Bed Liner In A Can?- Young Boys Apply It!
Using a bed liner in a can, my two sons Lucas,16, and Isaac,11, just upgraded the bed on our 1980 Plymouth Arrow Pickup. The bed liner in a can they applied transformed the looks of this old truck.
Here's what Lucas and Isaac did with the bed liner in a can.
Preparation.
As with any painting project, preparation is the hard part.
The boys first pressure washed the bed, then went over the surface with a regular automotive spray cleaner. This is a cleaner made for paint preparation or bug remover. Acetone is the usual cleaner choice. You must use a cleaner to get the wax off.
Then the boys sanded the entire surface. We used 100 grit because that's what we had, but use a coarse grit.
Next we washed the bed out. One more time over with the cleaner and then the bed's ready.
Masking.
Take the tailgate off if you can. Ours won't come off! So we were extra careful with masking around the gate.
Mask all edges and fasteners or fittings you don't want coated. Masking is important, but not nearly as critical as when you are spraying. Mask the drain holes and other holes where bolts are removed. This stuff is hard to clear from those holes when it dries.
We did the top of the bed rails, so we had to cover the sides of the truck to prevent splashing down the sides of the bed. Most people put a regular rail cap on the bed rails so you don't need the liner material there anyway.
Apply the Coating.
Applying the material is the easy part. We used a 3 inch wide paint roller with a thick nap and foam brushes. We got cheap rollers and foam brushes, so we could pitch them and avoid clean-up. Get a cheap pan liner too.
Apply the coating in all corners and on edges first with your brushes. Once that's finished, apply the coating to the vertical surfaces starting on the front . Next start at the front of the floor and work your way back. Depending on the shape of the floor, you may need to use a brush some on the floor. Finish with the tailgate. Now let everything dry for the recommended time and then recoat. We let the first coat dry overnight.
For the second coat, you may need an extension pole for the roller so you can stay out of the bed.
Touch up any spots you missed then remove the masking tape and you're ready to go. Cure time varies but allow about 3 days for the cure. Now you're ready to use your new looking bed liner in a can custom applied by you.
I recommend that you check out our roll on bed liner paint comparisons article here...