled thats it how good you apply it and how much prep time you put in if you just spray it over a brush job thats what you will have when done no way around it wax on wax off

Paints and primers in spray cans offer *zero* protection against rust. If you can't afford one, beg, borrow, or rent a small compressor. And if you're looking to save money AND keep your truck from rusting, don't forget about the colored epoxy primers available.

Cheers,
mark.
'51 3100

Mike, I used Rustoleum spray can paint for my entire interior including the dash and I'm happy with the results.

any chance of gettin anything close to the look of a professional job.. i have a lot more time then money

Mike, here is an option...
If you have a compressor (if you don't, get one, it's the most important tool in the garage)
Buy a cheap spray gun from your local hardware store (cost $35). Buy a quart of Rustolium in the color of your choice (cost about $7). Mix to thin with paint thinner (cost $5). Not lacquer thinner. About 25% reduction. Tape off and spray away… this is about the cheapest best looking paint job I have found. I have done this on my metal tool boxes and it came out really nice.
Good Luck!

A couple of years ago, I redid my interior and used cans of Rustoleum. I spent days prepping, and am quite pleased with the results. Spary paint can look quite good, but it is like any other paint. It is only as good as the preperation.

Mark, what do you mean? Certainly there are brands and types of paint sold in spray cans that are not of very good quality that might not protect as well as others. On the other hand, there are very good quality paints and primers sold in spray cans. With good prep and good technique those spray can paints will protect from rust as well as any professional paint.

By the way, welcome to another Kentuckian. Go CATS!

Van Sickle tractor enamel. Cheap gallons of enamel for around $20.00 in many different colors.

You can even buy smaller quantities but you will need a compressor and gun.

Bessie, I have a friend that lives in Troy who introduced me to Van Sickle's tractor paint. He's had great luck with it on a number of cars and trucks, as well as an International tractor that sat outside for 10 years after being painted. They'll do custom colors, too, for a bit higher price (and shipping charges).

I meant to add that my main gripe with rattle cans is that ounce per ounce that is the most expensive way to buy paint.

Read MartinSR's "Rattle can basics."
Do a search of the paint and body shop for it.
That will give you some good ideas.

I think it is totally possible to do.
I may do it myself. I think if you are carefull and take your time as well as do a little finish work you will be fine.

I just saw in on of the truck magazines an interior they did with a rattle can. Seemed ok too.

I would not however do my whole truck that way.

Used rattle can flat black on some aircraft anti-glare shields we were restoring. Came out perfect.

napa brand sray can paint is the same paint sold as they sell for painting cars so it offers the same rust and surface seal just because its in a spray can dosent mean it wont seal metal some primers wont seal so rust will show up but same can be said using a spray gun and compressor with only a primer

"napa brand sray can paint is the same paint sold as they sell for painting cars so it offers the same rust and surface seal"
:rolleyes: BS.
What NAPA sells for painting cars is a well known name brand of professional multi-part automotive finishes. These consist of pigments in some type of multi-part binder system (urethane, epoxy, acrylic,...) When you combine the parts of the system prior to spraying the paint, you start a chemical reaction -- and you only have a limited "pot life" before it's too thick to spray. And it's the chemical bonds formed during this reaction that seal water out, and bond the paint to the layers underneath. It's impossible to sell this in a spray can, because the bonds would form on the shelf at Wal-Mart, and you wouldn't be able to spray it when you get home.

That having been said, I missed the word "interior" in your original post. I've done a few interior trim pieces that way. They came out looking decent, but NOT professional. Maybe some of you guys are better with a can than I am. If I went this route for the whole interior (including floor?), I'd make darn sure the cab were water-tight. But then, that's good advice no matter what paint you've used, right?

I guess the point is, it shouldn't hurt anything on the interior, as long as it's kept dry. Worst case, you sand or strip it later, if you don't like the way it looks. Have fun with it -- and I hope it turns out nice.

Cheers,
mark.
'51 3100
IRWIPI

Even when you take into consideration the compressor, drier, lines and sprayer? Maybe if you are painting a whole truck, but not just the interior. When I did mine, I spent no more than $50 for paint and prep supplies. And I spary 5 or 6 thick coats.

What about the exterior... any way to paint that the same way.. spray cans, brush on, etc?????

Tim, you're absolutely right about the overall cost. I was just pointing out that the paint itself, when you compare the same paint, gets mighty expensive when they put it in rattle cans.

My brother's hot rod Mini with spray can paint job. He did a heck of a job in my opinion considering cost and equipment limitations.

http://community.webshots.com/album/298847424PAvAKQ

looks good.. any other guys got examples??

I painted my truck with rattlecan rustoleum, Mike. I have a three-page log entry on the process that starts here:

Slight Facelift


This is a "temporary" paint job that's about five years old now. It keeps the rust in check for the time being.

the last spray can paint i got at napa. was martin senyor same stuff they sell in a car paint and your right it dosent have hardener in it the cars of the 50s didnt have hardner in there paint but it still did the job for a few years any way the cheapest auto paint iv found is sold on ebay it works good to

has anyone else done thier exterior.. i thought laroke's looked good but id liek to see more examples.. anyone?

I'd like to see more examples as well... As a temporary measure, I rattlecanned mine with a gray primer just to get it all one color (lots of the typical fading, etc). Took me about 5-6 cans. It came out just fine... of course, it's not glossy so it hids all of the sins!

I did my bumpers and grille with gloss white rattlecan as well. And as previously posted, I did my entire interior with cans. I'm happy with it. But here's the rub on it all... it chips real, real easy. I thought I prepped well enough but it doesn't take much to have it scratch.

I have experienced chipping as well and I've found no way to wax rustoleum so it has faded quite a bit. I do touch-ups from time-to-time and the new paint against the old gives a mottled effect, like liver spots on an old man. OK for a temporary paint job.

Yeah, that's why I've only primed the outside with a sandable primer. I figure that when I'm ready to paint, I won't have to deal with having to take off anything.

no way to wax rustoleum.. dang.. i wonder if there aer any spray paints u can wax.. hmm

I wonder if you could add hardener to Rustoleum like you do to regular car enamel to make it more durable?
Scott

The primary cost of a professional paint job is the preparation. Perhaps you could take your time and do all of the body work yourself and then take the vehicle to Earl Scheib or Maaco to have the final spray done. Then, back to your garage to wet sand and buff and re-assemble. I bet this would be cheaper than a rattle can solution and look much better. Another option would be to turn it over to a local vo-tech or highschool shop class to learn on. They may do it for the cost of materials.

as far as rattle can goes, Ray Bucks "Ratt Truk" turned out pretty good with just rattle can black for an exterior. in my opinion it did anyway.

so, it CAN be done i think, but what effect are you going for?

.later days.
.sam.

im gonn try something crazy and see watl happen if i paint just a little part of it with a brush.. ill tell u how it works out

Brush marks are still better than rust.

i think im gona try to paint it thick and then sand down hoping to get rid of brush marks.. i know.. wacky idea