| Author | Message | ||
| Peter River (Whitebus)
Registered Member Username: Whitebus Post Number: 138 Registered: 4-2009 Posted From: 208.54.14.53  Rating: N/A |
my bus hasn't had a proper wash, let alone a wax, in over 2 years. the years of oxidation will soon result in an ugly mess, unless I wash, polish (really well) and apply a heavy coat of wax. is there a best way to accomplish this other than standing on a rickity ladder for a week out in the hot arizona sun? I already see some white powder coming off onto my hand when I touch it, especially high up in the paint job. | ||
| FAST FRED (Fast_fred)
Registered Member Username: Fast_fred Post Number: 900 Registered: 10-2006 Posted From: 76.195.234.106  Rating: N/A |
A good looking bus may require 2 steps , not one to look great. The metal will need to be cleaned of any surface buildup first. Then its a simple task , as on the painted ladies to just wax the beast. I subscribe to a mag for sailors (Practical Sailor) that actually tests a variety of gear , this month they covered waxes again. Once again Collinite 885 Fleetwax is #1 , but its old fashoned and requires loads of work.Hand apply and buff off with machine. Their #2 choice is only slightly poorer is also a hard wax , but goes on and buffs out much easier, 3M Marine Ultra Performance Paste Wax. Have fun, a bus is about 5 boats in surface area. FF | ||
| Clint Hunter (Truthhunter)
Registered Member Username: Truthhunter Post Number: 255 Registered: 1-2009 Posted From: 24.129.232.232  Rating: N/A |
... being far more obsessed about protecting the paint & underside from the elements than looks, I pressure wash it , use the insecticide sprayer with simple green cleaner, scrub it with a big push broom, rinse and use the use the cheap spray wax at the nearest truckwash. All this is done at the coin operated car wash on a cloudy cool day standing on the ground & on top of the roof (don't slip off) do the wash/rinse in sections to prevent drying before your done. Works for my cheap crappy paint job, is cheap & easy,effective and a approprate effort. Simple green is my favorite multi purpose cleaner, but it is rumored it should not be left on bare aluminum longer than need due to etching reactions with some alloys, haven't noticed this my self. It is a excellent cleaner for any paint prep (signage painting on busbillboards) as it rinses of so well and is so non-toxic to my now hyper-sensitive overly poisoned body. | ||
| Peter River (Whitebus)
Registered Member Username: Whitebus Post Number: 139 Registered: 4-2009 Posted From: 204.62.111.51 Rating: N/A |
is there an advantage of using a marine wax on bus application? I have seen that simply green stuff, but never used it, I will look into it thanks! | ||
| john w. roan (Chessie4905)
Registered Member Username: Chessie4905 Post Number: 1576 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 71.58.110.9  Rating: N/A |
Nu-finish in the orange bottles will give you a nice result with ELBOW GREASE. Do it in the evenings out of the sun. Start on the roof; that disgusting crap that looks like a repaint is required usually will come off, depending on the base paint. You will get paint residue on your cloths as you wax it. Use old pieces of towels that need replaced. There are many waxes and cleaners that are good. This stuff works and can be purchased at Wal-Mart or Pep Boys in most areas. Just wash coach with some dishwashing detergent in warm water and a medium-soft brush first. One of those telescoping wand with good brush attached works nice. Rinse, before soapy surface has a chance to dry. | ||
| ED Hackenbruch (Shadowman)
Registered Member Username: Shadowman Post Number: 133 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 75.216.16.237 Rating: N/A |
I read somewhere once that you should never use dishwashing detergent for washing vehicles. With that said i have done it before in the past on cars with no harmful effect that i could see. With my bus i use Turtle Wax Zip Wax Self-Drying Wash and Wax, (not always easy to find ). Shake it up, put some in a bucket with a couple of gallons of water, wash your rig and rinse it off and you are done....No buffing, can towel dry if needed. I use distilled water for washing and rinsing and can do it all using only about 6-7 gallons of water total because i use a garden sprayer for the rinse. Since you have oxidation that needs to be removed i don't know how well this would work for you, but once you have it off this should work fine for you. I only wash my bus once or twice a year and people still ask me how much work it is to make it look good.........takes about 45 minutes each time. :>) | ||
| ED Hackenbruch (Shadowman)
Registered Member Username: Shadowman Post Number: 134 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 75.216.16.237 Rating: N/A |
PS. I can get 2-3 washes out of a bottle and whenever i happen to see some somewhere i usually grab a couple of bottles so i am good for a year or two. Also use it on my other vehicles. | ||
| Chuck Newman (Chuck_newman)
Registered Member Username: Chuck_newman Post Number: 386 Registered: 1-2005 Posted From: 99.153.84.192  Rating: N/A |
Has anyone used "ThetfordŽ Premium RV Wash and Wax"? Results? | ||
| marvin pack (Gomer)
Registered Member Username: Gomer Post Number: 567 Registered: 3-2007 Posted From: 71.53.155.14  Rating: |
what ever you decide on as far as wash/wax,HIRE someone to do it!! Find the laziest man around and tell him what you need to do and offer him a fair price to do it and won't get paid till it is done! He WILL find the quickest and easiest way to do it so he can go back to loafing and rest. Believe me it works. I do it all the time when I need something done. I love to watch lol HEHEHHE Gomer | ||
| Rob Norgren (Robsedona)
Registered Member Username: Robsedona Post Number: 52 Registered: 11-2007 Posted From: 70.212.192.102  Rating: N/A |
Nu-finish in the orange bottles the once a year car polish. gets ride of the oxidation. then all you need to do is rinse for a year. Works best at 6 months the first year. never did my Roof on the bus I'm going to repaint the roof with insulating paint then the White Snow on top. My first time with this I did a car that I thought was white and low and behold it was Yellow. | ||
| Clint Hunter (Truthhunter)
Registered Member Username: Truthhunter Post Number: 257 Registered: 1-2009 Posted From: 24.129.232.232 Rating: N/A |
-so private corpral, how much you offering your old sarge to wash them wheels up ? | ||
| marvin pack (Gomer)
Registered Member Username: Gomer Post Number: 568 Registered: 3-2007 Posted From: 71.53.155.14 Rating: N/A |
how about some warm sunshine,rain in the evening,free meals,[3 per day limit 2 days] bus ticket back home to the snow. LOL Maybe a steak dinner at Longhorn steak house. How is that?? Gomer | ||
| Clint Hunter (Truthhunter)
Registered Member Username: Truthhunter Post Number: 266 Registered: 1-2009 Posted From: 24.129.232.232 Rating: N/A |
whatttttttttttttttttttt,how would I ever peace the family of 3 big fluffy dogs off with a steak dinner , let alone sneak them into the Longhorn. Not calling you cheap or anything here, just asking a civil question about the fine print ! Good to see I am not the only cheap skate on board of the nut bus. | ||
| john w. roan (Chessie4905)
Registered Member Username: Chessie4905 Post Number: 1579 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 71.58.110.9 Rating: N/A |
The liquid dishwashing detergent is like palmolive green or sunny yellow or the like to remove the grime and oil etc... DO NOT use DISHWASHER detergent. It is very strong and will discolor or dull anodized aluminum and some paint. You do this job of waxing over a couple week period. An hour at a time is enough to tighten up your wrist and forearm muscles next to aching. Doing the roof is a PITA, but will make it look great. Rent or borrow some scaffolding to do the roof. If you want, just do the first foot of perimeter of roof that anyone can see if you like. Don't do any of this in the hot sun. Don't let the Nu-finish completely dry before removing or it will require much more effort to remove. Buff each section as you go with a clean used towel. You will get white or whatever color your paint is coming off onto waxing rag as you go. This is normal. | ||
| FAST FRED (Fast_fred)
Registered Member Username: Fast_fred Post Number: 904 Registered: 10-2006 Posted From: 76.195.234.106 Rating: N/A |
"is there an advantage of using a marine wax on bus application? " Larger boats are out in the weather 24/7/365 ,for decades most of out campers are outside 24/7/365 ,for decades, Perhaps its worth the effort. FF | ||
| R.C.Bishop (Chuckllb)
Registered Member Username: Chuckllb Post Number: 872 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 75.210.224.120 Rating: N/A |
Gomer...U R a generous ole' Guy.... send me your address and I'll double the offer!  ...if I ever get there....(My wheels are being re-done...as we speak...or write...or...) And, Thanx, Ian! RCB | ||
| marvin pack (Gomer)
Registered Member Username: Gomer Post Number: 570 Registered: 3-2007 Posted From: 71.53.155.14 Rating: N/A |
cliff; golly I will take care of the dogs too! Believe me NO ONE will leave here hungry!! Including ME. RC Come on down, anytime you want and that goes for ALL BUS NUTS coming thru the Ocala FL area. Gomer | ||
| Clint Hunter (Truthhunter)
Registered Member Username: Truthhunter Post Number: 277 Registered: 1-2009 Posted From: 24.129.232.232 Rating: N/A |
...ditto the next time any of you find yourselves up this way in the south Okanagan of British Columbia friends , the tea can always be put on. I just rent this wee base, so I can not invite your buses, but there are plenty of camp grounds in these parts, as it is much like a Florida north that is not overcrowded yet, especially during our short canadian winter. The long fall & springs are near perfect weather with very little rain, as it is a irrigated desert in the Okanagan. Always have a small supply E-rations, should conventional nourishment become scarce, not hydro carbon stockpiles nearby, but the electric grid is powered by water up north, as long as it remains in tact. Population is around 70 % over 60 years young , many retired career Canuc DND, so they now know how to be fair & respectful. Passive tourism & fruit cultivation, a bit of ranching in the highlands & pensioners are the economic staple. Not to much deep poverty beside the migrant farm hard workers in the summer, as it has been too expensive to exist here for many years. Not to many super greedy cheat & gainers either. Lots of mild, semi-wild mountain roads that were hard packed years ago, easily traversed by a bus & toad, many potential boon dock location in the highlands, but the snow comes early up there, from about mid november to early may most years, valley bottom winter is usually less than 3 months short. Might finally make it back to florida this winter if things don't get to rough down there, but not likely with the bus, just the old stick & staples, as the MC 8 is many bucks and blister away from the next "many grand" adventure. So MPV, it is just a matter of who gets to visit whom first ! All bus nut welcome, just don't expect apologies buds & budess. ...So there you have it nelliewellyson, too open invites at either end of the continent. . . bug ,bug, bug (just testing if your still surfing with us girl !) |
