Surface Prep for Rolling

2percenter

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I am rolling on some oil-based paint on my sanded down DK. I am at five coats, and as I suspected after the first two, the finish isn't really getting any smoother. I'm not talking about a little roughness from the rolling process, I'm worried about the wood grain. I think I didn't do sufficient surface prep work before I started.

What is a good prep plan before rolling? I sanded off the old paint and it all felt nice and smooth. It clearly was not. I wondered if I was making a mistake by not sanding with finer grit paper a few times. Or should I be rubbing in some sort of wood filler or some other product before painting? I am ready and willing to sand all of this back off and start over. I want it to look as good as possible and I'm doing this to learn from my mistakes!

Any help is appreciated.
 
I always sand to smooth with 60 grit, fill holes and/or repair damaged areas, sand those repairs, then prime and paint with a foam roller. Usually 2 coats will suffice.

- Mike
 
Did you prime it before paint?

I did not, but only because someone somewhere on here said they found the priming gave them more of the 'orange peel' effect on their finish. This might have been a mistake!

I always sand to smooth with 60 grit, fill holes and/or repair damaged areas, sand those repairs, then prime and paint with a foam roller. Usually 2 coats will suffice.

- Mike

I basically did this and got the results I have now.

So, since I wrote this, I attacked the one unpainted side of the cab with finer sandpaper to try and reduce the grain texture. No luck. I'd have to sand it thinner to get any big effect. So, on the kick panel that I have separated from the rest of the cab, I did some sanding with 150 grit (harsher than the 220 recommended by some to remove texture) to try and get down to where just the grain is. This seemed to work pretty well in general even though in a few places I accidentally got down to some bare wood (I am using an oribital sander). I then put another coat of paint on and much of the wood grain does not appear to be visible any longer. It is drying right now, so I will have to see tomorrow. To complete the project from where I've started it, I think sanding will be key.

I am thinking I should have primed. Does this takes care of the wood grain texture fairly well? Sanding off the paint I have put on doesn't seem like too big of a deal from the one panel I sanded a bit already. Nothing like sanding off that original stuff ... PHEW!
 
sanding or using steel wool in between coats helps the final coat be smooth...

now i use auto type da sanders and use hvlp spray gun and use auto body paint..

except for krappy conversions i will never roller again..

id pm phetishboy aka phet aka "man-jam"(tm) hes a effing pimp at roller painting cabs..
 
I always sand to smooth with 60 grit, fill holes and/or repair damaged areas, sand those repairs, then prime and paint with a foam roller. Usually 2 coats will suffice.

- Mike


60? I will not even do the first pass at 60 unless the wood is really rough or has lots of paint/repairs. Usually I use 80 for the first if it needs a good cleaning, bare wood or clean I'll start at 120. Even if you have cheap plywood if you finish sanding with at least 150, preferably 220, it will be nice and smooth. Obviously any good scratches, nicks, etc. you will need some wood filler or bondo.
 
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