paint question?

[johnakay]

a friend of mine has just built a trailer with a tear shape top made out of ordinary ply wood.
I told him to use pva for sealing but what is the best paint for plywood to keep it weather proof.
he has a camper van and he made a trailer to carry camping gear etc which will be attached to a tow bar whatever you call it. anyway he just want to waterproof it and it has to be white so rubber seal is out unless you can buy why?

 

[ajlelectronics]

I would reach for epoxy primer, just because I have it to hand.

 

[bigegg]

Epoxy + fibreglass matting is good enough for small boats

 

[the snooper]

I wouldn't simply paint it, it doesn't fair well, as mentioned earlier fiberglass it first, use a fine matting then paint

 

[brightspark]

paint it with a wood preserver 1st it soaks in . herehttps://www.cuprinol.co.uk/products/wood_preserver_clear_(bp).jsp leave a week and coat whatever colour and primer u like on top. done my trailer with it many moons ago and still as good as new

 

[tinman123]

im no expert in pva but the bit i do know is it aint waterproof.
indeed imo its nearly the work of the devil tbh, it makes a grand indoor glue but as for sealing stuff my jury would be well out on that one because its not waterproof so it will just revert back to being pva when it gets damp.

if it was mine id find a good undercoat paint that would seal the ply, apply many coats of it and then slap on some colour, for thats what's top coat is, just a colour.

 

[ajlelectronics]

Hence my suggestion.

 

[tinman123]

Hence my suggestion.

well, you did say youd reach for epoxy primer, just because you had it to hand.
so that would be taken up as what you would use, because it was easily available and not because it was an educated choice.

 

[brightspark]

soak in wood preservers best 1st then put on whatever u want. wood swells and contracts so will let moisture in at the joints no matter what u use unless u gun all joints with silicone and it can flex

 

[ajlelectronics]

Yes I would use it because it was at hand and entirely suitable for the job. I wouldn't use something unsuitable just because it's there!

 

[DrDeAtH]

Pva would be of no benefit
Either varnish it or paint it properly

 

[johnakay]

this is what my friend made to go with his campervan. neat job dont you think.

 

[the snooper]

i would go to a caravan manufacturer and see what oddments of aluminium sheeting they have left and as they say in the caravan trade, tin it, id also fit a window

 

[colnerov]

It will also need vents. Someone on another forum I use said it gets incredibly hot in there with two adults, he said they usually ended up opening the door during the night. Plus of course the water vapour from breathing.

Edit: Sorry just reread it, it's for camping gear.

 

[johnakay]

I think he's done a brilliant job dont you think?

 

[bigegg]

I think he's done a brilliant job dont you think?

I like it.

 

[the snooper]

I think he's done a brilliant job dont you think?

Yes done a great job but be a shame not to protect it properly, the only real problem I see with the way he built it Is lack of insulation, when's it's cold he will freeze when the sun is out he won't be able to stand it in there, it will be an oven for sure

 

[wookie]

Epoxy + fibreglass matting is good enough for small boats

That would be my choice as well, seen wooden canoes finished that way, if it's good enough for something that lives in water it'll be fine for that camper, but I'd unbolt the chassis first if possible and completely seal the underside also. If water gets in it'll soon ruin all that good work.

It looks great in the pictures you've posted, but I'd swop those mudguards for curved ones, they would suit the shape of it better imho.

 

[johnakay]

guys please re read the post its not a sleeper just to carry gear only.. geesh some folks eh!

 

[the snooper]

guys please re read the post its not a sleeper just to carry gear only.. geesh some folks eh!

Ahh missed that bit good stuff he won't die from the heat