The polyurethane is among the clear finishes I bought for the build. My exterior coating diary is a separate example of how application and final texture affected my opinion of a finish, especially when attempts to brush out a problem made it worse.
My van with masking around the exterior areas prepared for coating.
The item in my kit
I bought Rust-Oleum Semi-Gloss Wood Polyurethane as part of my camper van equipment.
The polyurethane is among the clear finishes I bought for the build. My exterior coating diary is a separate example of how application and final texture affected my opinion of a finish, especially when attempts to brush out a problem made it worse.
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.
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
Minwax offers another oil-based semi-gloss polyurethane, while the Rust-Oleum floor-finish alternative uses a water-based satin formulation.
Minwax Semi-Gloss Polyurethane
This clear oil-based polyurethane is a protective wood finish. The quart can supplies material for a semi-gloss surface coating.
