If You Are Thinking Of Painting Your Coach.................

[Dreamscape]

I had this ready on my laptop and the blue angel of death appeared.....So'ss

I had the pleasure of visiting a man who owns a paint and body shop here in Abilene last night. I was having problems with my DeVilbless Finish Line gun. He couldn't get it to work right either, I didn't feel so stupid then.  He told me of a gun a Harbor Freight that works pretty good. So my wife and I drove over to HF and bought one, was only $14.99. That's right you read correctly! Regular price was $39.99, Lot No. 47016. Sale ends Sept. 8th.

I was amazed today after I cleaned it out and make some adjustments how well it worked. It did an amazing job on the primer. Oopps forgot to tell you I went down and bought another one. One for primer, one for paint. It layed down real smooth, and the color went on even better! I am using a single stage PPG product, blue metallic. Has a great shine and super color!

Even though my first side that I did on Sunday is not too hot, I can go back and fix it after it hardens for a bit.

I'll post pics when it's complete!

Whew....I'm  on a roll now...

Paul

Yes, this has been a great day!

[van]

PAUL,WHAT HAPPENED TO THE FIRST SIDE ,DRY OR DID IT RUN?

     VAN

[Kwajdiver]

Paul,

Glad to hear your putting paint on the ole girl.  For sure, post photos.
The problem I had with cheap guns, they didn't last for me.  Hope you have better luck than I did.

Bill

[Dreamscape]

PAUL,WHAT HAPPENED TO THE FIRST SIDE ,DRY OR DID IT RUN?

     VAN

Van, It went on looking good, after it dried it got real dry looking. Did not have any runs. I had a lot of problems keeping the fan and material usage consistant. The gun said to use no more than 23 psi. with the trigger pulled. I used 40 psi. today, much much better result. So much for higher priced guns, at least for me anyway. Today it went on wet and dried looking wet!  The gun settings never  changed the whole time.

Bill,

I plan on using these guns this one time. Worked good so far!  Just can't beat the price.

Paul

[compedgemarine]

Hey Paul
great to hear you are getting to lay some paint. I still use a Binks #7 that I have had for 25 years. I like it better than some of the new guns and I can do a better job than most anyone with the high doller new ones. I do use the same ones you just bought for primers. they work well for a short time but tend to have issues after a while. I usually get a couple of years out of them with the primers but by the time they are acting up they have more than paid for themselves. now we need some pictures of it so get busy.
steve

[TomC]

I have a commercial spray gun and a 2hp compressor with dryer, but decided to have the bus professionally painted.  The painting is the easy part- the body work and prep is what scared me away.  I'm glad I spent the money since there were some dents and rivets to replace ($11,100.00).  Good Luck, TomC

[JohnEd]

Bill,

Are you in a paint booth?  How are you suppressing dust?  I am going to assume that you are painting the "side" of the bus.  PPG is a great p[roduct and so is Sherwin Williams.  Only had really bad experiences with Dupont auto paint.  Their pricy other paints were nothing short of magic when I used them in Europe...German made stuff that gave you spray booth work using a brush....I think even using a Q tip would have worked.  Good old days....HRUMPH!

You paint with whatever gives you a good job.  One thing I have noticed about the spendy guns is that you can abuse them and let paint dry in them and they will clean up and perform like new.  Replacement parts are always there, also. An added benifit to getting a gun that will stay the course is that it becomes an old friend and your work improves over the years.  At 66 that doesn't apply to me and I just love my HF guns and it only working for 5 years is longer than I will be ABLE to work it and screw my "HEIRS".

John

[Dreamscape]

John,

I'm not Bill, but I'll answer the question anyway. 

I am not in a paint booth, watered down the floor and pray for no wind! I am using my father in-laws shop for some cover from the hot Texas Sun. All I have and I make the best of it.

If I was to paint buses for a living I would have invested in a better quality gun, but since this is a one time thing I sought advice and found something that worked for me. If something happens to these guns I'll just go down a buy another one. Everyone has a favorite tool that they like to use, mine just is cheap. I did buy a good compressor from Craftsman and it's working very nice.

It has been just over one year since I tackled this project, now I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. It just is a great feeling to finally see one color on the ole girl.

TomC, I like your idea of having someone else do it, but I'm on a budget and she says my labor is pretty cheap!

Steve, There are a lot of good brands out there, mine is just a cheap chinese made gun that seems to work for me. I just wanted to pass along my experience at getting lucky, and getting off cheap. Need more money for fuel for the trip to TBR!

Today the front gets finished!

Paul

[FloridaCliff]

Paul,

Really enjoy hearing about your progress.

I am hoping that if work EVER slows down that I will paint mine sometime soon.

I also like using the HF guns.

Since I paint in random spurts(no pun intended), it just makes more sense to use throw away guns.

I have had great success with them.

Good luck, no breeze, no humidity wishes, just get it done before Gustav heads your way.....

Cliff

[compedgemarine]

actually that cheap chinese gun is a direct knockoff of my Binks (or at least most are). that is why they work so well. as I said they will spray great but if you use them alot (far more than you are likely to ever use them for) they tend to deteriorate. even when I use them alot they still are good for a year or two. for what you are doing it is by far the best value. a pricey gun would never repay the cost to paint one bus and some small work through the years. I wish I was far enough along on my Eagle to worry about needing paint. some day.
good luck.
steve

[van]

if yours turns out nice,I'll get you a box of them guns if ya help me get mine done(hee hee)good luck ,keep a steady hand(so's ya don't spill your fav-o-rite beverage) and git er done .I'm shure it'll come out lookin great .I'll probably do my own also ,be damned (can I say that?) if I'll load some one else' pockets for a job I can tackle myself(now where'd I put dem dare rattle cans)Good luck brudder and take some pics ,remember flood them runs.

          wish I could help ya watch the paint dry

                             Van

[JohnEd]

Paul,

Sorry about confusing you with Bill.  I am doing more of that with even more important issues these days.  Never call your wife by another woman's name when you kiss her goodnight....don't ask me how I know that nor specifically where I hurt the most.

I painted my Winnie in even more "iffy" circumstances.  I did her in the dirt driveway in front of a two story barn.  Did it at 5:30am at first light and there was not even a breeze or a serious bug out for breakfast.  Came out great, great, great.  The DeVillbus I borrowed.  I noticed some gnats in the air but I think that the paint out-gassing cascading down the vert surface forced them off till it was tack free.  The DeV put out a lot of paint so I could cover an entire side in short order.  Being in the cool of the morning my paint was "slow" so it got to "flow out" and kept that smooth, wet look.  You have to use the right "speed" thinner to avoid runs or dry spray.  The owner of the barn did me a solid and I got superb advice from a lot of people and no one discouraged me from this adventure.  Had I used a smaller gun I think I would have gotten "dry spray" all over her.  I worked for three days on the prep when I could put in 10 hour days.  I did purchase 6 hours of body work labor but I painted her myself... first time I EVER painted a vehicle.  My total outlay was less than $450 plus my sweat.  Still, you can get such a crappy job doing it yourself that you will consider burning the vehicle....didn't go that way for me and a lot of the credit goes to those that gave advice earned from 10's of years of experience.

$11,000 for a good bus paint job is very reasonable.  Marathon charges $35 to 40K for its custom work...I'm told.  I hear $18K a lot.  If that was the only option for me it would have a art deco "rust" finish with some tastefull roller work.

Oh, and the paint I used was the cheapest "JUNK" that was on the market at the time that Sherwin Williams stores sold, NASON brand.  It is still made and I heard it is now a better product.

John

[HighTechRedneck]

$11,000 for a good bus paint job is very reasonable.  Marathon charges $35 to 40K for its custom work...I'm told.  I hear $18K a lot.  If that was the only option for me it would have a art deco "rust" finish with some tastefull roller work.

You and me both.  Those paint jobs are beautiful, but I'd have to win the lottery first. 

[luvrbus]

Hightech if you ever need a paint job Mike Wilson will work with you I have watched him paint buses for guys that did their own prep work and charged very little for the job  but it has to be done when he is not real busy look at some of his work.He is making some videos on painting and designing graphics on buses that should be available soon on his site   

www.willyscustomconcepts.net

[Dreamscape]

Hey Clifford,

What took you so long to give us his website.....WOW.....Nice purdy pictures.....Even your Eagle still looks good.....

Van,

I'm only doing this one time and one time only....You can do it yerself.... Thanks for your offer though.......

I thought I was going to paint the front today....WRONG....It's all taped and covered, then I found a couple of spots I need to do some filler work on...Dang it anyway....Oh well, Maybe tomorrow....

What is taking so long....... Because the windshields are in I had to remove the lock strip, and use 7/16"O.S. diam. plastic tubing to space the rubber seal away from the body. Then tape and cover the glass. Should have just left the glass out, just didn't want anything building a nest inside the bus as I never know when I have to travel. Like hornets and little critters. 

It will probably take me 30 minutes to shoot the thing, 1 1/2 days for prep......

I'm still Smiling..

Paul