DIY Painting

[Ksprague]

I've been researching and agonizing over the prospect of painting my Bus at home. I'm a novice (but thats the beauty of old buses, isnt it? - One is a novice at EVERYTHING . . . the first time) I do have a couple of friends with varying levels of proficiency in spraying, but my research led me to this strange, but appealing prospect of Roller Painting:

http://wiki.club8090.co.uk/index.php/Bodywork_and_Glass_Roller_painting

It seems like just the thing for Maggie the 72 Bay!

The process uses a special Rustoleum product called "Combicolor". The only catch is: it seems to only be available in the UK. Anybody else had experience with it or happen to know of a place to acquire it here in the states?

Thanks.[/url]
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Kevin
(1972 Campmobile "Maggie")

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

[Spike0180]

[Ksprague]

Thanks Spike,
I know!- I was dubious too, but researching this kinda convinced me.
Seems like a good choice for a number of reasons.

The key of course is in the prep work, following the proper procedures and in getting the right product. That's where this combicolor seems to come in. It's not your off-the-Lowes-shelf, garden-variety, chalky Rustoleum.
(probably non EPA compliant or something) - hence the apparent inability to buy it on this side of the pond.
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Kevin
(1972 Campmobile "Maggie")

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

[cmonSTART]

My local Ace Hardware can mix up custom colors of an oil based enamel for farm implements. I had a color mixed pretty darn close if not exact to what my bus is - I've been using this to patch up the paint while I do body work. It applies pretty well with a brush or roller for spot repairs and seems to be pretty durable.

I brought in a section I had cut out (but still had good paint), and they were able to go right off that for the color.
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'78 Bus 2.0FI
de K1IGS

[TDCTDI]

[Wildthings]

Using a alkyd enamel can work pretty well. The alkyd paint on my bay is pretty much as tough as a much more expensive automotive paint. It takes a couple of months for the paint to fully harden though. My wife and daughters just brushed it on about 10 years ago, though rolling would be better. On my Toyota I brushed the paint on and then went over it with a smooth roller, looks pretty decent. I did put additives in the paint to make it lie down better.

A brushable marine polyurethane can give a very nice finish as well. With a good job of "tipping" the paint it will rival a good automotive paint finish.

[cmonSTART]

What additives did you use?
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'78 Bus 2.0FI
de K1IGS

[OB Bus]

There are any number of threads here (and elsewhere - this topic ended up on any number of forums) on roller painting. One of the original ones was started by "69chargeryeehaw" or something like that.
Roll and Tip with Interluxe Briteside marine polyurethane can work if you are really good at it. I sprayed Briteside with a HF turbine sprayer in my front yard. Results were "ok" - and I could say that I had painted my own car.
Any further car painting on our cars (if any) will be done by professionals. And I include Macao and Earl Scheib in that category.
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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.

[Wildthings]

[blue72beetle]

Read this thread:
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=320572
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-Andy-
-1970 Ghia-
-1971 Bus 1776 Microsquirt EFI-

[richparker]

Lots of DIY car painting videos on YouTube.
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__________
’71 Westy build
Adventure thread
’65 Deluxe Build

[busdaddy]

If I was forced at gunpoint to paint a bus with a roller I'd use urethane porch and floor enamel (custom tinted at the local paint store) and a short pile roller. I've done some farm equipment like that and it really does stand up well to the weather and last if prepped well first. It's never super shiny unless you spray but it's on the high end of semi gloss for a few years until the weather gets to it.

If you want something that's worth the effort to wash more than once a year later you really should buck up for real auto paint and spray it, roller jobs look OK from 20', but they are never stunning by any stretch of the imagination.
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Rust NEVER sleeps and stock never goes out of style.

Please don't PM technical questions, ask your problem in public so everyone can play along. If you think it's too stupid post it here
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[Lil Lulu]

I have maybe not mastered but made competent auto painting jobs on my bus. That being said I think a relatively good roll and broom job can look pretty good. Like BD says "from 20 feet away". But then most people are 20 feet away.

I have used Penetrol in alkyd boat jobs for a quarter century with great results.
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'65 Beetle "Lil' Lulu"- Ruby Red
1600 stock from '71 bus

'72 Deluxe - Niagara Blue w/pastelwiess Camper Special 2L dual 40 Webers 002

'74 Hightop Weekender "Dixie" 1800 34 Del singles

[tjrm63]

painted my bus last year in my driveway, used a cheap Harbor Freight HVLP paint gun with my little compressor. Yes I used the Rust-Oleum oil based paint, I used 2 quarts of the Royal Blue and 2 quarts of white. I mixed the paint with acetone and Japan dryers, the acetone thins the paint and makes it go on smooth and it dissipates quickly un like paint thinner. The Japan dryers helps the paint cure quickly since oil base paints take a long time to dry. Took me 3 days to complete. I drive her everyday and have taken numerous camping trips all year, the paint is holding up very well, yes I know oil base paints aren't made for automobiles but I wanted a quick inexpensive paint job to make her look pretty for awhile

[OB Bus]

[notchboy]

First off. Its not the right way to do it. Not when you consider the potential value of the old classic you are fixing up. Do it right - its done once. This is a half ass band aid that will make your bus look super cool for awhile.

That said. I did it to my 76 panel. It was used as a truck with a past life as a suedo pedifile cruzer. I sprayed it on though with paint thinner mixed in at like a 20 to 80 cut? Ill have to ask my cuz.

See the results below - and as others have said there are many many many vids and threads on Rustoleum or Tremclad painting for the lazy baller on a budget.


https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=7204810#7204810



Link

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[cmonSTART]

Ya, but if I spend 8K on a paint job I actually have to worry about what happens to it....
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'78 Bus 2.0FI
de K1IGS

[Manfred58sc]

Rustoleum cut %50 , about 6 coats. Let it dry for a month before you do anything. Had to cut and polish a few runs. Turned out well for this application. High dollar paint jobs go to zero after 1 door ding, too much risk for me.

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Fat chick owner/operator

[notchboy]

[Xevin]