How do you paint your Deuce?

[Carlo]

Obviously there are many ways to paint an MV. How i am painting mine is as follows, Sand blasting any rust that is found, feather all chips and metal edges out with 80 grit. Sand blasting the surface of everything else. I do this to "scuff" the paint that is sticking well. It makes it way easier to get into the hard to reach areas give the paint a great amount of bite for the new coat. Ill wax and grease remover the whole surface a couple of time. Re scuff and blast any places needed. Prime the bodywork and and metal areas. Prep them with 240 grit. paint the truck with an HVLP using AUE ( pretty much ALK) commercial grade paint with flattening agent added. Keep in mind I own an auto body shop and have all the knowledge and equipment available to me. I wouldn't recommend house paint for longevity on a MV because the UV screeners are not up to par with an automotive finish......unless you want the white chalked out look then go with house hold. you will get that look much faster then with a good quality automotive paint. Ill be posting some more pics soon of my project.

I agree with you. Does house paint even have anti rust features? I cant see the why many are using it even if it is cheaper....

 

[ptg530C]

I use an air fed helmet and paint it out doors when it is hot and low wind. I also put sand in the paint on top of the front fenders. Stripping it and trying to avoid runs is a waste of time. Its an ARMY truck.

 

[Heath_h49008]

I agree with you. Does house paint even have anti rust features? I cant see the why many are using it even if it is cheaper....

Behr Premium Plus Ultra is rated for direct-to-metal application and has rust inhibitors. "Regular" Behr laid over a rust inhibiting primer is another option if rust protection beyond air and water exclusion is desired.

 

[JimmyThompson]

I was at Lowes this past weekend and saw Rustoleum Restore Deck "Armor"... Would this potentially be an option?

I'm looking for a bedliner type of job... I called a Rhino-Lining guy and after a bit of head scratching he stated somewhere around $4000!

 

[rtk]

Just finished painting the under carriage and frame of the Deuce . Used a top of the line HVLP paint gun from Harbor Freight , LOL . I used Rapco 383 green . Just pressure washed the crap out of the frame and gave it a quick squirt of color . Came out good in spite of my painting efforts , must be the gun .

 

[JamesSummerville]

If anyone in the low country SC wants to paint mine let me know, should be getting out of the shop after getting full fluid flush and front axle seals done by Carolina diesel, looking for a Camo paint job. God I love my M35a2.

 

[bigginstactical]

Let us know if you use the deck armor in the bed for an arma coat finish. I want something similar in mine and would love to know how it works out if you try it.

 

[JimmyThompson]

I was thinking of doing my whole **** truck (M109a2)!!!

 

[bigginstactical]

haha! Isn't that stuff more expensive compared to regular paint?

 

[JimmyThompson]

Lowes has Rustoleum Restore Armor for $25 a gallon in numerous colors.

The CHEAPEST textured paint I have found ($75-$100 a gallon) is Herculiner, and it comes in any color as long as it is black!

 

[m16ty]

I've always thought house paint wouldn't hold up well but there are a bunch of people around here that swear by it. Maybe I'm wrong.

Enamel like Rapco can take a long, long time to completely cure, depending on weather conditions.

I was reading the latest issue of Military Vehicles and there is a article in there about painting MVs. The author has some good points but there is something I have to take a small issue with. He states several times that you cannot use epoxy primer over enamel paint. He states that paint will come off in a matter of months if this is done. Well I painted a tractor about 10 years ago with epoxy over enamel and the paint is still holding up fine. I have learned from the tractor that epoxy primer is some tough stuff and worth the money if you take the time to prep the surface good enough.

 

[Sapper55]

That's a great job you did! My squad and I were detailed by my supervisor to paint (by hand) with brushes, the 4 color paint schemes on the 45 vehicles and trailers assigned to our Direct Support Platoon in Germany in 1978. We had to chalk the designs and label the number of the paint color applied. It took us 2 1/2 weeks to complete. Never-the-less we had the best looking motorpool in Germany. Thanks for the pics. Army Strong!!! Sapper

 

[Sapper55]

I used rollers to roll the paint onto my truck. I used Behr Premium exterior flat paint from HomeDepot. I think it turned out pretty good!

That's a great job you did! My squad and I were detailed by my supervisor to paint (by hand) with brushes, the 4 color paint schemes on the 45 vehicles and trailers assigned to our Direct Support Platoon in Germany in 1978. We had to chalk the designs and label the number of the paint color applied. It took us 2 1/2 weeks to complete. Never-the-less we had the best looking motorpool in Germany. Thanks for the pics. Army Strong!!! Sapper​

 

[WRMorrison]

While not a deuce, the same applies. This was my old 4Runner from years ago that I painted desert MARPAT, and I plan to paint my deuce the same way/color in a month or so. I took a pair of trousers down to the local paint store and had them match 3 of the 4 colors for me (because I'm too lazy to spray all 4 colors, I went with only 3). I don't remember the brand, but it was the cheapest flat latex house paint that they had. I made the stencils from poster board from WalMart that already had grid lines (think - large scale graph paper). I started with a base of the lightest color, and then held the templates against the truck with one hand and sprayed with the other. It took longer to cut the templates out than it did to paint the truck.

-WRM

 

[Sapper55]

While not a deuce, the same applies. This was my old 4Runner from years ago that I painted desert MARPAT, and I plan to paint my deuce the same way/color in a month or so. I took a pair of trousers down to the local paint store and had them match 3 of the 4 colors for me (because I'm too lazy to spray all 4 colors, I went with only 3). I don't remember the brand, but it was the cheapest flat latex house paint that they had. I made the stencils from poster board from WalMart that already had grid lines (think - large scale graph paper). I started with a base of the lightest color, and then held the templates against the truck with one hand and sprayed with the other. It took longer to cut the templates out than it did to paint the truck.
-WRM

Neat and very talented work. OOHRAH!! I guess I would have to go with the ACU Pattern, I'm formerly a soldier. Army Strong!! Sapper

 

[Captaincarrier]

Good stuff here, I will be starting in the near future to clean up the old M109.

 

[JimmyThompson]

I spoke to Rustoleum and they said its not for metal.

 

[nchittendon]

This summer many parts of the deuce and m105 will be powder coated. The other items will just be rattle can.