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Bus Discussion => Bus Topics ( click here for quick start! ) => Topic started by: Highway Yacht on February 26, 2011, 03:06:03 PM

Title: Need Advice... What Type of Caulking For Drip Gutters and New Skins?
Post by: Highway Yacht on February 26, 2011, 03:06:03 PM
I need some advice on what type of Caulking to use to seal the seams of my new metal skins and also to seal around the drip gutters when I re-install them? I'm looking for something that's somewhat flexible to keep any water from seeping behind the new panels and gutters. I also want to be able to use the caulk to seal all the rivet holes when I install the new rivets. I don't really want anything like a real strong adhesive that I have to destroy the new panels or gutters if I ever need to remove them and it would be nice to be able to wipe off any excess caulking off the panels that might squeeze out when riveted together.
Title: Re: Need Advice... What Type of Caulking For Drip Gutters and New Skins?
Post by: boogiethecat on February 26, 2011, 06:39:18 PM
My favorite for this kind of stuff is Sikaflex 1A which is available from construction suppliers in white, black and a few other colors.  It's cheap ($4-5 per caulking tube) and VERY dependable.
If you ever need to remove it, just heat and it comes off easily.
It cleans up nicely with naptha, and even better with "scrubs in a bucket"  I like to rip the scrub towels into little 2x4" pieces and use them once or twice to scoop/wipe off excess caulking, leaving a clean finish, and then get another.  Makes for a very clean seam!
Title: Re: Need Advice... What Type of Caulking For Drip Gutters and New Skins?
Post by: Highway Yacht on February 27, 2011, 07:39:22 AM
Thanks for the reply. I will check into seeing if there is a supplier in my area.

Jimmy
Title: Re: Need Advice... What Type of Caulking For Drip Gutters and New Skins?
Post by: FloridaCliff on February 27, 2011, 08:42:48 AM
Check out some automotive seam sealer.

Available at your favorite purveyor of auto paints and such.

Cliff
Title: Re: Need Advice... What Type of Caulking For Drip Gutters and New Skins?
Post by: jjrbus on February 28, 2011, 04:56:32 AM
I used

http://www.dap.com/product_details.aspx?product_id=19 (http://www.dap.com/product_details.aspx?product_id=19)

Reasonably priced, easily available. I was buck riveting to the bus, I was not concerned about adhesive strength.
                                            JIm
Title: Re: Need Advice... What Type of Caulking For Drip Gutters and New Skins?
Post by: eddiepotts on February 28, 2011, 06:50:56 AM
I know my corvette has body panels glued on. An automotive paint supplier should have what you need.
Title: Re: Need Advice... What Type of Caulking For Drip Gutters and New Skins?
Post by: artvonne on February 28, 2011, 10:27:50 AM
  On every bus we wrecked it looked like they used a bead of tar to seal the seams. Roof seams, wall seams, everywhere. All the rivets were solid, not pop rivets, those dont leak and dont need sealer. We wrecked a 1953 4104, this was in 1988, 35 years after it was built, and the joints wernt leaking anywhere. I would contact MCI and ask what they use.