The Journey Visvi 1999 Thomas MVP ER - Page 3

wmkbailey · 07-07-2013, 10:48 AM

I got the last of the decals and reflectors off Friday. Spent half day yesterday removing all the glue and giving her a wash. I started using the Klean-Strip 1 qt. Easy Liquid Sander to prep for painting today. I discovered that no one sells oil base paint. All I have to choose from is latex or Acrylic. Every thing I have read here says to stay away from water based paint. I did not want to use the standard Rustoleum because I cannot get the colors I want.

So where does everyone get their paint other than Rustoleum to paint their bus?

Malkieri · 07-07-2013, 10:54 AM

A quick Internet search turned up an article saying that oil based paints were banned in 2005 in the mid atlantic region. Maybe you need to look outside of Maryland...it said something about single gallon cans being banned...have you tried looking for 5 gallon buckets? Someone on here Green Machine I think is the build thread got some Rustoleum professional that came in good colors... Menards sells it, maybe you have somewhere that does Rustoleum pro paints..... I don't know what to tell you if not...Good luck!

wmkbailey · 07-07-2013, 11:21 AM

Thanks Malkieri,

I may have to go with Rustoleum. I will check and see if anyone sells Rustoleum professional. The green they have is a bright forest green, I wanted something not so bright.

bus-bro has a nice color on his bus.

inkblots84 · 07-07-2013, 02:49 PM

I am so happy you finally got your bus!!!! It looks like a good one too, and you're definitely quick with the work!

Congrats!!!

PDBreske · 07-07-2013, 03:09 PM

Maybe you could use the bright green Rustoleum and mix in a little black to tone down the color? As long as they're the same brand and finish, I don't see what could go wrong. Just remember to keep accurate notes on what quantities you use so you can make more if necessary.

wmkbailey · 07-07-2013, 04:06 PM

Rustoleum professional has a few colors I might be able to use. Every time I try to mix colors, I end up with brown.

wmkbailey · 07-08-2013, 08:38 AM

So, I'm very confused. Rustoleum is Acrylic based paint, which is water based. I read a lot about not using Latex because it is water based paint. Is Acrylic ok to use? Home Depot sells exterior Acrylic paint.

This would make my life easier

I just want to paint my bus.

Malkieri · 07-08-2013, 01:31 PM

I was at Home Depot today and decided to check the Rustoleum Pro paint here. It says right on it "Oil Based"... so you are going to have to smuggle paint in or deal with water based paint it seems. I am not sure how far "mid atlantic region" based paint ban would extend, it seemed from the little bit I could find to be N. Va, DC and Maryland. Do you have friends or family a little further away that you can get to look for you? Maybe it is time for a first road trip!!

JakeC · 07-08-2013, 01:40 PM

Wow...sounds like a pain in the arse!!

Anywho...tada...

Malkieri · 07-08-2013, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JakeC

Wow...sounds like a pain in the arse!!

Anywho...tada...

Yes very nice Jake, let's show the poor soul what he CAN'T have

....

But seriously the ones at my local HD in Tx say the same thing.

Anyone driving towards Maryland? Maybe you could pick up some contraband paint for our compadre there.... thanks!!

keith · 07-08-2013, 02:08 PM

hope u can fine a clear coat to go over it,,,i did mine in red and after two yrs it faded bad so if u fine a clear coat... please let me know thanks

and if u try to use the raddel can clear coat,for get it,,it will wrinke on u ..

JakeC · 07-08-2013, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Malkieri

Yes very nice Jake, let's show the poor soul what he CAN'T have

....

But seriously the ones at my local HD in Tx say the same thing.

Anyone driving towards Maryland? Maybe you could pick up some contraband paint for our compadre there.... thanks!!

Hopefully he'll figure something out.

wmkbailey · 07-08-2013, 02:15 PM

I have found the Rustoleum Pro Oil-Based Enamel. We have five colors Hunter Green, Red, Black, white and Blue. In the automotive section there are more colors and they are all Acrylic Enamel.

My question is why can I not use Exterior House paint that is Acrylic Enamel and tint it the colors I want?

I also read that Acrylic Enamel is better than Oil-Based Enamel, where Acrylic Enamel is more flexable and not prone to crack.

JakeC · 07-08-2013, 02:52 PM

Sorry man, I don't have an answer for that. My understanding was that oil-based enamels last much longer.

wmkbailey · 07-08-2013, 03:06 PM

Thanks for the help, I'm going to give it a try. It should last long enough to get past inspection. Worst case, I'm repainting in a couple years. I will make sure I'm not on the east coast.

JakeC · 07-08-2013, 03:22 PM

FYI...this was posted on my thread concerning latex paints...

Quote:

Originally Posted by ol trunt

By the way, The water borne paints are not latex paint. While it is quick and easy to repaint a bus with latex house paint, the overall quality of the paint job will not begin to approach the quality of an oil based paint (industrial coating, Rustoleum oil based etc.). My comments come from over 40 years experience in refinishing automobiles and I hope they are of some help.

I'm trying to get mine painted as well. My main hold up is that the roof is peeling :/

wmkbailey · 07-08-2013, 04:50 PM

I'm staying away from Latex and going to try the Acrylic Enamel. It may not last as long as Oil Enamel, but it is good enough for home exterior paint. Most of the Rustoleum automotive paint is Acrylic Enamel.

I will see how long it lasts.

I got the roof sanded using the Klean-Strip Easy Liquid Sander. It worked well around the rivets and other obstacles.

That was a lot of surface area to do.

Tomorrow and Wednesday I hope to finish the sides and rear. It is scheduled to rain Thursday, Friday I hope to start masking and paint over the weekend. We will see how it goes.

JakeC · 07-08-2013, 05:12 PM

That makes sense. So much I don't know about paint, lol...any who, looks like we will be racing to see who gets painted first!!

Tango · 07-08-2013, 05:57 PM

Call me old school, but for my money, water based paint and metal are a fundamentally bad idea. Detroit has switched to environmentally friendly water based primers and has had real problems. Like rust forming on brand new cars type problems. And that's applied scientifically under ideal conditions. Personally, I'm gonna stick with good old oils based solely on its' natural friendliness with steel.

BTW...my bus appears to have been partially sandblasted and repainted with water based latex house paint. No idea how long ago but it is peeling...no, make that falling off in chunks. Everywhere under the "new" paint is a layer of rust. Everywhere I strip the original, 67 year old (oil based) factory paint, the metal is still clean and shiny.

Some physicist may be able to explain how/why putting water on steel is good for it but until I see something to convince me otherwise, I'm stickin' with what I know works.

ol trunt · 07-08-2013, 06:11 PM

Hey Guys, If it says on the can that the paint can be cleaned up with water--don't use it. If it is metalic--even oil based, don't use it. If its latex, don't use it. Stick with oil based solid colors. Many of the bright colors are very transparent . This can be overcome by using a first coat of white with a little black added followed by the bright color--still a PITA as far as coverage goes.

If you do end up using latex paint you will pretty much be stuck continuing to use it as it does not sand well and oil based paint does not stick to it very well. The advice about bug bomb clear is right on--it often causes the color coat to wrinkle. You can, however use automotive clear coat of the catalyzed variety over almost anything except latex. Hope that helps.

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