How Much Paint?

[Lostranger]

My reskin is progressing nicely and should be finished this week. That makes paint a high priority. Since I know little about automotive paint and don't trust my spray skills, I've hired a pro body man to shoot the stuff. He's never done anything this big.

Planning to use single stage urethane with a hardener. Will be mostly white, but will have a contrasting stripe (about six inches) around perimeter. How many gallons is this likely to take? Bus is 40' long, but since it's a low floor, the walls are not as high as a typical coach. I imagine I'll eventually find a surface area based guide on line, but I'd love to hear from those of you who know this subject.

Here's an enlargement of my avatar for perspective. Destination sign window will be eliminated and painted. Will have driver/passenger windows, one on each side immediately behind that and one on each side in bed room.

As soon as it's done, I'll post a shot with new skin.

TIA

[Ericbsc]

Took 9 gal on mine.

[Lostranger]

Thanks, Eric.

[luvrbus]

The experts tell me 50 to 60 sf to the quart if applied right where they got it from I have no idea 

[Jim Eh.]

Took 9 gal on mine.

Is the top of the roof color matched to the sides?

[luvrbus]

I never saw it in person but most paint the rounded top part the colors of the side then the flat part is white on the roof mine was you could never see the white unless you were on the top

[Newbob]

MY Bluebird is only 28 feet front to back but it took 2 gals to put 2 coats of primer and 2 gals to put 2.5 coats of clear - Keep in m ind I did not paint the very top of the roof - just up over the curves to the flat. On the flip side - I don't have many windows - they were covered over.  - Best of luck!!

[BRUISER]

mine took two gallons.. black single stage

[Lostranger]

This has been most helpful, guys. I'm starting to get some perspective. Thanks.

[Newbob]

Did you paint her yet??

[Lostranger]

Paint is scheduled for early November. This past Friday we finished reskinning. Here's a a photo of the new skin being primed:



The driver's window opening is a rough cut so I could move her. New passenger side window is in place. The other four new windows go in this afternoon.

We can't paint before November because we'll be out with the bus all of October. Taking a Bluegrass band to Pennsylvania the first weekend. After that, Bev and I headed to Ocracoke for the rest of the month.

Jim

[bevans6]

What material did you use for the skin?

Brian

[Lostranger]

What material did you use for the skin?

18g cold rolled steel. Got the idea from The Bus Converter's Bible when we did our first bus in 2001. Used Sikaflex 252 prepped with Sika 205 cleaner/activator and Sika 210 primer.





Any skin job is huge, and this one has been a marathon. I could not be more pleased with the result, however. Just posted several shots of the process on the last page of this thread: http://www.nomadicista.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=2541&p=20517#p20517

I'll be cutting window openings this afternoon. After October I'll still have to make new door and remove destination sign window before we can paint.

Jim

[digesterman]

Looking good Jim

[Lostranger]

Looking good Jim

Thanks, Lee. Having that job behind me is extraordinarily satisfying.