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06-28-2017, 08:54 AM
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#1
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Omaha, NE
Posts: 56
Year: 2002
Coachwork: Huh?
Engine: T444E
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Painting Prep: What Grit # should I be using
I got a quote for painting my midsize bus and it was $12,000. Nope, I'll paint it myself thank you. Question, what Grit # paper should I be using to hand sand it down. Do I start with a rougher one and then use a finer one? Also, after it's all sanded, should I wash it down with water and when it dries start painting? I'm finally getting my bus back tonight from the international dealer, they worked on my engine and I'm excited to get started.
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06-28-2017, 09:06 AM
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#2
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Skoolie
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Staten Island, NY
Posts: 153
Year: 2001
Coachwork: BlueBird
Chassis: A3RE
Engine: 3126 Cat
Rated Cap: 33220 GVwR
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Your plan sound good however wash it once then use a degreaser agent and then wash it again.
Sent from my VS835 using Tapatalk
__________________
The Rev.
Don't Fret God's Not Through With Me Yet!
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06-28-2017, 09:46 AM
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#3
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Skoolie
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Lake geneva Wisconsin
Posts: 199
Year: 93
Coachwork: Amtran
Chassis: International
Engine: 7.3 idi
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Wash it with tsp you can find it at home depot in the paint section. For me its the best when prepping for paint
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06-28-2017, 11:27 AM
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#4
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Omaha, NE
Posts: 56
Year: 2002
Coachwork: Huh?
Engine: T444E
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# of Grit
Awesome, I'll do those things. Any thoughts on the # of Grit? I've seen, 100, 400, etc.
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06-28-2017, 12:02 PM
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#5
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Eustis FLORIDA
Posts: 23,764
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Freighliner FS65
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by heeranyi
Awesome, I'll do those things. Any thoughts on the # of Grit? I've seen, 100, 400, etc.
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Depends. If you're just prepping an already good surface, I'd use a 300-ish grit.
Anything more coarse than that will just remove paint and leave big marks under your new paint.
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06-28-2017, 12:22 PM
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#6
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Omaha, NE
Posts: 56
Year: 2002
Coachwork: Huh?
Engine: T444E
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Awesome, I'll be sanding over the original paint so I'll go ahead and buy the 300 grit. Thanks
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06-28-2017, 12:27 PM
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#7
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Eustis FLORIDA
Posts: 23,764
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Freighliner FS65
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 15
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Yep, I've been prepping my shorty for paint with 320.
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06-28-2017, 02:06 PM
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#8
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Omaha, NE
Posts: 56
Year: 2002
Coachwork: Huh?
Engine: T444E
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Did you followup with anything finer than the 320?
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06-28-2017, 04:22 PM
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#9
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Traveling
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Midwest
Posts: 2,573
Year: 2003
Coachwork: BlueBird
Chassis: TC2000
Engine: 5.9L Cummins
Rated Cap: '00
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Quote:
Originally Posted by heeranyi
I got a quote for painting my midsize bus and it was $12,000. Nope, I'll paint it myself thank you. Question, what Grit # paper should I be using to hand sand it down. Do I start with a rougher one and then use a finer one? Also, after it's all sanded, should I wash it down with water and when it dries start painting? I'm finally getting my bus back tonight from the international dealer, they worked on my engine and I'm excited to get started.
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So, the guy says with a straight face: "Mr. heeranyi,
I will paint your bus for 12 Large."
...at which you said: "Homina Homina...I need what grit sandpaper and how many gallons of Rust-Oleum?" ...quietly pockets $11,700.
Why are you sanding the bus? Not being dense, but if you are going to piant, you want to clean the bus first- TSP or a phosphate detergent to strip grease and oxidation.
Then sand to give the paint some tooth- something to grip. Your goal isn't to smooth the paint, but to scuff it. Sand any markings until just barely gone, lacquer thinner the shadow. I use a random orbit (DynaBrade) sander or foam pad is fine, too. I use light touch 220 grit sticky circles, stay away from high spots (hand sand w/ used sandpaper)- chair rail, etc. Stop if you see primer.
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06-29-2017, 10:17 AM
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#10
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Omaha, NE
Posts: 56
Year: 2002
Coachwork: Huh?
Engine: T444E
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Maybe he thought he could pull one over me, something about how much prep was involved. Okie dokie. I already ordered my sandpaper from amazon so my family will start getting to work. Thanks to everyone in this group
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06-29-2017, 01:44 PM
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#11
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Eustis FLORIDA
Posts: 23,764
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Freighliner FS65
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 15
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What kind of sander are you using?
I'd go with a DA if you have a good compressor. I've been using a 5" random orbital since my compressor is too small.
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07-03-2017, 11:06 AM
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#12
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Skoolie
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Manitou Springs, CO
Posts: 219
Year: 1991
Coachwork: Ward
Chassis: International 3800
Engine: DT466
Rated Cap: 65 passenger
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Quote:
Originally Posted by heeranyi
Maybe he thought he could pull one over me, something about how much prep was involved. Okie dokie. I already ordered my sandpaper from amazon so my family will start getting to work. Thanks to everyone in this group
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If you are talking about a professional paint job, I don't think $12k would be horrendously ridiculous. Considering they would have to have a huge paint booth, probably more than one person painting at a time, and 3-4 times the amount of materials as a car. (Granted that is about $11K more than I could afford to pay).
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07-03-2017, 12:39 PM
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#13
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Eustis FLORIDA
Posts: 23,764
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Freighliner FS65
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 15
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$2500-$5000 is a realistic price for a professional paint job, IMO.
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07-03-2017, 12:54 PM
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#14
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Oregon/Philippines
Posts: 1,660
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First, there are numerous web sites such as eastwoods tech area that show proper body prep for automotive finishes. You can also go to the industirial finishes paint stores for automotive and they would help with not only grit size, but bondo, seam sealers, and the like.
Second, 12 K is not out of the price range for a paint job. For example, to properly paint a custom car i have totally disassembled the body, did the panel work so that all gaps are correct and frequently some welding, all glass removed and so forth. Just the reasonably good paint can cost 3k wholesale not to mention all the other wet components...
I think I painted my Thomas for around 400 for paint only materials, but I used acrylic enamel and clear..and that also included the flakes in the blue section.
__________________
Jesus Christ... Conversion in progress.
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07-03-2017, 12:59 PM
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#15
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New Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: NE Florida
Posts: 2
Year: 1998
Engine: 5.7 Chevy Vortec
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I'm a keep it simple kind of guy. I used 220 wet or dry. Painted outside and it looks great. Check out my pics in the photo section.
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04-04-2018, 06:58 PM
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#16
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New Member
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rusty
Sand any markings until just barely gone, lacquer thinner the shadow. I use a random orbit (DynaBrade) sander or foam pad is fine, too. I use light touch 220 grit sticky circles, stay away from high spots (hand sand w/ used sandpaper)- chair rail, etc. Stop if you see primer.
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Enjoyed these tips. Can you explain lacquer thinner the shadows?
Tim
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04-05-2018, 10:08 AM
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#17
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: SW New Hampshire
Posts: 1,334
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Quote:
Originally Posted by a_wandering_muse
Enjoyed these tips. Can you explain lacquer thinner the shadows?
Tim
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Rusty's not here to reply, so I'll take a stab. I'm guessing that "lacquer thinner the shadows" means "take a rag dampened with lacquer thinner and wipe away any residual smudges that the sanding process may have left around the edges". Other folk are welcome to chime in here.
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04-05-2018, 10:58 AM
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#18
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Colorado
Posts: 400
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I worked for one of the best auto body painter guys around and he used purple scratch pads and ajax. We would wash the car down well with soap/rags/brushes then scrub with scratch pads & ajax.
12k is not that absurd for a bus paint job.
A car will usually cost 3k+, the paint and primer alone can cost $300.-$500 then you have shop time at $50.an hr +.
A bus is a lot of surface area, and a professional will want to make it all look smooth and clean=lots of work, bondo, sanding, taping, cleaning,,,, then you still have clear coat.
I am getting ready to paint mine. $300. in paint and my own sweat and time. I am skipping the bondo and clear coat.
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04-05-2018, 01:18 PM
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#19
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Chattanooga, TN
Posts: 1,413
Year: 2001
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Thomas
Engine: CAT 3126
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What level of perfection are you looking for? It will be harder than you think to get it perfect.
If I had it to do again I would just make sure everything is clean and the surface is stable and paint it.
You will probably have bugs, pollen, roller lint etc it it, but in the big picture it will be fine.
If you are a pro and have time, go for it, but as a mere mortal I think I aimed too high. I painted for weeks until the weather turned in the fall. Still not done...
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