Masking the van involved both defining edges and covering broad areas. This handheld shield is another purchased painting tool for controlling the boundary of a smaller spray area.
My van with masking around the exterior areas prepared for coating.
The item in my kit
I bought Warner Plastic Spray Shield as part of my camper van equipment.
Masking the van involved both defining edges and covering broad areas. This handheld shield is another purchased painting tool for controlling the boundary of a smaller spray area.
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
Hyde offers another handheld plastic shield. Tape-and-drape film changes to a fixed covering that stays on the surface during the job.
Hyde ProShield Plastic Spray Shield
This Hyde shield uses a broad polystyrene panel on a handle. Its adjustable connection changes the panel angle beside the painted area.
