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Cladding my journey

Looks like you are coming along OK  to me.
 
Day nine, and the bonus day, I got the tail piece finished and installed.


I am going to wait a couple of weeks and see how it wil sand out and buff. It's roughed in right now but the clear is still to soft to allow aggressive polishing.
I did cover the top of the tail piece with clear vinyl protector.
 
Good idea most paint needs a couple of weeks to dry and harden.
 
I had a small issue with paint cracking, turns out I did not use enough reducer in the paint and it cured poorly.

I started re painting one panel at a time, and kept closer mind to how much and what types of primers, reducers and paints. I mounted up my newly painted saddlebag covers, they already look better than the last ones and I still have to finish buff and wax yet.
 
It's a learning experience. I am going old school and using lacquer paint, I was a little upset at first that I cannot get the depth of color like an enamel paint, but the depth I do get matches my wheels to a t, so that's nice. I also went with a Jet Black for color, I would be inclined to use more of a Bentely Black next time I think. Or maybe even the black chrome wheel paint might look nice. One of the nice parts about being able to do this stuff myself and have some extra parts to try it out on.
 
I just finished buffing out the last piece, barring TStorms tomorrow I am hoping to get it installed on the truck. Then when the weather cools down tape off the truck and finish buff all the painted plastic.
 
Drivers side sail panels are done, I installed them this morning.


If anyone chooses to undertake this I encourage careful sanding, it is a PITA but worth it in the long run. And I would do it over again in a heartbeat, it looks so much nicer than the textured plastic, and still looks different than the Cadi because the lines are softer.
 
Thanks, I got a little more aggressive with the final sand this time, seeing as I have between 12 and 16 oz of reduced clear per panel(that's a lot of clear).
 
As you are taking the sail panels off and on are the clips holding up? When I got my used cladding off the vehicle I broke every clip and also a couple of the pieces that hold the inner and outer sails together.
 
old skool said:
As you are taking the sail panels off and on are the clips holding up? When I got my used cladding off the vehicle I broke every clip and also a couple of the pieces that hold the inner and outer sails together.
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I bought a bag of 50 clips before starting this project, that being said. I had one of the welded on fastners twords the center of the sail come off, a little epoxy and it is back like new. The clips them selves I used a forked panel removal tool to compress the prong on both sides before pulling out of the body, this took a ton of time and destroyed the small foam washer on the clip. I managed to save all but three clips the first round. Second round I had enough clips and decided to just pull the sail apart, not really caring about the clips or not. About 50% of them broke when I did that. Because the sails I had on (my first round painted ones) were already missing some of the inner fastners I was not concerned with them, and no more broke. Currently all the sails on the truck are the ones that came with it and retain all of their fastners.
 
Ok, I didn't realize that you painted your originals too. As I will be following your directions, is there anything that you listed the first time that you changed for painting the originals?
 
Only thing I changed was following the directions for the paint manufacture to the letter and playing with my spray gun more to get better results.
 
As smooth as it can get with the 150. The first coat of primer will get better penetration with that sand, first sand on the primer I used 400. On the refinishing instead of the prep spray I bought a prep wash from transtar, it's an alcohol and water based prep that reduces static. I washed it with a green scotchbrite pad and let it dry before priming. Don't forget adhesion promoter before priming.
 
Didn't care for how my cladding went just painting with cans... Might have to look at doing this next year... Just wonder if my little air compressor will be enough or if I should use the electric spray painter I will get with the DIY bed liner kit...

It is more for heavier liquids I believe so maybe I should get an oil/water seperator and try that...

Going to do bedliner inside the bed and on lower cladding.. Want to smooth out the top and body color it.. (Black so works... lol)

What kind of sander are you using? I have a hand held unit but doesn't seem like it would work well.

Rodney
 
I started with an electric orbital sander and it worked good. Bought a proper DA and it produced a better finish, I would recommend a DA but the electrical works just fine. After primer you'll be all by hand anyway.
 
I'm using a palm DA sander on mine. It uses a lot of air, so I have to take frequent breaks. I am very pleased with the outcome of the first saddlebag cover that I sanded yesterday. Not in a hurry, going to take my time. May take me a couple of months before I'm done, seeing that I'll only be working on this on the weekends.
 
old skool said:
I'm using a palm DA sander on mine. It uses a lot of air, so I have to take frequent breaks. I am very pleased with the outcome of the first saddlebag cover that I sanded yesterday. Not in a hurry, going to take my time. May take me a couple of months before I'm done, seeing that I'll only be working on this on the weekends.
Click to expand...
And there is nothing wrong with that approach.
 
That's awesome job on the cladding really want to paint mine like that definitely going to use your example
 
I bought an electric sander that takes a rectangular piece of sand paper on it and it just vibrates when you turn it on. Is that an orbital sander? Not very familiar with the different sanders. What is a DA sander?

Rodney
 
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