| How to Paint a Camo Truck
Posted: 9/13/2007 6:59:39 PM | Just got a '77 4x4 Chevy truck that I want to paint camo - I'll be using it as a dump/camping kind of truck but it needs some flair. Has a canopy. Right now it's an ugly brown that has seen better days. I'll be painting it blue/gray/white/black camo. What do you think? Should I primer it first? Sand it first? I'm pretty creative so I figured I would free-form the camo on it. I bought the Rustoleum paint on paint (easier to control than spray paint). Just asking for a guy's opinion - let me know if you've done this and how it worked for you!
Alicia
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| How to Paint a Camo Truck
Posted: 9/13/2007 8:55:47 PM | First you need to wash the truck. A large creek works well for this.
When the truck is good and dry, use crayons to outline your design. Since your truck is brown, use yellow ones. The design will show up like corn kernels in a pile of dog poop -- perfect!
To brush on the paint, you'll get best results using a large white cat. The white hair helps you see when your bristles fall off, and the fatter the cat is, the larger the area you can cover with each stroke.
For fine detail areas, you want to use a kitten. They squirm a lot more than the old fat cat you used for the large areas, but you get a smaller coverage arc and their hair is finer, leading to a smoother coat of paint.
For pinstriping, use the tip of their little tails. It's hard to hold onto while they're scratching the hell out of your arm, but it makes a nice, thin line.
Be sure to change cats with each coat. you don't want to mess up your paint job or contaminate your colors.
There should be a ready supply of cats at your local Chinese restaurant, just be sure to get there before they start preparing the lunch buffet.
After you're done with each cat, be sure to give them a vigorous wash. Kitties just love baths!
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| How to Paint a Camo Truck
Posted: 9/14/2007 2:30:18 AM | If you want the camo paint to stick to the truck,
you'll at least have to sand every surface you intend
to paint.
You don't have to sand the existing paint off,
just "scuff" it up, as that gives the new paint
you're applying something to "hold" on to.
Last time I camo painted a truck, it was
a jungle "night grid" pattern. | |
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| How to Paint a Camo Truck
Posted: 9/14/2007 7:10:42 AM | | The cats work great for painting. But how do I get them to hang onto the pad for buffing the clear coat? They keep flying off when I use the higher RPM's. | |
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| How to Paint a Camo Truck
Posted: 9/14/2007 11:25:22 AM | AH! You're using the wrong velcro pad on your buffer. You have to use the rough side of the velcro, not the smooth one.
Then get a shorthair cat and attach his belly to the buffer. They stick like glue! Be usre not to attach their back to the buffer or you'll never get an even buff -- the flying legs will keep getting in the way.
Be sure to use plenty of wax, you don't want to swirl the paint!  | |
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| How to Paint a Camo Truck
Posted: 9/14/2007 11:35:40 AM | Well, volsgradstudent, speaking as a person preferring cats to dogs... I would like to suggest you rot in hell, but, only after many years of a lonely existence with your jar of peanut butter and your best friend...
Have a great weekend...
Just sayin'... | |
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| How to Paint a Camo Truck
Posted: 9/14/2007 1:05:31 PM | what do cats have to do with painting a truck? I see why you're still a student...
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| How to Paint a Camo Truck
Posted: 9/14/2007 1:43:07 PM | How long do you want the paint job to last?
If just a couple of years... get some spray cans of Rustoleum at Wal Mart and go wild.
If you want it to last 3 to 5 years... Earl Shribe. (or some other "I'll paint any car for $199.95" place)
If you want it to last longer... go to a GOOD paint and body shop and expect to pay $2200 to $5000. | |
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| How to Paint a Camo Truck
Posted: 9/14/2007 2:09:24 PM | You should do at least *some* prep work.
Even if you are not interested in putting much money into the project - at least go over it all with some sandpaper.
Since you are going for camo - a bit ruffer paper would do more prep with less effort. You are not going for “shine” so the ruffer grain paper would be good - maybe like 200 grit or 400 max.
If you don’t at least ruff up the smoother areas - the paint will come of pretty easy. It needs something to “stick to”
Even primer will fall off if on a smooth surface.
So ruff it up at least some. | |
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| How to Paint a Camo Truck
Posted: 9/14/2007 10:09:46 PM | | after sanding,wash the truck,then take a tack cloth {can get at auto paint supply house} and go over truck to remove lint,if you want a smoother paint job. This going to be beater or something you want to drive occasionally? | |
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| How to Paint a Camo Truck
Posted: 9/15/2007 3:39:22 AM | First I would do a test area to make sure the rustoleum paint is going to adhere properly,and not soften the paint on there,if all is good just scuff with a green scuff pad your body shop stores have them,then paint and enjoy,I think I would also try using a sponge brush to limit the brush marks...
Good Luck | |
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| How to Paint a Camo Truck
Posted: 9/27/2007 6:18:02 PM | | Where the two colours merge, use two spray guns together with the two colours - it helps to blend them together and blurs the join. Learned that from a friend in the Royal Air Force, she painted fighter aircraft. | |
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| How to Paint a Camo Truck
Posted: 9/27/2007 6:35:49 PM | | Have a loved one contact CMT's "Trick My Truck" and have them beg CMT to trick your truck out | |
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| How to Paint a Camo Truck
Posted: 8/24/2009 10:45:45 PM | Hey VolsGrad:
You're a moron and make very stupid story jokes. Please move out of your mom's basement. | |
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| How to Paint a Camo Truck
Posted: 8/25/2009 2:28:18 AM | Hey OP:
With paint on paint - all you need to do is wash it really good and scuff it up really good with 200 or 250 grit sandpaper. Don't sand through to bare metal or you will have to primer! The paint should stick OK after that.
Depending on how good of a job you want is what affects what you do next.
for something that will last a few years and not look too homebrew - I'd do this:
I would pick a color for the base coat and then paint the whole truck with that. let it dry fully. Wet sand lightly (run water over the paint while sanding with 600 grit paper) and let it dry. You might need a second coat depending on how much you sand away smoothing it out. If so repeat.
TIP: My ex father in law always said you could smooth out a roller or brush paint job quickly by driving it fast down a gravel or dirt road while the paint was still wet. Might save some wet sanding time since it takes some effort to smooth out brush strokes in dry paint when ya have to do it by hand :) Don't know if it orks or not!
Once you have a good base coat then you go to town with your other colors! Always totally finish with one color and let it dry before going to the next or the colors will blend and bleed.
Patterns cut from cardboard can help if you want"leopard spots" or leaves. Just put them down on the truck and use a roller. Using a cardboard straight edge will make bars and stripes appear more regular. just hold it on the truck and run a brush or roller down the edge for nice straight outlines and then fill in the center.
Once you get it done - wet sand lightly again to smooth it out and let it fully dry for a few days before ya take it out in the mud and crud.
Should hold up for a year or two and not look too shabby.
Cheers | |
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| How to Paint a Camo Truck
Posted: 8/25/2009 8:11:17 AM | | Red scratch pads "brillo pad" without chemicals .. dont use S.O.S. type pad. Just the red or green scratch pad and some water will rough it nicely for a rattle can job. Use a very light coverage style so the paint will take 3 or 4 coats to cover the old color. You can free from the camo spots or use newspaper and masking tape to get clean lines. Dont paint any light coverings red or blue that can get you in trouble. Have a blast. Also a jar of vaseline smeared onto your bumpers and tires will keep the over spray from sticking. | |
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| How to Paint a Camo Truck
Posted: 8/25/2009 7:59:50 PM | Make sure your truck is free of old rust and wax,dirt and stains from the dump. Outline your major colors with masking tape. Then go out and leave the color blue out of you colors to apply. If you sand your truck with 120 wet/dry emery cloth,you can use water to help wash off the treated area. If you are unsure of the pattern you want to apply, find a bunch of kids to do your job,you will save a bundle in clean-up cost alone. You may need to clean up a few areas after they are finished-windows come to mind,head/taillights,turn signals lens,side mirrors,ect... .
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| How to Paint a Camo Truck
Posted: 8/25/2009 10:31:41 PM | | whatever you do, DO NOT free hand the camo pattern. I dont care how good of an artist you are. It will end up looking like kr@p! Even professional painters use stencils or a predrawn pattern for a paint job like that. | |
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