skoolie update

So, how’s the bus?

Now that’s a loaded question. To answer it, I’ll say that the bus is: incomplete, a time suck, large, expensive, its own organism, overwhelming, almost fully sheet metaled, and no where near usable. 

The bus is not quite complete with its external makeover yet.

The last time I talked to you, the bus had just been cut in half and lifted. Since that moment, the bus has baked in the summer heat while its renovators sweat, labored, bled, blistered, got bug bit and all manner of other unpleasantness while covering up the gaps with new sheet metal, treating the metal, washing the metal, priming the metal, and painting the metal. Gavlinized Steel is some of the stuff. The other stuff is the stuff the people in the Bluebird factory did way back when. 

As for the galvanized steel, I could’ve only guessed that “galvanized” meant it was somewhat reinforced. Possibly made to be stronger than just regular ole simple steel.

And I was right, there’s more to galvanized steel than ungalvanized steel. You see, galvanized steel is treated with some chemical (that probably is responsible for the latest cases of brain rot in our civilization) that makes the metal impervious to rust and paint. Meaning that paint wouldn’t stick to untreated galvanized steel. And the thing you have to treat it with is an acid which strips away that chemical bond happening at the surface. So Will paneled the bus, and I went around it with a spray bottle of acid. Ospho to be exact. Phosphorous acid. Phosphoric acid. Phosphorific acid? I don’t know. I didn’t do well in chemistry during my school days. If I had, I probably would’ve known what protective gear to wear to properly apply that stuff, but I just went at it with my lawn mowing shirt on and a covid mask and the pump sprayer we use for weed killer. 



Then we rubbed the steel, sanded it, washed it, and wiped with rags until it was dry and evenly etched or whatever the right term is for it. I don’t recommend applying the acid with the pump sprayer to any other readers. Just so you know, it left behind streaks that absolutely would have caused an uneven finish under layers of paint. Ideally, I’d have sprayed and then gone with some kind of rag or roller to spread the Ospho smoother.

Anyhow, we’re currently a few layers of paint in and questioning our choice of color and final paint scheme. We have been using Rust-Oleum’s Hunter Green available at our local Lowes’ for our color, and I’m sorry to say it because it means more work for us but… we do not love it. I don’t know if we don’t love it enough to do what it takes to paint over it. At this point we might just end up with something akin to an ugly bus and have to be ok with that. I’ve seen vehicles that look great with this color. Ours just might not be one.

Are you noticing something about our paint job? Is it triggering you in anyway? Sorry for that if it is. We've considered biting the expenses to buy an air gun paint sprayer from Harbor Frieght to reattack the entire paint experience with a fresh mindset. As of writing, however, that hasn't happened.

I’m out here foam rolling a whole bus and I will say with confidence that it isn't going well. This is not my definition of an attractive automotive paint job. I imagine I can feel my readers cringing with me, but can YOU feel that orange-peel in that close up paint shot? Because I can. And it’s palpable. I have so much sanding and painting work to do. I wonder if this bus will ever appear shiny, smooth, sleek, and fresh. Chances are at this rate… no. No it won’t. But it’ll be painted and rust-free and water-proof and that’s good enough for us because trail dust is going to cover up this paint job anyway.

THAT'S ALL. BYE NOW.