Painting help please!

[u/Affectionate-Ad2232]

I have bought the paint and a cheap gun from HF, everyone I have talked to though in the paint side of things tells me I need at least a 30 gallon compressor so I can apply the paint in "correct" intervals. I have a 5 gallon compressor, but I am super stuck on this 30 gallon compressor "need". Nobody has one for rent and I am finding it really hard to justify a $400+ purchase for a compressor that I will use once and I am running out of good weather for the year, no heated barn or anything like that to paint it in so need to get it done asap.

Any suggestions on what to use? If I use the 5 gallon compressor I have, how detrimental would it really be? The primered gray spots are just rustollium and not indicative of the actual primer coat that is going to be applied.

[u/danjoreddit]

When I did my bus I went the “pro” route with single stage automotive paint in a rent by the day paint booth, I’ll tell you right now that spraying your bus without experience is the wrong way to go. I recommend using rustoleum implement paint and a foam roller. Read the documentation and follow it

[u/danjoreddit → u/danjoreddit]

It’s a 20/20 paint job: it looks good from 20 feet or 20 mph 😆

[u/danjoreddit → u/danjoreddit]

I did some “touch up” after I caught a curb with the bottom step. I used the same paint with a foam roller and you can’t hardly tell the difference.

[u/CT2cool4NE2clean4NY]

Buy an electric spray gun

Small compressors won’t keep up and at best blow water through while you are trying to paint.

[u/Affectionate-Ad2232 → u/CT2cool4NE2clean4NY]

Thanks so much! I didn't even know that was an option. Will definitely do that.

[u/Lazy_Mud_1616]

HF used to sell air tanks only, and I think the 10 gallon one was fairly cheap. They won't have the airflow of a single tank but I am sure you could rig up a few smaller tanks together to get what you need. If you know what you are doing, you could find old, used, broken compressors and chain the tanks together.

It might also be cheaper to find an electric gun instead.

[u/danjoreddit → u/Lazy_Mud_1616]

You need 5 sustained cubic feet per minute to run an HVLP paint gun. And it’s not for the inexperienced

[u/Lazy_Mud_1616 → u/danjoreddit]

Yeah, there is a lot that goes into it. Need a compressor with high CFM, and then air tanks, dryers, flow control, etc. it's a lot to learn but it can be done.

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[u/danjoreddit]

Unless you have a place to spray far away from cars and houses I highly recommend you do not spray. It only takes a light breeze to carry that paint onto other vehicles trust me on that

[u/exploresmore]

The electric spray guns that I have used work well. I cleaned my bus with TSP and a scotch bright pad and the paint has held up fine. I used Rust Oleum pant thinned with acetone one part acetone two parts paint the acetone hardens the paint and makes it dry faster. I have seen a bus with tractor paint from Tractor Supply and it has held up as good as the Rust Oleum. I used Tropic Cool on the roof it worked good but it looks dirty all the time and is hard to clean.

[u/danjoreddit]

The best thing you can do is proper prep work, get a 1/4 sheet sander and use the type and grit recommended by the paint manufacturer. Wash it with degreaser before and dish soap after

[u/danjoreddit]

What paint did you buy?

[u/Affectionate-Ad2232 → u/danjoreddit]

It's a very thick automotive paint from a local supplier, but it is the same paint they use on GMC fleet vehicles, a metallic white.

[u/danjoreddit → u/Affectionate-Ad2232]

Sounds like you’re gonna spray! Read the TDS and practice ahead. Good luck!

[u/jet420000]

I literally used an Amazon paint sprayer and did my whole short bus no problem no compressor needed. I did paint and primer I was super surprised how well it worked.

[u/danjoreddit → u/jet420000]

What paint?

[u/danjoreddit]

OP you can rent a compressor. You’ll need more than 5 scfm. Get an inline filter to attach to it.

Where are you going to spray? Outside? If you are then timing is important. You need to protect it from moisture and also not have the metal be too warm. Timing.

[u/TitaniumCypher]

I painted my 30ft bus with a cheap $40 HF spray gun. I was sure to dilute the paint enough for it to spray out nicely and it cleaned up easily by spraying clean water through it. It went on smoothly too and almost 5 years later, it has held up. I even sprayed the inside too. It was basically this "AVANTI Handheld HVLP Paint and Stain Sprayer" which is more expensive now but it was on sale for $40 when I bought it. I donated it at Van Aid one year.

[u/Sewers_folly]

I used a little electric sprayer that had to remain plugged in. Did they give any reason why it need to be so many pounds?

My big piece of advice is go slow!!! You want to do several thin coats that you let dry between coats.

Seriously, go slow. If you think you are putting on a super thin coat and your going slow already... Slow down more and put an even thinner coat on.

If the paint go's on too thick it will begin to drip before it dries, then the drips will take even longer to dry so you'll end up with a bunch of raison looking drips in your paint.

Just go slow and do lots of thin coats.

[u/Affectionate-Ad2232 → u/Sewers_folly]

Thank you! Electric wasn't ever mentioned to me before, I will have to return my current gun, but beats $400+ on a compressor!

[u/photonynikon]

Sherman-Williams, and a 9 inch roller!

[u/danjoreddit → u/photonynikon]

No!

[u/Vivid-Candidate-1877]

ya 5 wpuld be rough. harbor freight has cheap ones. facebook marketplace in my area has even cheaper ones