How much Gillespie paint for a M715 and trailer?

For those of you that have used Gillespie military paint, How much did it take for your truck? I won't be painting the under side of the cab or the bed or trailer under side. I will undercoat there. So the interior of the cab, exterior of the cab and nose, and the outside of the bed. I plan on raptor bed liner inside the bed. Black for the engine bay.
Would two gallons do it? Gillespie is a little different that the car paint I usually use. So I am not sure on how much to get. Aside from the truck I will be paint matching my M101 trailer.
I finally settled on 30277 Sand Camo. Black trim and bumpers. I have looked at a lot of colors and nothing sang to me. I will be glad to get away from toxic urethane paints for this one.
2 gallons or should I get three?

Al,
You could maybe stretch things and get by with a single gallon. Get two and don’t stress.

It goes on really well. Like implement paint. Mix with Xylene. 2 parts paint for 1 part Xylene.

The paint is cheap, buy plenty of it. When I painted my truck way back I used just under 4 gallons but that was to paint every surface of every piece of metal on a completely disassembled truck with at least three good heavy coats. I imagine that you will not use near as much not doing the undersides. When I painted the M37 (top sides only) I used under 2 gallons if I remember correctly.

Plus the hazmat fee is the same for 1 to 4 gallons.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Beast

The paint is cheap, buy plenty of it. When I painted my truck way back I used just under 4 gallons but that was to paint every surface of every piece of metal on a completely disassembled truck with at least three good heavy coats. I imagine that you will not use near as much not doing the undersides. When I painted the M37 (top sides only) I used under 2 gallons if I remember correctly.

---

My experience reflects Dave's as well.
Although, I ended up using three, as I painted the chassis black.

+ I bought a 4 gallon case at the time. as the hazmat/shipping fees entered into the cost consideration as well.
4 gallon was a much better deal considering the shipping.

Well super. I really appreciate the feedback. I am excited to have a decision made. I am sizing up the truck as it has been sitting all summer. Another summer of unplanned distractions and detours. And I lost most of August to getting covid again. Not much happened there. I hope to get the truck disassembled to the frame and take it in for blasting in the next week or so. Then get some Gillespie black on it and start building up. I will stoke the woodstove in the shop this winter and work on it between plowing snow.
I was fitting gas tanks when I stopped. You know I was eyeing hot rod flatz for a color. The choices are limited and getting enough paint would have been a grand at least. Plus the toxic nature of Urethane paints and the inability of a standard respirator to remove isocyanates from your air. Using Gillespie is a win all the way around. Again thank you guys for helping me with this. :)

I rigged up a fixture so that I could rotate the frame for sandblasting and painting. Worked great.:)


https://i.imgur.com/cBTQ36bh.jpg

Then, after sandblasting. I put on two coats of POR15, first coat black, then a gray coat.
https://i.imgur.com/w78UMjsh.jpg

Then two coats of POR15 chassis black. Much more durable than the acrylic enamel.

https://i.imgur.com/nbFyKvFh.jpg

Yea, I made one heck of a mess sandblasting.

I wish I had a spot to blast like that. I tried to do it on tarps and it did not go very well. I found a shop about an hour away that seemed pretty reasonable.
I will appreciate not having to clean up. Nice rotisserie :)
I wonder if the gillespie top coat would stick well to an epoxy primer. That stuff has good corrosion inhibitors. I might call Gillespie with that question.
Great looking place you have there JeepDan.

I ended up removing the gravel in front of the garage, and two inches of sod from the yard area. I was tracking the sandblasting media EVERYWHERE.
What a mess.

https://i.imgur.com/5hYzKHph.jpg

I use a small sand blasting cabinet for most any part that will fit. That is one of the best tools to have for restoring parts. I just wish it were a little bigger. Darn things are expensive for a box to blow sand in. When I did it outside on tarps. Hardly any sand stayed where I could clean it up and recycle it. Yes very messy. I would love to have a concrete floored area with walls to do that. Away from anything important. The guy I am taking my frame to does. A great set up.

I have called Gillespie and spoken with one of their paint reps. He said yes you can paint Gillespie top coat over a urethane epoxy primer. The condition being that it gets scuffed with sandpaper before hand. Epoxy primer especially if it sits for a while can tend to be smooth and not have much for a top coat to grab on to. When I painted the last restoration I scuffed the epoxy primer with red scotch brite. The top coat was urethane metallic high gloss car paint. It went fine.
The Gillespie primer has zinc and properties that should handle corrosion just fine. I ordered a gallon of black primer, chassis black satin, and two gallons of 30277 sand camo from Mark at Rapco. I had a 45 minute conversation with Mark. Great guy there.

Al,
Mark at Rapco is a military vehicle guy and a Jeep guy. Of course you talked for 45 minutes.

And he told Boyce equipment he would call them back because he was not done BS'ing with me.. Ha I got to hear about Marks former fleet of M715's and M35's that were rentals for the hollywood movies being made. Lone wolf Mcquade etc. And the M151 that kept coming back. I truly appreciated the conversation. This hobby is filled with great folks. I had a long conversation with Jay at saturn surplus also. They will be closing soon. Sad thing there.
I am looking forward to the paint arriving. After toiling for quite a long time, I think the best decision got made. I hope to be back on the truck pretty soon. Good things were happening when I had to address other things.

After finally getting my paint from Fed Ex's repeated delays I am super pleased. It is just about what I was looking for. I brushed on a patch and really like it. I probably did not mix the semi gloss black well because it has quite a shine to it. But the contrast will be sharp. 30277 Sand Camo and 931 semi gloss black.
I think it is great. Thanks for the help.

https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...720&fit=bounds

Al,
I somehow didn't pick up on the fact you are painting tan. I hate shooting that color! I did a M1010 ambulance for somebody a few years ago. It was military applied tan and had runs everywhere. He just wanted all the runs gone and fresh paint. I thought it would be easy and started sanding. Then came the painting.

I could not see where I had just painted enough to get even coverage. My solution was to paint in the dark with a hat mounted light. It let me see the just wet paint and distinguish it from the already there for years dry paint. That was a major pain of a paint job. Second and third coats were just loads of fun.

You have been warned.

Wow, that does not sound like fun. Tan over tan would be a serious challenge. I am fortunate though. Thankfully the cab from Glenn is red and my bed is black. I did buy black primer knowing it will influence the final coat. I hope it goes better than your paint work. Good lighting sure helps. I know when you were done it was great to look at though.
25 last night. So time to start winterizing stuff and fix the plow truck. Where did the summer go? I was not done goofing off. :D

My 4 paint cans are on their sides. I rotate them about every three days. To keep the solids fluid and moving so they mix easier when the time comes. I have a question for anyone that has used the Gillespie primer. Is it high solids? Does it fill sanding lines when sanded back some? Or is it fairly thin and needing more prep for a smooth surface. I have painted a couple rigs and the standard high build urethane primers made things easy for getting a good looking job once sanded a little. Just curious how the Gillespie is for solids and filling minor imperfections. 16 degrees here. That's warm enough to paint right? ;)

Al,
I have never used the Gillespie paint below 50° so I can’t comment on that.

I think the Gillespie primer is the smoothest when dry primer I have ever used. It doesn’t have the usual rough finish primer always seems to have the next day. Is that what you are asking?

I was kidding on the temperature thing. I wanted to know if the primer fills sanding lines. Or how thick is it. Some primers are high build for a smooth sand back just before paint. And some standard primers while still needing a scuff before paint do not fill minor flaws as well. I know what to expect from regular auto paint. The only other time I have used the Gillespie is on Mikes (503M715) truck years ago. Over ten years. I have slept since then and can't remember. Or I am just reflecting being 57. Thanks for the reply.

Al,
I have a rule for all of my military vehicles. No filler! If I can’t fix it with a hammer, weld it or grind it, it just adds character and I just leave it the best I can get it. With the non gloss paint used on these trucks there is only so much beyond what has to be done to make the paint stick before you get diminishing returns on your labor.

With that philosophy in mind. Once primed I wet sand the primer, then shoot the paint. I do like how smooth the primer is before wet sanding and especially after. Then the paint looks great.

Not to steal Al's post, but my question is related. I got my paint from Rapco in 2011. It's been stored in my basement in a dry warm place. I've flipped the box at least once a year since. I'm planning on painting this coming spring. Does anyone know if it will be any good? Last I spoke to Mark at Rapco was 3 years ago and he seemed to think it would be okay because it's been indoors and not frozen but may need one heck of a run on a mixer to get it back to paint ready. Anyone's thoughts?

Joe,
I can comment on this one too. I have had Gillespie paint I forgot to turn sit for years and years. When I opened the lid I had clear liquid on top and a big chunk in the bottom. I used one of those drill bit mixers meant for 5 gallon buckets and after a while it got better. I repeated the mixing several times a day for a few days. When I shot the paint all was well and still looks well after 6 years in the sun.

If you haven’t noticed yet. I love Gillespie products compared to regular automotive paint. As long as it doesn’t go dry in the can it will turn out great. Plus, it is really, really cheap.

This is a great spot for these questions Joe. I still have a few cans of some Gillespie in the garage. From back in my duece and first M715 days. Same basic age as Joes. About 2009-10. I figured it was toast. The solids are in the bottom and SOLID. I guess I will try mixing some and try to save it. I have 2 M410 trailers I want to paint. Rotating the new paint will sure held in getting it mixed this spring.
I saved about a thousand bucks by using Gillespie over urethane car paint. That is pretty cool. It is not as toxic either. I hope I can get everything done and ready for paint before the spring thaw. I have a metric poop ton of work to still do to my home. New siding etc. bit off to much there.. I may just have to split my time. I really want to get my truck going.

Ahmen Brother....I'm in the same boat. Too much to do around the house and all I want to do is work on the truck.

Thanks Tim, I been looking at FB Market for a good used paint shaker machine. Figure I would put a can in the machine and shake it for a good hour...lol.

Funny story.. I bought a air power paint shaker from I think it was eastwood, or one of the tool stores. I read reviews about how it shakes the living heck out of everything. I mounted it to a wok bench. Turned it on an whoa... It was like an earthquake. Everything on the bench, manuals, general clutter started working it's way off the bench to the floor. Geez, that didn't work. So I made a mount to attach it to one of the wood poles on my pole building shop. Turned it on and it shook the whole building. I know I probably could use it to help remove the snow on the roof. :D I used it briefly but now realize it needs to be on a solid metal stand and seriously rotohammered down into concrete. Crazy how much violent movement they can make. They work though.
Turn your cans on their sides Joe. Then rotate them about every three days. Gravity will help before mixing.

The paint shaker worked yesterday to clear 15 inches of snow off the roof. I woke up to rain. Oh no... I found a 1/4 full can of car paint. Stuck it in there and turned it on. I'll be, it was about 5 minutes and the whole roof slid off.
I am going to have to remember that. It really worked. :D