I have question about your decision to sand the roof in patches (I understand that these were probably the areas with rust) but fear that you will have trouble getting this flat for paint.
I think paint stripping the whole lot might make that job easier......or can you enlighten me.
P.S. I have limited paint experience, so it is just an observation/query
Cheers Jamie
I haven't done anything like this before.
I've done the whole vehicle like that now (Stripping back patches), so I am not too keen on stripping the whole thing back. I have stripped back the entire front panel because there were 30 years worth of stone chips. Overall the paint is in good condition, other than those rust spots. The main aim is to protect the body from rust for many years.
The roof in particular I am not worried about it being flat - I am only 5'4". The body will receive more attention.
Next thing is etch primer to stick to the bare metal. Then a guide coat and light rub to find those few low spots that I know are there. Then a high-build primer to smooth over those low spots from grinding the paint off. Skims of putty as required. Then a surfacing primer, light rub, and paint with colour.
Stripping it all back - I might have done it if the sand blasting was so expensive. Grinding it all back wouldn't be too bad with those Strip-It discs, but I didn't want to spend that much time on it, and the paint on it is in good condition to protect the body (for the most part). _________________ Robert and Emma (and 4 kids so far)
1979 Bay Window Microbus (Restoration for daily driver due Xmas 2008 - well, some time in '09
1976 DC (daily driver - when it is running...)
With Rob's permission we have moved this great story from Members Photos to here as even though it has 1470 views in previous location it will be seen by more Members and viewers in How I Did It.
Robs photos and posts are very descriptive, helpful and will encourage others to "give it a go"
------------------------------------------------------------ _________________ Kombis Keep you Younger
First I'd like to reiterate that this is the first time I've ever undertaken something like this, and it is having read other people's resto stories that has inspired and often guided me.
I spent the afternoon with two kids rubbing back the paint in readiness for primer. When my arm was too tired to lift properly (the kids didn't last long) I skimmed some body fill through the pitting left by rest in the front windscreen. I also tried some Acetone to remove the remnant of glue. I think I will stick to the Strip It discs instead, the acetone didn't really do much.
Photos tomorrow, maybe. _________________ Robert and Emma (and 4 kids so far)
1979 Bay Window Microbus (Restoration for daily driver due Xmas 2008 - well, some time in '09
1976 DC (daily driver - when it is running...)
The body fill went well. I gave a light sanding, then another skim of body fill. Then I went around to the other window sills and the front floors and the ding on the roof, and prepared them for some putty too. I gave each spot a hit with the wire brush on the grinder, then rub with Rust Converter, wipe it off with metho, wipe it off with a rag, wipe some PrepWash degreaser of it, and wipe it off with a clean rag. Then mix up the body fill (about the size of a stack of 3 or 4 twenty cent coins) and smear it around. It seemed to be going well when there was plenty of metal showing and little pink circles filling in the pitting. I am waiting for tomorrow to let it set fully before I sand it and probably give most of it another skim.
I started using the Strip It disc on the track rail covers. I couldn't finish it because I need a new disc. I decided it was time to stop when the grinder with the wire brush caught my pants and tried to dig its way to my femur. Luckily no damage, other than a slight graze. _________________ Robert and Emma (and 4 kids so far)
1979 Bay Window Microbus (Restoration for daily driver due Xmas 2008 - well, some time in '09
1976 DC (daily driver - when it is running...)
Emma and I worked together today, sanding the gloss off the paint. I worked on the roof as Emma did the body panels. Unfortunately, at the end of the day I washed the roof down properly and found that there was still a fair bit of gloss on it. Well, get up early tomorrow and finish it off. I hope to be preparing it for etch primer by tomorrow's end. _________________ Robert and Emma (and 4 kids so far)
1979 Bay Window Microbus (Restoration for daily driver due Xmas 2008 - well, some time in '09
1976 DC (daily driver - when it is running...)
Still on track, hoping to have it ready for etch primer by the day's end.
I found that using these "Flexible Sanding Pads" made by Uni-Pro worked a lot better than Wet'n'Dry paper. It took the gloss off nice and quick with no extra scratches. It made a much better job of everything we did yesterday, so that all that work feels like it was wasted. That being said, though, as I sit here I realise that I have de-glossed the front bumper.
I vacuumed the bus out as thoroughly as possible, recovering at least 1 kg of blasting sand. Carefully went through the engine bay with the vacuum too, there was a lot more sand there then I'd like to ever think about again.
I also sanded back the putty that I skimmed on yesterday. It has hardened nicely, and filled in the pitting as I wanted it to. I also smoothed over a small ding in the dead centre of the roof at the front. Now that I feel I have a better grasp of how it turns out I am going to tackle some deeper dings with the stuff tonight. I also plan to wipe Rust Converter over the bus tonight, followed by a wipe with metho as directed to remove the Rust Converter. In the morning I plan to remove the dash and mask it for Etch priming. Things are moving along nicely.
This is a big step, first time in the resto that I will begin to put stuff on, rather than taking stuff off. I will actually use some of the products and tools I have spent a lot of money on.
Sorry I've got no photos today (again). I've been too busy working to remember. The bus looks great as a rat. Lots of bare metal and primer showing through, and the paint is so flat (as in not at all glossy). _________________ Robert and Emma (and 4 kids so far)
1979 Bay Window Microbus (Restoration for daily driver due Xmas 2008 - well, some time in '09
1976 DC (daily driver - when it is running...)
Well, today I spent at least three hours getting the surface ready, but now I've painted the roof with Etch Primer, Primer (2 coats) and Spray Putty (3 coats).
To prepare I rubbed Wax and Grease Remover, and wiped it off. Then Rust Converter, which I wiped off using Metho. This had to be wiped off using a damp rag. That left streaks, which had to be wiped down with another damp rag, then dry it off with a clean rag. Finally I was able to put on a light mist coat of Etch Primer, then two light coats of primer before three heavier coats of Spray Putty. I am just following the directions on the cans for each product. It is taking ages in the preparation stages...
I was using my new 71 DC as a workbench - it was good to make it useful, first time in 18 years it has done anything other than sitting in the paddock lonely.
Photos tomorrow (maybe) _________________ Robert and Emma (and 4 kids so far)
1979 Bay Window Microbus (Restoration for daily driver due Xmas 2008 - well, some time in '09
1976 DC (daily driver - when it is running...)
The Spray Putty for the roof came up great. That should solve any problems caused by the leopard-print job I did of getting rid of rust spots. I wish I had taped the inside of the rain gutters though, because they are gonna be difficult to get smooth again. I also wish I had taped the outside of the rain gutters and a bit below - they hadn't be primered or anything yet.
So today, I started with the patio heater running in the garage. It eventually raised the temperature from 12 to 20 whilst it was 13 outside. Perfect for painting. I had my brother-in-law and his mate (both aged 17) tape up the roof and the lights and dash and whatever else I could find. My mate John came round and we rubbed the PreWash and Rust Converter all over, then I shot the Etch Primer. The bus is now a nice grey all over, with a yellow textured roof.
I'd bought a can of Etch Primer, and used this to patch a few spots I had missed with the spray gun. Very handy to have, I highly rate this.
I let it dry a bit as I had a lunch, and drenched and vaccinated some cattle of ours. Later it occurred to me as to how to paint inside the ears. I taped them up from the outside and sprayed between the vents. Photos tomorrow after I have shot some more paints on it.
Primer, Sound Deadener and Spray Putty tomorrow morning. John is keen to come round tomorrow arvo to help with the sanding. I can upload photos as I wait for the Spray Putty - 4 hours. _________________ Robert and Emma (and 4 kids so far)
1979 Bay Window Microbus (Restoration for daily driver due Xmas 2008 - well, some time in '09
1976 DC (daily driver - when it is running...)
This is how she looked yesterday, I'd primed and Spray Putty-ed it, and covered the roof so I could Primer the rest of it.
I covered it in Etch Primer by the afternoon, but it was getting cold too quickly to give it the next coat. Etch Primer is meant to be a very light mist coat, so you can still the green through it.
You can see the heater in that last one.
I waited till morning, heated the garage and shot the Primer. It went well. I threw a large piece of MDF and one of plywood onto the cargo floor to spray the interior, and once I had a coat on there I sprayed inside the air intakes. By the time I had the ears done it was time for a reload of the spray gun and another coat inside. By the time this was done with the interior and inside the ears I was ready for lunch, and I had used up my 4 litres of Thinners. I was able to reach in and spray over where the boards were.
Some quick notes on spraying. Clear a nice workspace for mixing the paint with the thinners as you reload the gun. I preferred to do this outside for some fresh air as I was painting. I am using a mask, but it is nicer to get some real fresh air. Make sure you have plenty of space around the bus, and try to keep the air lines clear around the wheels as they get stuck. And it is always getting snagged on the exhaust. Also not that the air line doesn't rub against the new paint you've just laid down, I did that three times in the same place but it is now covered in Sound Deadener so there is no chance that you'll ever see it. Cover the engine too, because you'll get overspray and paint dust sown through the intakes.
When I was ready again I prepared the Sound Deadener, boy is that stuff thick. First John and I spent far too long masking the body so that I didn't get this thick oily stuff where I plan to have a nice neat shiny colour on it. I also covered the seat runners and any threaded hole, like those for the seat belts, and the heater vents. I sprayed 2L and it took me over an hour - and I was covered in it, that took me almost half an hour in the shower to clean it off.
_________________ Robert and Emma (and 4 kids so far)
1979 Bay Window Microbus (Restoration for daily driver due Xmas 2008 - well, some time in '09
1976 DC (daily driver - when it is running...)
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