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Topic: The Difference Between Decals and Paint (Read 1376 times) previous topic - next topic

The Difference Between Decals and Paint

Ducky has sustained some fiberglass damage to several bay doors and a fender. The PO had an estimate from Bubba's auto shop in 2013 of about $2,700 but never had the work done. It is possible that my trip home after the purchase may have added a dollar or two to that list; just sayin'. :-[
 
Since it involves several panels, I toyed with the idea of having the decals replaced with paint in the process. Most of them are in good shape, except some have fiberglass damage and repair will expand that damage.
 
Last night, I was going through the LARGE collection of receipts that I inherited and discovered something that no one had ever told me: Foretravel of Texas removed the decals and painted them on in May, 2008. The cost was over $7,500. All this time, I had assumed/thought they were the original decals. The seller, a wholesale dealer - not the OP, never mentioned that there were no decals on Ducky.

I know some of you are going to say I was stupid not to know. I will limit my defense to pointing out that this is my first ever RV. I had only seen a few Foretravels prior to my purchase. And the seller did not reveal it (I assume he did not know; he certainly knew very little about Foretravels). In feeling the edge of the "decals" they had a definite ridge, which I assumed to be the edge of the decal. Apparently the paint process leaves a thick layer (probably several layers) of paint.

As proud as I am to have this already done (and paid for), it will obviously add to the cost of the fiberglass repair. Fortunately not as much as a level one paint job.
 
There is one downside, even to my FOT paint job. I have enclosed pictures of the two air opening covers at the back. The first one is the driver side and looks like a near-perfect paint job.
 
The second one is the passenger side, and I only have one conclusion. It must have been bring your daughter to work day, and the painter let her mask and paint the passenger side. The difference in the two air vents is striking, and an embarrassment to an otherwise great job.

Thanks for listening; I feel better now. :)

Trent
Trent and Jean Eyler
2000  U295  4003  WTFE  ISC  350
Build#5603 MC#17385

Re: The Difference Between Decals and Paint

Reply #1 –
Trent.

So understandable.  Trees, poles, etc. gain added mobility when in the proximity of an expensive motor coach.  Right of passage.  Welcome to the "club".
Tim Fiedler    2025 LTV Unity MBL on Order
2000 Chevy Tracker 2 Door Convertible 4WD Now lifted 4.5"
1985 Citroen 2CV6 Charleston
Murphy Rebel on wheels with 175HP Titan
Cessna P337
1980 48' Westport MY (!/4 Share)

Re: The Difference Between Decals and Paint

Reply #2 –
 I would think (not being a body shop guy or painter) that the edges of the paint have actually come off and maybe the original gel or base white area was not cleaned as well as other side before spraying.
Johnh
Coachless, now use aircraft. 2003 Ford Travelair TC280 class C. Super shape. Just for 1 yr .
1994 Ford E350 ClassC,total renovation inside and out. Now sold.
2000 U295  36' Cummins 350 c/w Banks Stinger, Resonator upgrade,Solar, LED lites.Residential fridge with slide out pantry. Build 5674. Sold
ex 92 GV 022C ored Cummins. Sold
ex 95 GV240 cat 3116. Sold
2017 Mini cooper s & 2016 land Rover LR2 HSE  LUX.
jhaygarth@aol.com    SKP #130098
treat everyone as you would like to be.

Re: The Difference Between Decals and Paint

Reply #3 –
John,

You might be right. When I blow up the original image, it actually looks like some white paint was painted sloppily over the area. But that does not make sense.
 
I will look at the panel tomorrow under a high power magnifier.
 
Trent
Trent and Jean Eyler
2000  U295  4003  WTFE  ISC  350
Build#5603 MC#17385

Re: The Difference Between Decals and Paint

Reply #4 –
I suppose we all add "character" marks to our coaches. I know we've added a couple of them. Thankfully, they are both relatively small!
David and Carolyn Osborn
1995 U320C SE 40' Build 4726 Feb 1995
FMCA 147762
Motorcade 17186

Re: The Difference Between Decals and Paint

Reply #5 –
Trent
John is correct, that is a result of poor prep before the stripes were painted. I have seen this more than once in my 40+ years in the auto collision trade.
Tom & Patty
Build# 5832
2001 U295  36'
Motorcader # 17240

Re: The Difference Between Decals and Paint

Reply #6 –
Our coach has graphics that are painted. I think the PO (previous owner) had the vinyl replaced with paint at FOT along with some body repair. It took me a long time to realize that our coach had a combination of paint and gel coat on the outside rather than paint and vinyl.

We had some self inflicted wounds repaired at Xtreme P&G. The repairs to the paint were fast and looked good.

There are a few places, especially on the front, where there are chips in the paint or the edges of the graphics are a bit ragged. They are repairable. I consider them minor enough to ignore for now.
J D Stevens
1997 U295 CAI 36' Build #5085
2002 Subaru Outback
Motorcade 16869
Bellville, TX

Re: The Difference Between Decals and Paint

Reply #7 –
Quote from: J. D. Stevens –
Our coach has graphics that are painted.

J.D.,

I have read several descriptions of cleaning up the gel coat surface, but I do not recall an article about cleaning the painted graphics.
 
Is there a product that will clean and polish both at the same time? I am assuming after a few years, the paint is as cured as it is going to get. Is it safe to ignore the edge when cleaning and buffing?

I appreciate any tips you or SOKS can provide for cleaning and polishing my Foretravel.
 
Thanks,
 
Trent
Trent and Jean Eyler
2000  U295  4003  WTFE  ISC  350
Build#5603 MC#17385

Re: The Difference Between Decals and Paint

Reply #8 –
Trent
If you buff the painted stripes just try to spin the polisher so you are spinning from painted to non painted, this will help avoid possible additional damage to an area that may have poor adhesion. Also the painted area is higher than the nonpainted so this will help avoid catching a paint edge.
Tom & Patty
Build# 5832
2001 U295  36'
Motorcader # 17240

Re: The Difference Between Decals and Paint

Reply #9 –
Trent, I'll defer to people with more experience and expertise for advice on cleaning the gel coat and painted graphics.

I what told by Rance that the paint is a catalyzed product. It is impervious to most solvents. I used acetone to clean the gasket on the entry door. I was concerned about harming the paint. Rance said that acetone will not harm the paint.

Xtreme P&G touched up some graphics after repairing some of our self inflicted wounds. I don't recall that they recommended any special precautions regarding the "fresh" paint.
J D Stevens
1997 U295 CAI 36' Build #5085
2002 Subaru Outback
Motorcade 16869
Bellville, TX

Re: The Difference Between Decals and Paint

Reply #11 –
I have used a power buffer and polish and see no adverse affects on the painted graphics but the gel coat looks a whole lot better.

Rich
Rich and Peggy Bowman
2002 U270 3610 WTFS, build #5939--"Freedom"
2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit 4xe
SMI AirForceOne brake system
PakCanoe 15

Re: The Difference Between Decals and Paint

Reply #12 –
I use a 3M one step marine product #05906 "I think" compound and wax, and a 3M Super Buff pad # 05705 at 1400RPM. It does a nice job without to much effort, you just have to work about a 2'square area at a time. Shines the decals up too, I just try to keep the wheel turning away from the decal edges to avoid forcing wax under them. But as they are getting old every detailing causes a few more loose edges, the 3 stripes around the bottom have already been removed along with one of the swishes on the front. sooner than later it will be a ghost.
Bruce, Linda, and Macy
Zoey RIP 1/20/19
1999 U295 40' build #5400
2017 silver Jeep Wrangler, 1260 watts of solar on top
Moving around the country

Re: The Difference Between Decals and Paint

Reply #13 –
In that case we've acquired "character" on both sides.  I've not been able to take out the rub marks on the decals on the drivers side yet where a tree branch left some "character."  I'm hoping the 3M products Bruce referenced will work better than the Mother's product I used last. 
Bob Thomas
Sacramento, CA
Present:  1997 U320 '40
Previous: 1997 U295 '36
Bluegrass fan, and festival emcee

Re: The Difference Between Decals and Paint

Reply #14 –
When we had ours done in Apache Junction, R&M Graphics on our 88 the used up 4 of the 3M discs for 2 horizontial stripes on one side @$35 each in 6hrs. :-[

So he changed process on them, using a 2500psi water pressure sprayer that striped them about 6-8" in 5 minutes, followed up with 3M extra cut got the remainder of coach done in about 10hrs including all detailing  and prep for new stripes ;D
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My advice and experiences are Free, you decide if they are worth anything .

John - driving Old Faithful
1994 U280 GV
C8.3, Banks, Pacbrake, 900 watts, Resonator, XLHD tow dolly
Retired Army Warrant Officer

Life is what you make of it - if it is lemons, make lemonade!
Former Coaches:
1988 GV 40' ORED 300HP CAT - 9 years
1990 Winnebago LeSharo - 3 years
2000 Newmar London Aire - 3 years (#18 of 23 produced)
 

Re: The Difference Between Decals and Paint

Reply #15 –
Vinyl Off works really good to remove vinyl graphics.  Brush on, let set, remove vinyl with a plastic scraper or a DULL razor blade scraper.  Fast and not much work.  Takes the glue off also.
Current coach 1996 U320 40'
Previous coach, 1990 36' U280