So you want to paint your bus, do you?

[opus]

6 yrs ago when I painted this with Rustoleum, I was in a rush. I didnt prep well at all, knowing exactly what I was doing. It lasted longer than I expected.

The thing I never thought of was getting it removed. This is not the fun part. Pressure washer helped me some today though.

Moral of the story, get a proper paint job or be sure to spend a huge amount of time prepping the bus.

Again, no complaints, just thought I'd share. Now I really have a conversation piece!

[Docsgsxr]

Are you changing it totally, or just repainting it the same with a better paint technique?

[opus]

Not going to repaint it. The only way I'd ever do that would be to have it media blasted. I cant get that done around here so.....

Putting money into a paint job in this country is like pouring money down the drain.

[EastCoastCB]

Whoa!
Thanks for posting, gives me reassurance that all this prep work I'm doing is important!

[jake_blue]

I love the 'weathered look'! Lol

[opus]

Originally Posted by jake_blue

I love the 'weathered look'! Lol

Wait, I've got it! Dont we call that "patina"?

[CaptSquid]

Egads! Bus mange!

[cadillackid]

prep work is definitely where its at when it comes to paint! esp on areas like wheels, window frames etc that tend to be smoother than other areas....

but even just going over a bus with TSP and a light sandpaper will give your paint a good chance at success.. and then fix up the chips on it with touchup as needbe
-Christopher

[opus]

Originally Posted by cadillackid

but even just going over a bus with TSP and a light sandpaper will give your paint a good chance at success.

See picture above.

[cadillackid]

did you hit it with TSP and light sand? and then power-wash it? you are right though if you want to remove fully you will have to blast it..

[opus]

Yes, I did. Too many curves to sand properly, unless you have unlimited time and determination.

Looking back, I should have left it yellow and called it good. Only thing I did on this that I regret. Then again with me, mechanical condition trumps looks 10 fold.

I'm contemplating buying this....then I'll have matching paint jobs!!

[cadillackid]

gotta love an old willies!!

[cadillackid]

someone definitely spent more on wheels than they did seats...

[Dapplecreek]

Some states really don't like private ownership of a yellow bus. Other states just want you to black the letters and/or remove the stop sign and disable the lights.

If *MY* state lets me off easy, and I drive through a tighter state, does my state's permission let me off the hook with their troopers? I would much prefer not to paint my proposed bus.

[jake_blue]

Originally Posted by Dapplecreek

f *MY* state lets me off easy, and I drive through a tighter state, does my state's permission let me off the hook with their troopers? I would much prefer not to paint my proposed bus.

It's hard to say. Interstate reciprocity suggests that if it was satisfactory for your home state to register it then another state will have a hard time disputing it. This is like States that don't have annual vehicle inspections - doesn't mean you cannot drive through States that so.

On the other hand, all it takes is one hard-nosed LEO to take issue with it and write a ticket, then all the hard time becomes yours, trying to fight an out of state ticket on a gray area technicality.

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by opus

Yes, I did. Too many curves to sand properly, unless you have unlimited time and determination.

As long as I spent on prepping the interior, I can only imagine what the exterior will entail. At least there won't be tar/asphalteum to deal with.

[Robin97396]

Does the tar interfere with the spray foam? I've noticed the tar too but hadn't planned on scraping it off. In my climate it's more likely to chip off. If there's no known chemical reaction between tar and foam insulation I was just planning to spray over it, when I get that far.

[jasonbailey]

I work for a commercial painting contractor and we paint everything from walls with sheet rock and block walls to chemical tanks for Clorox or even water towers. For something like a bus I don't see why it would be much different than say a steel wall or even a conex container. Why not just go over the whole thing with TSP and then hit it with DTM (direct to metal) bonding primer and then hit with eith a DTM paint or even industrial enamel? Obviously the worst part of the whole process would be the TSP if only because its so time consuming.

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by Robin97396

Does the tar interfere with the spray foam? I've noticed the tar too but hadn't planned on scraping it off. In my climate it's more likely to chip off. If there's no known chemical reaction between tar and foam insulation I was just planning to spray over it, when I get that far.

I had corrosion and funk behind the tar. ymmv
I don't know much about the spray foam but I don't see why it would react with the asphalteum.

[Docsgsxr]

Originally Posted by jasonbailey

I work for a commercial painting contractor and we paint everything from walls with sheet rock and block walls to chemical tanks for Clorox or even water towers. For something like a bus I don't see why it would be much different than say a steel wall or even a conex container. Why not just go over the whole thing with TSP and then hit it with DTM (direct to metal) bonding primer and then hit with eith a DTM paint or even industrial enamel? Obviously the worst part of the whole process would be the TSP if only because its so time consuming.

Maybe not if you buy a 2 gallon bug sprayer and apply it that way. You'd just have to make sure all of your electrical stuff was covered or sealed. At least that's what I am attempting to do.

You should do a Sticky thread about proper ways to prep and prime and paint these beasts on a budget!