Outstanding - you guys did much better than me - when I researched Zolatone, I pretty much concluded it was beyond the average non professional to apply. I even called a bunch of paint companies (ie professionals) and they would not touch it. You have proven my research incorrect, and I regret that, this makes me want to remove my interior and repaint.
So Shari, can you break down the equipment needed to do zolotone? Did you have a compressor already? Did you rent? I heard one needs an in-expensive paint gun to fire? (I think I remember a "texturizing" gun?).
How much were the epoxies?
I'll have to answer your specific equipment & cost questions in more detail from home tonight when I have receipts & model numbers. But I can tell you, we got one paint nozzle from Harbor Freight (primer) and the other (Zolatone) from someplace online. I don't think either was over $75 - there are much more expensive options, but we are looking for one or two time use and didn't feel the need to "go there".
However, I can tell you the approximate total cost for the materials - 2 part epoxy primer, Zolatone, clean-up chemicals, drop cloths, jumpsuit and the respirator was about $750. (Sidebar: we decided this morning to lighten the color a bit with another quart or two of a different color (#20-11 Apollo Gray) for the final coat so that will add a bit more to the material cost)
As I recall, the Zolatone is about $115 per gallon - and quarts were more "per gallon". We had to buy 4 quarts of one of the colors (Medusa Gray) or wait for a gallon to come form the manufacturer...we didn't want to wait, so we paid more for it. We started off with 4 gallons and will be adding either 1 or 2 quarts for the final coat which goes on heavier - it's the splatter coat.
In addition, we had to buy an air compressor (we had a smaller compressor that worked fine for riveting but wasn't large enough for the Zolatone.), an air pot, two different sprayer nozzles, a box fan & an additional heater...we figure it was around $1300+/- total. We haven't tallied it up...
We were willing to buy the tools & equipment for use on additional projects in our future - Birdy's cabinetry and a plane. We may have been able to have it done professionally for less (possibly not - didn't look into it) but we now have the tools & limited "know how" for later.
Shari
__________________ Vintage Airstream Club - Past President 2007/2008 WBCCI #1824 - DenCO Unit Past President (2005) AIR #30 - Join Date: 2-25-2002
The zolatone looks amazing, you guys are really doing a fantastic job!
-Marcus
I'd have to agree. It really looks GREAT!
__________________
Computers manufactured by companies such as IBM, Compaq and millions of others are by far the most popular with about 70 million machines in use worldwide. Macintosh fans note that cockroaches are far more numerous than humans and that numbers alone do not denote a higher life form. -NY Times 11/91
Being the impatient souls that we are...we left work early, went and picked up our 2 quarts of Apollo Gray and came home to finish up the Zolatone project! No new pictures today...but I do have "the list".
Things we already had
Cloth drop cloth for the garage floor
one electric heater
two propane heaters
(2) 5 gal. Mixing Buckets
"We can do it" attitude
Tools & Equipment
Husky single stage 3-1/2 HP 60 gallon 135 psi - $250 used
1.7mm (Primer) Spray Gun (works with the same pressure pot) - $15 Harbor Freight
Box Fan & A/C Filter - $20 WalMart
Electric Heater - $15 Home Depot
Sub-Total = $365
Materials
Epoxy Primer - 1 gal. - $81
Epoxy Hardender - 2 qts. $32
Zolatone - 2 gal. Desert Camo - $232
Zolatone - 1 gal. Gray Stone - $116
Zolatone - 4 qts. Medusa Gray - $154
Zolatone - 2 qts. Apollo Gray - $77
Respirator - $19
Coveralls - $8
Spray Sock - $2
Dropcolths - $4
Mixing/Measuring Cups - $2
Solvent - $14
Spray Gun Filters - $7
4 rolls 3M Green Masking Tape - $21
Spray Gun CLeaning Kit - $11
Rosen Paper - $15
Sub-Total = $830
TOTAL = $1204
Aesthetic Cost > Priceless!
We'll take a look tomorrow after it dries and probably do a little touch-up...then we're done! We got the lighter color and large "white" flecks we were looking for by adding the Apollo Grey. The splatter coat went on thicker - we ended up with about 3/4 gal. left over...our estimating wasn't too far off - if we hadn't have added the extra two quarts today, we would have finished with only 1 quart - which I don't think is enough "just in case" we forgot something.
Shari
__________________ Vintage Airstream Club - Past President 2007/2008 WBCCI #1824 - DenCO Unit Past President (2005) AIR #30 - Join Date: 2-25-2002
Major step in the process. You are doing it right for sure. Thanks for the photos and info. along the way.
If this was my project it would call for a celebratory toast to the work you have done so far. So here is a toast to your fine work! AH!!! that's some fine Champagne.........
Now back to work. No time to be admiring your labors.
But really...great job so far. (just looking at the window work wears me out)
It sure does look good Shari. I expect we'll be seeing this one out and about this summer?
The only problem with finishing a project is that then you need another one and there is only so much room to store them for most of us.
I guess what I struggle with is the shiny thing. Mine looks like a batchelors bathroom mirror no matter what I do to shine it up. Yours look like a mirror. Oh well.........
Barry
__________________ You never hear of people dieing in their Airstream, only at home and in hospitals. So, live long by getting out and enjoying your Airstream.
Barry & Donna Life is short - so's the door on an Flying Cloud (ouch)
That's the goal Barry! We plan to take Birdy to Madison International and also to the Oshkosh Air Show June/July 2009...we still have LOTS of work to do though ~
I'm embarrassed to say, Maxwell's polish job has taken a back seat since we've been working on Birdy...not nearly as shiny right now. As far as the next project goes, we have a list of mini-projects for Maxwell to keep us busy...it's been 7 years since we started Maxwell - time to address the items we didn't do then. New black tank, new toilet, change out the old Univolt to an IntellePower, new axle, switch out the smoke-plexi Fantastic Fan for a newer gray one, possibly replace another panel or two (small dents - but they bug us), re-polish...I think that's about it - enough to keep us busy so we won't be needing any more trailers - maintaining 2 will be enough! Some of those projects seemed overwhelming then - now, not so much!
Besides, I promised...the next "new project" will be in a hanger, not at home ~
Shari
__________________ Vintage Airstream Club - Past President 2007/2008 WBCCI #1824 - DenCO Unit Past President (2005) AIR #30 - Join Date: 2-25-2002
Wow! That's some great work Shari! Thanks for sharing the nitty gritty with us. So, looking for a "hanger" queen are you? There's some nice aluminum vintage jobs out there too!
Marc
I went out this morning and took a picture...it was still kinda dark and the masking is still over the windows, but this is what it looks like. I've also included a scan of the old & new colors side by side. The old one is kinda cold & flat with a green tinge and the new is warmer with more depth.
Shari
__________________ Vintage Airstream Club - Past President 2007/2008 WBCCI #1824 - DenCO Unit Past President (2005) AIR #30 - Join Date: 2-25-2002
Wow...colors sure look different on different computers! It was pretty accurate at work - but way off at home. The actual color is like the beach sand I grew up on in So Cal it's a lot more beige than gray and a lot lighter than it looks in the photos ~ oh well, you'll just have to take my word for it or track us down at a rally to see for yourselves!
Shari
__________________ Vintage Airstream Club - Past President 2007/2008 WBCCI #1824 - DenCO Unit Past President (2005) AIR #30 - Join Date: 2-25-2002
Yeah the colors are way off on my computer, too. The trailer inside looks good, but the new "sample" piece (must be a cover plate of some type because of the rivet holes), appears 10x darker than "before" and nothing like the trailer interior photo. If the interior shot is the correct color, it will be great.
Good Work!
__________________ Joe
Vintage Airstream Club Historian WBCCI/VAC #5533
'55 22' Safari / '63 28' Ambassador / '94 28' Excella
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