Painting a bus

[RICH GREGG]

I have painted alot over the years worked on many eagle scout projects as well. You have many options. The first thing you should do is wash it done with bleach water this will remove any wax or grease do this first if you don't you will sand that right back into the paint. I would strongly sujest rolling or brush the top no one will see it anyway. Spray guns are cheap now and use less paint. You can rent or borrow a compressor try a rental place maybe the will donate it. Single stage enamel is a great idea rule of thumb is 2 parts paint to one part reducer.Old ref. boxes are a great place to practice you can you colored water to get the motion down. Overspray and dirt will be a problem if you don't have a barn to paint but you can buy rolls of thin plastic and with rope make a spray area the dust because of static elec. will want to stick to the plastic. Disconnect the battery and drop a chain from the frame to the floor this will also help with dust fat spots roofs top of hoods is were this is the biggest problem.Feel free to Email mail and we can talk on the phone and get into more details.It is not that hard and have showed a few of my scouts how to do it. A good book I think bondo use to sell one and many of paint companies have videos check with a local high school that has a votech maybe can recuit some vol. to get practice. I not saying I am the best in the world but did have one on DuPont's paint calender.Thank's feel free to email and get # Richard

[bottomacher]

Interesting. I haven't seen bleach dissolve grease, but I've seen it cause immediate rust. How do you rinse it out of blind rivets and overlaps?

[mike802]

I have always washed it good and wiped down with prep-sol.  Mineral spirits works also.

[RICH GREGG]

When I wash with bleach water it is about a qt. to a 5 gallon bucket wash with a long handle rv brush and rinse with water just like washing normal never seen instant rust maybe high acid water don't know that is a new one on me yes there is many poducts out there just for this reason but this is the cheapest and has always worked for me alot of thinners reducers what ever they tend to make the existing paint sticky and the rag stick esp. if you use a colored rag  heck you can wash it with comet and sand at the same time spray the windows with pledge shoot let dry good wash and go seen that done on many old farm truck. Richard