How much paint?

[Jim Blackwood]

So let's get some threads started. Here's a big question for skoolies, how much paint? How much is the minimum required on one hand and how much does it take to do a really nice job on the other? I can speak to the first, when I bought a skoolie a few decades ago all we did was use a spray bomb to blank out a few letters so it no longer said "School Bus" and the school's name. It now read, "No New Hope" and "Cool Bus". With a few black blanks in between. This satisfied the letter of the law. However, I'd suggest going farther than that if you can. As I recall the lights might need some attention and most people would like a change of basic color. Back in the hippy days this was done with exterior house paint and a roller.

Jim

[kyle4501]

I have purchased some Interlux marine paint to experiment with. So far, I am impressed! You apply it with a roller then "tip" it with a brush. It flows so well that it drys smooth & slick - looks like it was sprayed new car quality

Since it is marine paint, the quality is good. I haven't used it on my coach yet, but I'm now a believer that it will look as good or better than a traditional sprayed job - for a small fraction of the cost.

[Brassman]

I used 2 plus gallons of industrial acrylic paint, applied by airless sprayer, on the body, and rolled something under 2 gallons of tropi-kool on the roof.

Solved the major school bus problem.

[Brassman]

This is the bus a couple of years ago. The body paint is at 10+ years, the roof paint is new.

       

[peterbylt]

Although not specifically a Schoolie question, but fits in this Topic.

We are not too unhappy with the original paint on the bus and can live with it for now.

My question, on the sheets of steel that we used to cover the windows, 3 windows on the driver’s side and 2 on the curb side, the steel is currently painted with a primer, I want to apply some simple graphics or paint a simple mural.

What type of paint would make a good base coat?

It would be a light gray or white.

Currently it would need to be rolled or brushed on.

Would like something reasonably sturdy due it probably being attacked by tree branches and brush.

Peter

[sandra@BCM]

We painted our Skoolie with Behr House Paint five years ago.  We used rollers and paintbrushes.

We used two gallons for everything but the roof.  The roof is painted with Henry's Tropicool. The roof took two gallons the first time and another two gallons for a touchup a few years later.

The only parts that need touchups on the blue part are a few places by the rub rails.  Seems like only the spots I didn't sand well enough the first time are flaking.

Picture of the paint job five years after applying.

[Bill Gerrie]

My paint job was done with spray cans from Menards. Looks great and didn't cost a huge amount. I don't think any paint will stand up to tree branches. They attack with a  such a force they mark any type of paint. Just avoid them if possible.   

[somewhereinusa]

I can attest to the fact that Bill's paint job looks great. I thought it was professionally done until he told me different. 

[somewhereinusa]

Bluebird, or the school system, had sealed EVERY seam with yellow silicone sealant. I tried to get it off but now, 10 years later it looks pretty bad. I want to repaint but don't know to get the remains of the effects of the silicone off.

[Bill Gerrie]

Dick
Home Depot sells a silicone remover that might work for you. I've used it on a bathtub and it removed it all.

[somewhereinusa]

Dick
Home Depot sells a silicone remover that might work for you. I've used it on a bathtub and it removed it all.

I'll check it out, thanks.

[s2mikon]

When I made the metal plates to fill the windows, I had steel cold rolled 16ga stock sheared and then I broke the edges in a break to fit as plugs and dipped them in muriatic acid to remove all of the mill scale. Then I used Petit rustlock primer from Jamestown distributors. After it was cured I used Petit EX poxy top coat with hardener. Installed using poly urethane sealer and then painted the pu sealer after it cured. I also rolled and tipped the whole bus.

[BusNit]

I was quoted $20-25k to have my 40' Bluebird professionally sprayed.

[s2mikon]

Not surprised. Have you priced automotive paint and the required reducers and other stuff?

[BusNit]

I have and was going to spray it myself. A buyer propositioned me to sell my bus to her in the incomplete state it was in for everything I had in it. I did a roof raise and full underfloor storage area. Sure I lost on labor, but financially and as a hobby, I was made whole. It wasn't cheap either and made me realize I would have close to or over 125k in the build when done with solar. (I am OCD and wanted it to look more like an RV so as not to get rejected in RV parks)