Targa Top Refinsh How-To
02-18-2009, 02:22 PM
#61
Melting Slicks
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I spent some time with the top last night, but unfortunately in the poor lighting I moved on to lighter grit paper before the heavier sanding marks were erased. So now I'm starting over with 220. Definitely need to keep plenty of sand paper on hand because it dulls quickly.
The good news is the "glitter" is much less noticeable than it was before. Possibly the micro cracks are very shallow into the material and I'm actually sanding into them. Still much work to do, but at least it's encouraging.
The good news is the "glitter" is much less noticeable than it was before. Possibly the micro cracks are very shallow into the material and I'm actually sanding into them. Still much work to do, but at least it's encouraging.
02-18-2009, 03:42 PM
#62
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02-18-2009, 04:24 PM
#63
Intermediate
Tell me about it. After spending hours with the finer stuff, it became clear that it just wasn't going anywhere, so I bit the bullet and hit it with the rough stuff. Getting through all of the original coating was the hard part, now getting the sanding scratches out won't be that bad. The Lexan doesn't dull the paper nearly as bad as the coating, but I'm still switching out to fresh paper often.
Like others have said, I don't have much to lose, especially since this is my second top, it has a small crack in it already, and looked horrible both from the outside and looking through it. The coating was so rough in places that it would scrape off with a fingernail. Even if I got the outside looking okay but it was still "glittery" in the sun, I probably wouldn't use it, so I'm willing to take off as much material as it takes.
Like others have said, I don't have much to lose, especially since this is my second top, it has a small crack in it already, and looked horrible both from the outside and looking through it. The coating was so rough in places that it would scrape off with a fingernail. Even if I got the outside looking okay but it was still "glittery" in the sun, I probably wouldn't use it, so I'm willing to take off as much material as it takes.
Last edited by JasonC; 02-18-2009 at 04:27 PM.
03-03-2009, 01:04 AM
#65
Burning Brakes
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I just took a sanding break from doing my top. The sanding is going very well and I cant believe I waited this long to do it. My top had next to no clear left on it so that made my sanding much faster. I did take some before pics and will post after when done. For anybody on the fence about doing this....GO FOR IT!!!
03-03-2009, 01:28 AM
#66
Racer
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Great post. 
My '99 has the same problem on the passenger side as well. I was just kicking around the idea of masking off the center of the roof, and just painting it on both sides so it would look symetrical. However, after seeing this post, I may just tackle the refinish.
My '99 has the same problem on the passenger side as well. I was just kicking around the idea of masking off the center of the roof, and just painting it on both sides so it would look symetrical. However, after seeing this post, I may just tackle the refinish.
03-22-2009, 01:59 PM
#67
6th Gear
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I spent some time doing this yesterday, and it looks 100 times better. Perhaps next weekend or soon after I'll hit it one more time and try to get it as clear as the OP managed.
I'll post some pics in the next hour or so.
I'll post some pics in the next hour or so.
03-22-2009, 10:15 PM
#68
Burning Brakes
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My top is all done and posted a thread. It looks like new! I started with 1000, 1500, and then 2000 wet/dry. This is a must diy project. Very little money + elbow grease = New top.
03-22-2009, 10:50 PM
#69
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Post some photos of your work. These tops getting rough is a common problem and the results that can be achieved with a little elbow grease really is amazing. Congrats on your work!
03-31-2009, 06:58 PM
#72
Melting Slicks
should make write up a sticky for further reference. my garaged 04 is in perfect shape and i always keep a coat of mild polish on it but one day might need to do a refinish
03-31-2009, 09:55 PM
#74
Racer
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I want to make sure I've got this right...
1. Start out using 20-grit Frosted Mini-Wheats.
2. Finish up with 1500-grit Special K.
3. Eat a lot of Wheaties in between.
Simple enough.
Don
1. Start out using 20-grit Frosted Mini-Wheats.
2. Finish up with 1500-grit Special K.
3. Eat a lot of Wheaties in between.
Simple enough.
Don
Last edited by Don Lindeman; 03-31-2009 at 10:01 PM.
It is very important you get your fiber 
I used the boxes to show the reflection, and lack there of.
04-12-2009, 08:42 AM
#76
Racer
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This is a very helpful write-up, thanks for posting it!
I'm not even going to tell what I did to my first targa trying to fix it. That is going to grave with me, unless my fiance talks.
By the way, those strawberry delight mini-wheats are the best!
I'm not even going to tell what I did to my first targa trying to fix it. That is going to grave with me, unless my fiance talks.
By the way, those strawberry delight mini-wheats are the best!
Last edited by NC99; 04-12-2009 at 08:44 AM. Reason: strawberry mini-wheats!!!
04-12-2009, 09:10 AM
#77
NCM Bash 2008-2018
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Middle TN Events Coordinator
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ummm so what went wrong? For the good or was it for the worst?
04-12-2009, 10:46 PM
#78
Racer
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04-13-2009, 05:13 AM
#79
Racer
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Everything. For the worse.
The top had clear pealing on the passenger side and very bad crazing all over. I hated it and couldn't stand looking at it anymore. It also had two cracks in it.
To make a long story short, I used stripper and a paint scraper, several times.
Ended up filling it and building it back up with body filler (not Bondo), wet sanding it all over and over till it was back to normal depth and then took to a body shop and had it shot with primer and then black. After about two weeks, the paint started to settle into the acrylic and there were noticeable striations that you could see and feel if you ran your hand across it. Looked great at first, especially considering what I had done to the poor thing, and then ended up being an eye soar.
I bought another one from a forum member which has some crazing but is not too bad and will easily fixed by a body shop this time.
The top had clear pealing on the passenger side and very bad crazing all over. I hated it and couldn't stand looking at it anymore. It also had two cracks in it.
To make a long story short, I used stripper and a paint scraper, several times.
Ended up filling it and building it back up with body filler (not Bondo), wet sanding it all over and over till it was back to normal depth and then took to a body shop and had it shot with primer and then black. After about two weeks, the paint started to settle into the acrylic and there were noticeable striations that you could see and feel if you ran your hand across it. Looked great at first, especially considering what I had done to the poor thing, and then ended up being an eye soar.I bought another one from a forum member which has some crazing but is not too bad and will easily fixed by a body shop this time.
04-13-2009, 12:00 PM
#80
Racer
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Oy.. At one time the only option I heard about was to paint it. Glad somebody figured out how to do it and still be able to see through it. This is a great post, and I'm going to try it as soon as I get a free weekend.
Don
Don
Last edited by Don Lindeman; 04-13-2009 at 02:19 PM.