DIY Painting

[notchboy]

[notchboy]

This is better than the bears

_________________

[Xevin]

But you pulled so many chicks with the Bear Bus. It was such a panty dropper.


Link

_________________
Keep on Busin'

[tjrm63]

[Ksprague]

I guess there are as many approaches and opinions as one can imagine. Really nice looking results posted here!

naturally it would be nice to hire a pro and drop a few grand on the project - but that's just not in the cards right now. The jobs shown that use typical rustoleum look fine, but I'm afraid it might chalk and dull after a season or 2 of UV exposure.

But I'm very intrigued by this combicolor paint which is apparently designed for smooth high density roller application. It's made to flex, has a high gloss finish, UV resistant and you can even add clear coat. The examples are pretty remarkable. The only catch is - you just can't get it here in the states. I think I will continue my search for a supplier in the UK that will ship me a few liters across the pond, and give it a whirl.
_________________
Kevin
(1972 Campmobile "Maggie")

"The bus came by and I got on, that's when it all began."
~ Bob Weir

[lolight70]

Can u guys buy foam rollers ?
I'm a house painter here in Australia and we still use oil based paint on our woodwork.
When I paint a door I use a foam roller to apply the paint and I smooth it off with the brush.
I use Penetrol too ,they come out looking like glass.
I will one day paint a spare panel to see how good it can look.

[Wildthings]

[Bulli Klinik]

I use Alkyd paints all the time for undercarriage and engine tin. It's very durable, especially when mixed with the proper hardener. Rustoleum is an alkyd enamel.

I prefer to get my Alkyd paint from the local automotive paint supplier. I believe it's a PPG brand. If it's mixed with the proper hardener, it becomes far more chemical resistant than without. Gas and carb cleaner will not wipe it off. It takes very little hardener, 16:1. I apply it direct to metal when doing undercarriage and tin, just like VW did. You could also roll it on if you're a masochist.

Here's the data sheet:

http://englishcolor.com/ecs_-_ecucitc/LIC_CPC_files/ALK200%20TDS.pdf
_________________
PM me about quality metal-work on your vehicle.
Mike K
Bulli Klinik
Colorado Springs

[Clatter]

You can save even more time by using a broom, or floor mop..
_________________
Bus Motor Build

I have excellent news for the world...
There is no such thing as patina.
It does not exist!

[cmonSTART]

Careful, I might try that..
_________________
'78 Bus 2.0FI
de K1IGS

[Rodmullet]

Well, here goes....

Rustoleum 2x spray bombs/rattle cans....pre-murals and flames....has held up pretty well if you keep it covered...

...and with murals/flames/graphics....

The yellow definitely fades with UV exposure.....

Don't know how this would stand up to everyday use.....

[Westfalia73]

[Ksprague]

DIY Painting update:
Well, I took the plunge and tackled the project with roller in hand. Maggie is happily back to wearing her original 1972 Texas Yellow.

If any one is thinking of doing the same, I'm happy to share a little bit of what I learned. First of all, you have to manage the expectations: you are NOT likely to get a "showcar" quality job with a roll-on DIY project (but, does anyone really expect that?). That said, if you're into driving and enjoying a fun, slightly quirky, hippie camper - you can certainly get satisfactory results. Don't let any of the elitist tell you it can't be done.

If you're going to go to the trouble of DIY roller painting, DON'T go the rustoleum route. It might look good at first, but the paint properties are not such that it will stand-up to UV exposure without chalking.

I learned was that what you need is a Urethane Modified Alkyd paint. Rustoleum makes a product called "Combicolor", but it is apparently only available in the UK. Sherwin-Williams makes a U.M.A. paint as well, called "SherKem". Their guy told me that it is very popular with farmers and municipalities for painting their equipment. What I settled on was a Benjamin-Moore product "Super Spec NP", but the main reason for that was that my brother could get me a discount from the hardware store he works at.
They did a nice job of matching and tinting the color from a sample of the original paint I brought into the store.

The entire project cost me about $100! ! (And I've also got a gallon of white, for wheels, bumpers and pop-top!!)

Apply with a small dense foam roller and use a brush where necessary. The paint dries to a very nice hard shell automotive gloss. It has some good self-leveling characteristics that eliminate all but the deepest of brush strokes and roller marks. Be forewarned however, that the flip side of that is that it dries very slowly. I mean VERY slowly! I found it still somewhat tacky in places after 72 hours!

The biggest challenge I had was insects landing in the freshly painted surface. You are going to want a pair of tweezers in your pocket while you are painting to remove them. One's that are stuck deeply in the finish: avoid the urge to dig them out, and just wait til dry and lightly sand.

Both Sherwin-Williams and Benjamin Moore only sell this by the gallon. (I think the Rustoleum Combi-Color is available in smaller cans.) I thought a gallon might be way more than I needed, but you are going to want all of that.

Here's a pic, while still in progress.

Good Luck!
_________________
Kevin
(1972 Campmobile "Maggie")

"The bus came by and I got on, that's when it all began."
~ Bob Weir

[TDCTDI]

You should post before & after pics. I'm sure it looks better than it did & you're keeping it from rusting away.
_________________
Everybody born before 1975 has a story, good, bad, or indifferent, about a VW.


GOFUNDYOURSELF, quit asking everyone to do it for you!


An air cooled VW will make you a hoarder.


Do something, anything, to your project every day, and you will eventually complete it.

[Ksprague]

The before pic is basically my avatar . . .

I'll put up another when she's complete and buttoned up.
Oh . . . I almost forgot to mention another side benefit of the roller approach -
Those 2 little strips of painters tape you see in this "before" photo? That's the entirety of the masking that I did! (But, I was blessed with a fairly steady hand.)
_________________
Kevin
(1972 Campmobile "Maggie")

"The bus came by and I got on, that's when it all began."
~ Bob Weir

[TDCTDI]

Yeah, it looks better... you cheap bastard.
_________________
Everybody born before 1975 has a story, good, bad, or indifferent, about a VW.


GOFUNDYOURSELF, quit asking everyone to do it for you!


An air cooled VW will make you a hoarder.


Do something, anything, to your project every day, and you will eventually complete it.

[Ksprague]

I prefer: "resourceful bastard" - heh heh
_________________
Kevin
(1972 Campmobile "Maggie")

"The bus came by and I got on, that's when it all began."
~ Bob Weir

[Manfred58sc]

Good job,man
_________________
Fat chick owner/operator

[Ksprague]

Just to close the loop here is a photo of my <$100 DIY paint job with Urethane modified alkyd. I started buffing and waxing the finish up a little at a time. It Seems quite durable. I'm quite happy with the results.

_________________
Kevin
(1972 Campmobile "Maggie")

"The bus came by and I got on, that's when it all began."
~ Bob Weir

[OB Bus]

So did the finish end up a satin or more towards a gloss? Hard to tell from the picture.
_________________
Larry in OB
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!
69 Westfalia and 2002 Eurovan Camper.
People deserve the Government they voted for.