Watch me COACH PAINT a classic bus

[@elijonze1411]

I have been a coach painter for nearly 50 years now retired but help out in a Bus Museum and after watching this video I consider him to be a "Master" coach painter. I am most impressed.

[@ashandkirstblackman]

Hello Eli, I am really flattered and thank you very much for your kind compliments, would love to meet you one day and learn more about your coach painting experiences. Thank you and here is to keeping coach painting alive.

[@jaggass]

It's how it was done back then and Coach Painting is making a comeback as there's not as much masking involved and the finish is just as good.

[@ashandkirstblackman]

LOVE your comment Michael, pleased to hear you think coach painting is making a comeback. We need to keep this age old skill alive much like sign writing. Thank you.

[@unclefranko2452]

Absolutely brilliant, just go's to show how it's done properly, thanks for sharing 👍 regards Frank

[@jaggass]

Deffo. We had a sign writer that did the fleet numbers and the lower deck lettering. He had such a steady hand.

[@joefoster259]

I really like this approach. The entire process isn’t the fastest way to paint but the craftsmanship has to be incredibly rewarding. I’ll become a student of this approach.

[@andydunn5673]

Outstanding, well done A professional at work I’m a paint chemist and paint manufacturer for 40 years When I took over the company we had a test door , stuck half open , 12 inches wide from top to bottom My teacher, Dougie Dewell , Capstain always on the go .

[@joefoster259]

I just finished a 1994 suburban using this technic. I used a foam roller to apply and a blush to get the bubbles out. I’d do just brushes next time. The issue I had was with runs in the paint. I didn’t remove enough. I used penetrol in the paint also

[@robertp.wainman4094]

Just superb!

[@ashandkirstblackman]

Thank you Robert, pleased you enjoyed the video.

[@smid2550]

Pretty impressive work 👏

[@210satellite]

Great brushwork!

[@ashandkirstblackman]

Thank you William, appreciate your support.

[@MindbodyMedic]

I'd love to see more videos but more than that I'd love to see real high definition close ups on the finish both after application and when fully cured.

[@ashandkirstblackman]

Thank you for your support and we will make sure to keep adding more coach painting videos with a variety of angles, before and afters.

[@markotuomas672]

Great job! I want to paint my Triumph with brush and coach enamel paint.

[@brams77]

I've never seen painting a vehicle like this. The finish is fantastic. Could this be done on a commercial vehicle, a van?

[@racekar80]

In the US many amateurs paint old vehicles with a brush in their garage to save on cost, but with rust oleum which soon fades. We don’t have any paint that lasts and finishes like this.

[@tommak6516]

Are you thinning the Rust-oleum? Maybe that is why it is fading.

[@650gringo]

I painted an outdoor steel gate and a utility trailer with Rustoleum. Also two canoes. The vertical surfaces are still glossy after 4 years outside in Arizona. The horizontal surfaces have faded a bit, but the paint can be color sanded and polished back to a high gloss very easily. Or just repainted. A clear coat with a UV blocker would make it last for years.

[@6827EvilC]

Would be great to see the final result after drying.

[@rover9869]

Omg . Restoring a Rover 75 estate brg, had some major setbacks to say the least, this has me thinking I may sill be able to afford electricity upon the restoration completion 😂

[@niptodstan]

I started as a coach painter 47 years ago. Why aren’t you finishing the edges? We always went along the horizontal edges with an inch brush to take away excess paint after each panel, to stop runs.

[@ashandkirstblackman]

Hello Larry, great to virtually meet a fellow coach painter. I do not finish with horizontal lines and don't get runs there, I guess due to practise.

[@rakeshnair2515]

Perfect

[@peterc4450]

Having tried to get that finished glass like appearance, and failed, I note that you do not cross hatch just vertical and horizontal strokes.

[@ashandkirstblackman]

Hello Peter, thank you for your comment and pleased you are coach painting too. Yes this is the method and way of painting that I have adopted and works for me. I am not a fan of the horizontal line but everyone has a different way of coach painting that works best for them.

[@MatthewSchoepf]

Are you using thinners so the paint doesn’t start pulling?

[@smurf302]

would love to learn how to coach paint

[@ashandkirstblackman]

You got this Alex, practise, practise, practise and patience.

[@ecnaruaL]

As other commentators have also asked below, how do you achieve such an exceptionally long open time? The usual raw linseed oil based additives available don't seem to provide this. It is also intriguing that you are using a floppy synthetic bristle brush instead of a worn down natural bristle brush for control. It appears you can do this because the paint in your kettle is thin, but in that case does it hide p400 sanding scratches when it dries and shrinks?

[@ashandkirstblackman]

Thank you for your comment and questions. I don't use p400 when rubbing down between coats, I use p600, p1000 and p1200 all depends what I am painting and other factors. I have responded to the other comments too above and below. Hope that is helpful.

[@ericme3317]

What brush are you using? What do you add to the paint and how much additives do you use. What is yhe dry time?

[@ConnorsWorkshop17]

How to you hide the brush strokes in the paint ??

[@garysefton5614]

I've got a converted campervan if you would like to give me a quote for coach painting it for me. I could drop it off at your place and pick up when you are finished. Regards Gary sefton

[@ashandkirstblackman]

Thank you for your support Gary, appreciate your enquiry. If you are serious please email [e-mail] please note we currently have a 2 year wait for new projects 🙏

[@TheMrWoodsman]

How do you warm your paint before applying?

[@gabrielmercado3324]

What paint that you use? :)

[@timwingham8952]

Question...has an additive been put in that coach enamel to keep it open longer? I can't get over how long it's staying open. I use Craftmaster (used to use Tekaloid) and I would never be able to go back to applied paint as you've done here. Lovely job by the way. Hope you'll reply.

[@hesayyoubladerunner]

Would love to know too Tim! I am in the process of trying to coach paint my Land Rover with synthetic enamel and I can't get the paint to flow out like this! Even when painting small sections when I come back to lay off the paint has already got a skin on it and I end up with brush marks. I've now had to rub it all back down again :(

[@timwingham8952]

@@hesayyoubladerunner Hi John. Craftmaster make a product called PPA which will help hold back the paint a little, but only 5% max can be added. ("Owatrol paint conditioner" is a similar product) It does help. I suspect here the temperature was perfect - 16- 20 degrees which gives the optimum open time. Interestingly neither the the floor or the clothing has been wetted, so hopefully dust hasn't marred the final finish.

[@ashandkirstblackman]

Thank you Tim for your question and support. I sometimes use Linseed Oil and a little white spirit which some say shouldn't be added but I have been painting this way for decades and it helps the paint flow out better. I don't have a precise mix and sometimes I add to the Mason's P Type paint and sometimes I don't, depends on what and where I am painting and also the weather. Hope that helps.

[@ashandkirstblackman]

I have responded to Tim below, hope that helps.

[@ashandkirstblackman]

Hello Tim, yes I use Owatrol sometimes. I paint in most temperatures unless it is really cold or damp or too hot, then that is a painting no go. I don't wet the floor every time, I do use a tack cloth. I make sure that I am painting on a calm day and always wet the floor when applying the final coats. Hope that helps.

[@smurf302]

How do you mix the paint?

[@ashandkirstblackman]

Hello Alex, thank you for your comment. This is a hard one to answer as I just "throw" different things in dependant on what I am doing and the climate. Knowing the consistency comes with my experience and sometimes I have to adjust depending how the paint is or isn't flowing on the day. Sorry that isn't helpful but if I were to teach a class I could probably try and demonstrate.

[@niptodstan]

Where are you based?

[@tonyrainey7371]

Im a coachpainter excellent job but i would have finished of with 1 inch across the top and bottom

[@ashandkirstblackman]

Thank you Tony for your kindness, great to virtually meet a fellow coach painter.

[@peterc4450]

Great demo.pity about the sound levels.

[@ashandkirstblackman]

Thank you Peter for your feedback and support, we will try our best to better the sound.