Professional paint job

John316 · September 20, 2017, 02:58:31 PM

Quote from: Nick Badame Refrig/ACC on September 15, 2017, 08:40:15 PM
Hi Branderson,

Check out StarJet! They painted my bus 11 years ago and is holding up nice. Very Reasonable too!!
Dick & Dee Cahill are the owners. They are in Columbus, OH
My bus is on their website as well as others on this board.

http://www.starjetbuspainting.com/

Nick-

I suggest you steer clear of Star Jet bus painting. They did an absolutely terrible job on our bus (now luvrbus - Clifford has it). The paint is pealing and cracking and looks terrible. I don't know if they did a good job on Nick's bus, because he was connected to the forum here. Or if they weren't drinking as much back then, but either way, be VERY cautious if you use them.

We even hired them to weld metal framing around the roof air-conditioners. They simply slid square metal tubing around the opening, and pop riveted those pieces to the ceiling. Not a weld joint in site. I could go on and on about their shoddy work.

So if you use them, make sure you tell them you are well connected, and they might do decent work.

Branderson · September 22, 2017, 12:17:58 PM

Quote from: John316 on September 20, 2017, 02:58:31 PM
I suggest you steer clear of Star Jet bus painting. They did an absolutely terrible job on our bus (now luvrbus - Clifford has it). The paint is pealing and cracking and looks terrible. I don't know if they did a good job on Nick's bus, because he was connected to the forum here. Or if they weren't drinking as much back then, but either way, be VERY cautious if you use them.

We even hired them to weld metal framing around the roof air-conditioners. They simply slid square metal tubing around the opening, and pop riveted those pieces to the ceiling. Not a weld joint in site. I could go on and on about their shoddy work.

So if you use them, make sure you tell them you are well connected, and they might do decent work.

That must explain why their price is a lot cheaper. Thanks, I guess I'm going to stay with the Atlanta Customs near me. They are more expensive but seem dependable.

Branderson · January 09, 2018, 08:08:33 AM

Man I'm finally ready to get mine painted and Atlanta Custom Coach isn't giving me the time of day. I'm being a little impatient but I emailed them last week and called them yesterday and still no return call to start the process.

They have even worked on my bus before!! Ahh it's frustrating when ready to put down a lot of money and having to beg for someone to call you back.

I'm under 2hrs south of Atlanta too so it works out distance wise. I contacted StarJet but reading mixed reviews on here has me worried taking a trip to OH for that.

chessie4905 · January 09, 2018, 11:34:27 AM

For that big a job, I'd make the trip for person to person contact. They could be just very busy since this may be off season for many RV's and getting their work done now.

Branderson · January 09, 2018, 01:07:48 PM

Yea you're right. Only problem is they are closed on the weekends so it makes it a little more difficult to get there. I'm gonna give them a few more days to contact me back.

B_K · January 09, 2018, 01:40:23 PM

Branderson contact Lamar Welch of Welch Industries in Stockbridge, GA. Their area of expertise is A/C and coach maintenance, but they are well connected in the industry and will probably be able to steer you in the right direction. http://welchindustries.com/

BK

DoubleEagle · January 09, 2018, 05:00:26 PM

Check with outfits that do truck and trailer repair and painting. They certainly have big enough booths to handle a bus. The question is whether they are willing. Since you are getting the cold shoulder in Atlanta, look around more locally.

buswarrior · January 09, 2018, 06:02:26 PM

Around here, lots of stuff stayed closed until this week, the kids were all off school the first week of the year.

As each year goes by, more and more workplaces just give up, stay closed and let their staff stay home when the kids are off.

happy coaching!
buswarrior

Branderson · January 10, 2018, 08:26:37 AM

Quote from: B_K on January 09, 2018, 01:40:23 PM
Branderson contact Lamar Welch of Welch Industries in Stockbridge, GA. Their area of expertise is A/C and coach maintenance, but they are well connected in the industry and will probably be able to steer you in the right direction. http://welchindustries.com/
BK

Thank you! I reached out to them.

neoneddy · January 10, 2018, 09:40:12 AM

Mine was an old local transit coach, had an interesting design already on it. I'm 90% sure they did it themselves with rollers and Rustollium.

My plan is to freshen up the black and add a little bit to make the windows flow with the design more, and then cover the back in black to hide any dust / oil mix. I figure the little bit I'm adding won't affect heat in the summer issues too much. The top will still be white, hopefully with solar to act as a sun shade.

Photos attached.

luvrbus · January 10, 2018, 11:43:47 AM

The clear coat has started failing now on the bus I got from John 316 Star Jet painted it's peeling off in sheets off the white part in the front and rear it's not doing good in the AZ heat for sure.
It doesn't look like there was much prep work done I have spots around the graphics and on the graphics that the paint is off down to bare metal and looks like to me they missed on the primer in spots

Van · January 10, 2018, 12:06:48 PM

They are doing some great stuff down in Mexico Clifford.

luvrbus · January 10, 2018, 12:11:57 PM

Quote from: Van on January 10, 2018, 12:06:48 PM
They are doing some great stuff down in Mexico Clifford.

I been that route once he does the good,bad and ugly some time when the painters fall off the 55 gal barrels they use , for the money he is not bad but he is no Mike Wilson,Navarro painted Sonja's Triumph

Branderson · February 20, 2018, 10:56:01 AM

Well, I finally got a hold of the paint place and took the bus there yesterday for a quote. It was a kick in the stomach b/c I've been saving for this paint job and they basically quoted me double what I thought it would be. Unfortunately, I have to get 3 panels replaced b/c of bubbling or issues. I figured it doesn't make much sense to pay that kind of $ and not get the panels replaced b/c the bubbling would soon return if I didn't.

I went ahead and pulled the trigger so I left it there. I kind of felt stuck b/c if I took the bus home, it would only get worse and I want to get it done, I just wished it wasn't going to cost that much. My hopes is nothing else is found to be problematic once they start sanding things down. It was hard to walk with the guy as he pointed out all the "trouble". As I looked at it, this ole girl really did need a paint job.

I just hope it's worth it and we will be happy with the outcome.

John316 · February 22, 2018, 07:17:12 AM

Where did you end up taking it?