Date: Thu, 25 Oct 2001 15:12:37 -0700
Reply-To: ID Workshop <idworkshop@HOME.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: ID Workshop <idworkshop@HOME.COM>
Subject: Re: Getting my Westy ready for "Earl"
In-Reply-To: <OFFD94BD90.3C391FB8-ON86256AF0.005DCCB1@ra.rockwell.com>
Content-type: multipart/alternative;
I once bought a 78 Westfalia from one of those used car dealers in Southern
California that operate out of an industrial unit and advertise in Auto
Trader. It had a brand new Earl paint job complete with a stripe kit. It had
some orange peel but looked OK for a $ 1500 bus. Four years later it had as
much surface rust as paint visible. And I lived in Southern California! I
donıt think I would take any vehicle, that I cared about itıs long term
welfare, to a cheap auto painter. I loved that van though.
I have painted a few cars, motorcycleıs, jet skis, bicycles and industrial
design models in my time. After the last car I painted, and changed the
color on, I vowed never to do it again. In my experience it is a lot of work
and very time consuming. A few bits if wisdom: Preparation and cleanliness
are key to success. Use only the best materials. Painting is a skill that is
difficult to master, so practice before you paint your beloved Vehicle. You
must have a clean, well lit and ventilated place to spray in. Donıt do it in
your driveway. Rust removal is difficult to do properly, in my opinion,
better left to the experts if you can afford it.
I have an 86 Synchro Westfalia. When it receives its new coat of paint next
year it will be at a reputable (probably expensive) body shop. Itıs true in
auto body work that ³you get what you pay for².
Regards,
Jon
> Joe,
> I'm not body-shop expert. I don't even pretend to play one on TV. But good
> Lord, man, if you're going to sink as much time and effort into prepping your
> Westy for Maaco or Earl, why not go the extra few feet and complete the job
> yourself? You're going to need about three-quarters of the tools anyway...
>
> In order to give your repaint the best chance for reasonably long-term
> survival, you're going to have to do a lot more prep than just washing the
> bus. Attaching the rust means grinding the area down to bare metal, treating
> it with some kind of rust inhibitor, priming, and sanding it. If your bus has
> more than just a spot or two of seam rust, this whole process can become a
> major undertaking.
>
> Never having had any dealing with either of these two businesses, I really
> can't comment on what they do and how they do it. There are, however,
> reputations and second hand information floating about the list that leads one
> to fairly scream, 'don't whatever you do, go to these places!' To get a
> decent paint job, the your bus is going to have to stripped of all attachments
> - mirrors, molding, bumpers, windows - prepped - meaning taken down to bare
> metal - primed, sanded, base coated, and finally top coated with a quality
> paint. And this quality job is not available from a franchise without paying
> a hefty price for it. The paint job you're looking for is not available at
> the price you're paying. You're going to get a van that's been shot with a
> top-coat and that's about it. You'll be lucky if they mask everything
> properly.
>
> As an alternate, consider doing the job yourself by enrolling in a BOCES- or
> continuing education-type course at the local VoTech school. Or perhaps
> contact the local VoTech to see if they would like to have a class project -
> painting your bus.
>
> Sorry this is a little long winded. I've gone thru this before. Lowest price
> I received for a quality paint job was $4200. Macco, on the other hand,
> quoted $700. Haven't gone either way, but I am saving some $$$ for another
> vehicle (hopefully a MB 240D or 300D) so I can take my bus off the road and
> finally get the rust under control. And it looks like I'm going the VoTech
> route...
>
> Alan Bosch
> & Phred ('88 Wolfsburg)
>
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