Exterior Paint

[Sleddgracer]

Originally Posted by bus-bro

My experience tells me otherwise, at least as far industrial acrylic enamel paint.
But what would I know, my paint has held up for only ten or twelve years -- so far.

that's a far cry from house latex or acrylic paint - industrial paint is designed for use on metal, while the household stuff actually rapidly promotes rust on steel before it peels off - not as long lasting as automotive paint, but industrial is a very good 2nd best

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by Sleddgracer

that's a far cry from house latex or acrylic paint - industrial paint is designed for use on metal, while the household stuff actually rapidly promotes rust on steel before it peels off - not as long lasting as automotive paint, but industrial is a very good 2nd best

YEs the worst thing to paint a bus with would be latex house paint.

[Choo]

Ya, I looked into the monstaliner and raptor liner. Due to the expense and the amount of prep work. I decided to go with a tractor paint. Knowing how it holds up to the abuse my equipment takes. It is limited on color options but does hold up well. A light sanding prep of the bus. Rattle can spray on primer rust preventer/converter then applied the mystic tractor paint from my local ‘Rural King’ store. Should last for years to come. Time will tell.

[Sharee100]

Not after it dries. Think house exterior paint.

[Gdog 5651]

I have been painting cars and trucks for more than 45 years the best finish for the money is tractor/implement paint from one of the many farm and home stores the key to longevity is the hardener they sell for it. That and a respirator the hardener is made of the same base product as super glue and will do the same thing to your lungs. It is not the best finish available but is certainly the best finish for the money and it wears like iron and as a spray finish goes is pretty simple. Gene

[Choo]

Thanks Gene for the confidence boost. This is my first bus, and I’m new to relying on this site. Ive been reading a lot on it thou.
So, thanks.

[Choo]

TYPO. Should be REPLY not RELYING.

[HazMatt]

An apt Freudian Slip, all the same! [emoji6]
BTW, if you tap your post, in Android at least, and then the crossed wrench & screwdriver icon, upper right, you can edit your post.
(Within a 2-hour window)

[Sleddgracer]

Originally Posted by Gdog 5651

I have been painting cars and trucks for more than 45 years the best finish for the money is tractor/implement paint from one of the many farm and home stores the key to longevity is the hardener they sell for it. That and a respirator the hardener is made of the same base product as super glue and will do the same thing to your lungs. It is not the best finish available but is certainly the best finish for the money and it wears like iron and as a spray finish goes is pretty simple. Gene

and far superior to Tremclad or Rustolium as a long lasting finish - there is so much work involved in preparation, why leave yourself open to repainting in a very few years, or driving around with a badly oxidized paint job? -

[trx]

Use farm and implement paint. Depending where you live it can be found at a farm and fleet or big box home improvement store. The stuff I used was made by Valspar and it all looks good after 10 years. Rust-Oleum also has farm and implement paint. I bought a hardener for it and sprayed it on with an air sprayer.

[Sleddgracer]

Originally Posted by trx

Use farm and implement paint. Depending where you live it can be found at a farm and fleet or big box home improvement store. The stuff I used was made by Valspar and it all looks good after 10 years. Rust-Oleum also has farm and implement paint. I bought a hardener for it and sprayed it on with an air sprayer.

also known as 'fast dry industrial enamel'

[PigPen]

I will second the calls for good prep and the use of a hardener.

We used rustoleum for the green on our bus and tractor supply's implement paint for the white top. Tractor supply also sells a "catalyst hardener" that is cheap and effective.

[RoadsideJourney]

Originally Posted by AZHippie

Has anyone tried monstaliner or raptor liner? We were thinking about something along those lines.

After seeing Brandy and Kye from the Boomerang Bus use Raptor liner, I did some research on it. I think that is the way I'm going to go. I bought the raptor paint for my storage boxes, and I'll be working on painting those and installing them soon.

[cdrobbins77]

Originally Posted by AZHippie

Thanks, any particular brand recommend?

Conco 8000 is sold at Menards. Tintable, industrial acrylic meant for metal and machinery, water cleanup. Its what I plan on using

[sepudo]

I've been researching paint options (along with wrap) but for paint I've found from people working at paint stores that they recommend enamel paints for painted metal (the bus) and to stay away from anything water soluble (acrylics)

According to them acrylics lack the 'parts of the paint that make it stick and be strong' (the enamels)

Comments? (preferably from those that have done vs just Googled... But I'll take a look at both)

[Danjo]

Any brand of single stage auto paint.

You’ll want to test hand application using a 4” foam “weenie” roller.

Preparation is everything. Sand the surface as directed by the paint manufacturer

[Danjo]

For those in SoCal with a bus shorter than 30’, consider OEM paint booth rental. The guys there are great.

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by Danjo

Any brand of single stage auto paint.

You’ll want to test hand application using a 4” foam “weenie” roller.

Preparation is everything. Sand the surface as directed by the paint manufacturer

Single stage auto paint is what I'm goin with. After a few weeks or so of sanding and prep.

[Danjo]

Originally Posted by EastCoastCB

Single stage auto paint is what I'm goin with. After a few weeks or so of sanding and prep.

Start early! Luv the yellow. You’ll have it everywhere!

[JacquesM]

A long time ago now, the band I was producing and road managing bought an International. One day, without asking, two of the band members took it and painted it a lavender like purple with house paint using an airless spray gun. They actually did an okay job considering. After that, another band member went to work using cans of spray paint.
When the band broke up and I bought the bus, I had to strip it down to bare metal. Let me tell you, that was many long days with a wire wheel and grinder motor. It took forever, but when it was done I didn't want to short change all the work.
We took it up to near Flint, MI and a real bus company suggested using either acid etching primer (grey) or an epoxy primer. After that, IMRON. Imron is the real deal. Hard as nails, but a respirator is REQUIRED. This **** can be deadly as I believe it contains cyanide. Not good for the environment either. The bus company had a lot of trouble with the EPA. But, if you have clean air, a good gun and mix up Imron the right way, it is possible to lay down a great paint job.

I am still wondering what to do with my new (used) bus. I don't have a huge indoor heated building to prep and shoot it with Imron. House paint? NO.
Spray cans? Hmm. Never looks all that good unless a mural done by a talented artist. Roll on? Sigh. Still need warm, sunny, CALM day. Won't look as good as sprayed. I'd love to take it somewhere an pay the $20K for a nice paint job, but the bus only cost me $14K. LOL. Maybe I need to find that artist?