My surface-preparation purchases included a bulk container of body filler.
The featured Amazon option is Bondo Original Body Filler.
Where it fits my build
I taped the boundaries and covered the areas that would not be painted with plastic sheeting. I then sanded the exposed areas with an orbital sander and 60-grit abrasive, blew away the dust with a compressor, and cleaned and degreased the surfaces.
I mixed clear bedliner with white tint and sprayed the van. After it dried, I removed the masking. The tape and sheeting stage alone took around eight hours, and the finished edges still needed some touch-up.
My van with masking around the exterior areas prepared for coating.The side of the van during the white-bedliner project.
My build notes
The most useful detail in my diary is the result, including the problems. Rust-Oleum pooled and dripped in places, and trying to repair one area with a paintbrush made it worse. I wrote that I would use a foam roller for touch-ups and preferred the more consistent finish I had obtained with RAPTOR.
Masking, preparation and application method each became a substantial part of the exterior-coating job.
Alternative products
Two alternatives to compare
The standard Bondo filler and Evercoat option provide two body-filler choices. Bondo Glass adds short-strand reinforcement, giving it a different formulation from a regular filler.
Evercoat Pro-Grade Body Filler
Evercoat Pro-Grade body filler is a two-part material mixed with its hardener. It forms a sandable filler for shaping repaired surfaces.
