Painting a fiver

[SIBERNUT]

I'm considering having my Newmar painted this year. Mark Bruss used Precision & is happy. Anyone use a shop closer to the east coast, or no further than Elkhart/Bremen ? Pls reply w/ good OR bad, PM me if you'd rather. TKS!!

[Big Greg]

In 2012 we had Mike's Custom Painting in Bremen, IN paint our fifth wheel. Since then two HitchHiker friends had Mike's paint theirs, another is scheduled for September and two others are considering getting theirs painted too. Several happy RVers. Greg

 

http://www.mikescustompaintinginc.com/

[SIBERNUT]

Tks, Mikes is recommended by Newmar too.

[Wrknrvr]

I was thinking you had a spray gun that fits your hand. If one was creative and did a section at a time it would be possible.

That would be close to home also.

 

Safe Travels, Vern

[SIBERNUT]

I have the skill and the desire to do the job myself. But have you ever tried to rent a fiver-sized spray booth? I'd sooner do it w/ a 3/8" nap roller & Dutch Boy w/o a real booth.

[Wrknrvr]

I have painted outside before. Yea not a good idea .

Timing the weather, job and your time can get interesting

 

A few years ago I painted some parts that cover the storage area on the bed. Sprayed them, cleaning up then moved then to be under the awning of our camper.

Picked the rod to pull the awning out and rolled the awning out,,, Da--- bird sh. T on the new paint while flying over. Unbelievable that he had that timed right. Let stuff cure washed off the crap. No one sad anything about the odd spotts on the panel.

 

Last year painted the flailing for our Volvo on a flatbed trailer beside the 5r. Worked good.

 

Time the actual painting as soon as it is warm enough, no dew on things. That way it gives some time for the paint to cure before the flying bugs appear.

One time in Florida I was clear coating the roof of a 40 motor home. Had 3/4 of the thing painted. Big drops of rains started to fall. Pulled it under cover. The cloud and rain came from woods across the street so no time to see it.

The rain quit just as fast as it started. Sun and heat dried the water off very fast. Just added some thinner to the clear coat to start where there were imperfections.

It was not the best job but it is still on there after about 4 years.

 

Sometimes one has to improvise with the conditions you are working in

With money saved you could buy a lot of fuel.

. If we were back east we do it together and both get our 5RS Both painted.

 

Safe Travels, Vern

[Wrknrvr]

Now Ron you have thinking. Build a support that would cover a section of the roof, maybe 24' wide with2x4 . Make it so you could move it easy. Maybe cover 16' at a time . Put heavy clear plastic on top so light will will show through.

Then cover the sides with some kind of screen so you can see, there is ventilation and push it out of the way as needed.

 

With will power one could do a decent job that way.

With modern paint it is best to do top coat over base coat with in a given time frame. That would be extremely had to do with no help and not in a controlled conditions.

 

 

Safe Travels, Vern

[JPL]

Sibernut Are you a Bubblehead? I was on sub tenders for 30 years working on fast attacks and boomers. Now to the serious stuff.This spring we painted my 98 610 front bumper, fairings, and the rear box in my back yard so it was ready fir the ECR. Looked good. With the new paints you can paint a lot in a hurry but you need to be sure to follow the MFG procedures. I know of a paint booth here in Norfolk that will hold a big 5er and can be rented at a decent price. Have a great day and don't spill the paint! Pat

 

 

The Old Sailor

[SIBERNUT]

USS Irex 482 67-69

If you have a place to do it outside, that's the solution. Or even a barn w/dirt floor. But here near Baltimore I have the DNR & neighbors. Second, here in MD you have to shoot water based HVLP. All my experience is solvent based and Binks #7.

Clint Eastwood said "...it's a smart man that knows his limitations".

[Jack Mayer]

I like both Mikes and Precision. Although I do know someone who had Precision shoot their truck and they did a crap job.

[Alie&Jim's Carrilite]

USS Irex 482 67-69

If you have a place to do it outside, that's the solution. Or even a barn w/dirt floor. But here near Baltimore I have the DNR & neighbors. Second, here in MD you have to shoot water based HVLP. All my experience is solvent based and Binks #7.

Clint Eastwood said "...it's a smart man that knows his limitations".

There isn't much difference in the spray pattern. The HVLP guns gravity feed so the amount of paint flow is very easy to control. 1 thing to remember about the new water base paints, is that if you live and work in a high humidity area, its very very easy to make it run ......like water.

[Gary Hage]

Precision did the original factory full body paint on our 2013 Redwood, and overall I must say that I'm pleased with the job that they did.

[JPL]

Sibernut Diesel boats forever? Pat

 

 

The Old Sailor

[SIBERNUT]

Someone mentioned "Phoenix Painting" just up in MI. FYI, no replies to a msg left and an email, google earth makes it look vacant but website still up..

[jkennell]

I'm in Bremen about once a month for my job (which actually has nothing to do with RVs). Always fun seeing whats sitting outside the paint shops. I'm sure I've probably seen more than one of your rigs. Last time, there was a GORGEOUS 45' 5r in tans....sitting right next to a couple lime green mini-buses. What a contrast!

[SIBERNUT]

Jeff, am I missing any good shops on my list? Ever stop and look up close, and what shop's graphic designs seem to be the nicest? Tks!

I'll be there 23 & 24

[jkennell]

Jeff, am I missing any good shops on my list? Ever stop and look up close, and what shop's graphic designs seem to be the nicest? Tks!

I'll be there 23 & 24

AS far as Bremen goes, I think that's it. No, I'm usually too busy while I'm there to even slow down! I think both have a very good rep.

[RandyA]

 

USS Irex 482 67-69

If you have a place to do it outside, that's the solution. Or even a barn w/dirt floor. But here near Baltimore I have the DNR & neighbors. Second, here in MD you have to shoot water based HVLP. All my experience is solvent based and Binks #7.

Clint Eastwood said "...it's a smart man that knows his limitations".

 

 

With modern urethane paints working outside can give results as nice as those achieved in a spray booth. A wayward bug or dust speck can be sanded out with 2000 grit paper and buffed to look like a mirror. VOC 2.8 paints with conventional solvent base are OK in Virginia and widely available on-line.

 

I recently painted the cap on our fiver outdoors, put on new graphics and clear coated everything. The total cost was right around $18,000.00. The paint and supplies were about $200, the rest was for the hospital, surgeon and operating room to patch me back up after I fell. Let the pros do it unless you have some darn good scaffolding to spray anything over 6 feet from the ground.

 

[Alie&Jim's Carrilite]

Been there Randy, didn't break my wrist but tore a ACL in my knee walking off a catwalk painting a boat only a 4' drop but the landing was unexpected....... Didn't run the paint or spill the cup though...