1966 Westy (Clara)   Paint 1                         Links at page bottom

The Painting finally begins!  I'll be updating this page (and probably the next) as each stage progresses...

A couple shots of the freshly sprayed roof.  After these were taken, I put on two more full coats, and the next morning sanded a couple areas (where a few sags and curtains that had occured in the primer still showed), and re-sprayed.  Up close and personal, it's not too bad (not pro, but it will be nice)....there is some orange peel, but it is even and minor....I rather like the texture.  The paint (Nason single-stage) looks good, and the match to L87 Pearl White is close, although it is a tad whiter than the 34-year old paint that I had it matched to.  I'm pretty happy with the way it came out, all things (including the rather sloppy application of seam sealant in the gutters) considered.  No runs in the paint!  (Just you wait 'til I get to all those nice vertical surfaces, though.....)

The booth is working, by the way.  Outside contaminants are at a tolerable level, and with the 4 100-watt lights and an oil-filled radiator heater inside the bus, I can maintain a decent temperature for painting.  The only major difference in design is that I should have installed a switch inside the booth for the fans, so I don't have to open the door once the air is flowing.

And here's my mixing station.  It's just big enough to do everything I need to do while painting.  High-tech, eh?    Note the clever stick that holds the paint gun cup vertical for filling.                           

   >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>17-Oct-2000<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Well now...the roof was easy!  So after a very long, intense, two and a half days of final glazing, sanding, masking, and cleaning, cleaning, cleaning,  I painted the "below the roof and above the beltline" bits of the bus.  I did overlap more than I should have, I suppose, but only time will tell!

I managed not to get any runs in the paint, while simultaneously learning that more flowage=better gloss.  Gotta love that orange peel!  (There's a good chance I'll leave the orange peel and wax over it in a couple months)  Actually, I do like the "depth" that orange peel implies.....I'm not going for "show", so it oughta be just fine.             

                         What?

The match to L87 Pearl White is "almost" there.  It just looks different, but I guess it's both my spraying technique and the actual chemicals I'm using....

  I highly recommend the use of a supplied-air respirator! 

(Thanks, Jeff Martin, for lending me this one)

Next Page:  Paint 2

Progress 1   Progress 2   Progress 3  Paint 1   Paint 2   Paint 3   Interior 1

Shop    Compressor    Booth 1    Booth 2    Booth 3    Blast Cabinet 

Bartholomew ('60 Crewcab)    Mt. Shasta Trip Report     Links page

mizamook@sonic.net  (Gene)