Will I or Won't I

[kingy]

Hi Gang,
Well having stripped the back wall of the van due to an unexplained reaction with the paint



I've now got it ready for recoat, BUT i sorta like the natural WOOD look (who wood'nt)





Was thinking how wood it look done over with a clear coat or two - remembering it wood bring out the grain a lot more than you see here, and wood more than likely be a tad darker.It'd be different
Wada ya's reckon, wood it look a little to much, or should i go the grey again - i've gotta make up me mind real soon, Coledale in a couple of weeks.
If it did'nt look the goods , i could always reseal it and then go back to the grey - anxiously awaiting a verdict
cheers Kingy

[cobber]

Hard decisions eh kingy ?

I faced the same dilemma with Ol' 36, the ply I put on the front had such a great grain I felt like a criminal painting over it.


For you, I think you would have to strip all the grey of and turn her into a "woody"..... not likely to happen eh?

Out with the spray gun

Cobber

[kingy]

I know what ya say'in Cobber, i wish i had've done the red flash in the ''woody look'', i think that wood've looked better again - still might happen one day
Kingy

[Cruz]

Woodin she look better in grey, she looks a little naked. Would be a good idea for the next one.
Cruz

[Franklin1]

Hi Kingy, there's no doubt your van in the present grey and red livery is one of the most outstanding restorations around. However, as a keen furniture restorer, I am also very partial to having the timber grain showing through a restored item. You only have to look at the doors on MarkT's little van to see the beauty of 'varnished' doors allowing the full grain to show through...a wonderful sight to me.

With the paints available today (for example, Wattyl's Exterior Timber Varnish, and also their Marine Clear for boats, etc) there's no reason why you couldn't give a good protection to the plain plywood surface.

A van either fully varnished, or a combination of varnished areas with painted stripe (or something like that), would certainly be a very unique van, very much like cobber says...a woodie. And gees, wouldn't it be a goodie as well!!

Time to get a beer and start flipping the coin...

cheers,
Al.

ps. I know you've written "unexplained reaction with the paint", but do you have any idea what might have been the cause? It would be helpful for some of us following you to avoid the same thing happening if we understand what went 'wrong'.

[Deleted]

Now ,now Kingy I know ya a devoted woody lover BUT...

Ya gotta remind yaself its a caravan.. NOT... Grannys 1948 wardrobe or dresser.
I have seen a few vans that have done the "Full Woody" job.. and they look crap.
Yup maybe a timber flash might be a breath of fresh air on the right van with the right colours ....but....

If ya want it to look Cool and stamp your great taste in colours on the van... there is no contest.. Ya gunna have to paint it.

Paint reaction. could have been anything. any sort of crap in the air from point of manufacture of the sheets to finished nailing on at your place could have caused the stuff up. A contaminated rag that you dusted it down with at some stage.
Fly spray squirted nearby when the wind was blowing the wrong way, something on the stirring stick that you used in the paint tin.
Sap or glue leaching from a layer of ply.

I just hope your next attempt at PAINTING the effected area is a success.

Reddo...... Lover of wood and its wanderfull natural grains.... on the right articles.

[sutcac]

.....................it's a "no brainer"....as the young folk say ! ................back to original grey ;D ;D ;D..................I like the natural wood look too. ..........but it would look like an after thought ( which it is!).......in this instance.

.................now natural woodgrain in place of the red flash.........now you're talkin' my lingo .........................
......................or an all over "woody" for the next project.........yeah , baby !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[vantoura]

Hi Guys.
How good would it look in a clear varnish.
Just remember if you dont like you can allways paint it.

[kingy]

Thanks Everyone for your thoughts re. my rear end saga, ( makes it easier to decide when put to a vote ) it looks like it's back to the grey. Spoke to a local painter today who also checked out the problem before i stripped it back, and he seems to think the problem was with the undercoat/primer that i used.
Appears to have shrunk when sprayed over with the enamel top coats - for why we don't know, so i'll try again with another primer. Then after Coledale i'll do the front wall which is'nt as bad - side walls are fine.
Thanks again

[Daggsey]

Hey Kingy,

Probably a wise decision.......I've yet to come across a varnish or clear lacquer that is totally reliable on timber under external conditions anyway.

See you at Coledale

Daggsey