I want to take over the world

[Bryce C]

of residential carpet cleaning in northeastern Connecticut. Have any of you guys used Go Pro cams or something similar to make quality content for social media, seo, and advertising? Have you had any success with making quality video content?

I need to paint my truck, I will when the weather cools down. I'm going for avalanche grey (the same grey on new Transits and Mustangs), hope it turns out well. I spent $1k on the paint, it better turn out well! For now I call her ugly pumpkin

 

[hogjowl]

You DEFINITELY need to paint your van.

 

[Bryce C]

You DEFINITELY need to paint your van.

I'm not sure what is more shameful, my clean pickup truck and trailer with my weak portable doing the bucket brigade of shame in people's homes.., or the ugly pumpkin with powerful jedi extraction technology. I keep getting 5 star reviews. The common denominator may be God's grace and my lovely wife, which is more of God's grace.

Jim hooks me up with good cleaning chemistry and wisdom too. He's also part of God's grace in my life.

For now I'm just waiting for a day in the mid 70s with no jobs and no chance of rain and I'll have an avalanche grey van :]

 

[hogjowl]

In one day?

 

[Bryce C]

In one day?

Yes. I've already removed the decals and adhesives, and scuff sanded it with 400 grit. When the weather is right I will wash it (and remove waxes and oil with something like lacquer thinner) and then tape everything off which will take the first half of the day.

Then the last half of the day is 4 consecutive coats. 1st a seal coat which is like a primer but will help to conceal the bright orange. Then 3 coats of single stage avalanche grey paint. Each coat goes on consecutively while there is still some slight tack, but not too much where the paint could be disturbed by touching it. With the size of the van by the time I come around to where I began the 1st coat, the paint will likely have set and be slightly tacky so I can immediately begin my 2nd coat, and so on through the 4th and final coat.

Each coat of paint will then burn into the previous coat and all 4 coats will become 1 homogenous layer rather than 4 separate cured layers. This gives the strongest and most resilient finish.

 

[Bryce C]

I have a 60 gallon 5 hp air compressor, which is essential. I need to be able to compress and replenish air at least as fast as I am depleting it through the spray gun. Especially on such a large body van with no windows, and laying down the coats consecutively. I doubt I could do it with any less than a 5hp air compressor. I'll just run a long air line from my woodshop out to my driveway and go for it. My wife will be mixing up batches of paint as I am spraying to try and keep pace.

Back when I was spray finishing woodcrafts I installed this network of copper pipes to cool the air from the compressor so the 3 stage filter can effectively remove water, oil, and dirt from the air. And blow off valves at the bottom of the long copper pipes to release accumulated moisture. Which is important to get a good finish. I've never sprayed automotive paint before. I have all the pieces in place to do a good job with it. I'm the variable. I never got really great at spray finishing, but was just good enough to get B+ results most of the time. Hopefully it goes well.

 

[Bryce C]

 

[hogjowl]

I’ve seen a few videos on YouTube where folks have rolled on Tractor paint with acceptable results.

 

[Bryce C]

I’ve seen a few videos on YouTube where folks have rolled on Tractor paint with acceptable results.

I saw that too! I almost went that route but felt that since I already have pretty good spray capabilities with my air system, and a fair amount of experience spray finishing, that I should just go for it spraying...