Do I prime the whole bus?

[MambaJack]

I'm done standing one side, and curious if most people print the whole bus before they put on the paint. I play to use rustoleum enaml.

[CaptSquid]

Prep the surface first. Wash thoroughly, then take a greenie pad to the surface.

[tororider]

Originally Posted by CaptSquid

Prep the surface first. Wash thoroughly, then take a greenie pad to the surface.

Probably a dumb question, what's a greenie pad?

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by tororider

Probably a dumb question, what's a greenie pad?

A scuff pad.

[Tango]

And...do a final wipe down with either tack rags or Paint Prep before applying any paint.

[PNW_Steve]

I'm curious if most people prime the whole bus before they put on the paint?

[Tango]

Any areas that have good original paint (adhesion, no cracking or pitting, etc.) need not be primed as long as those areas are properly prepped.



That said...it is often actually easier to just spray primer on the whole thing. Your call.

[Trail Fairy]

This weekend we have been sanding the whole bus, then power washing, then wiping with mineral spirits, then priming. Rusty spots got extra love. Hopefully this week we will paint. Will be so happy when exterior is done...

[Mark_In_MA]

How are you painting the bus?

If you're spraying it, then I would prime the whole thing first.


You'll have to tape and mask most of it first anyways.


More importantly, if you prime the whole thing, then the whole thing will take the paint the same way. The way I've been taught to paint (especially when spraying) is that the first color coat over the primer is an intermediate coat - so you want the primer to begin to pick up the color of the paint, but you don't want it to be the full, solid paint color yet - that should come in on the second coat. I've had decent luck painting smaller things (a small tractor or two) this way, so that it keeps the individual coats from getting too thick and running/cracking/orange peeling.