School Bus transformation - Due to request

[Bates Detailing]

Alright - so this isn't a super nice sports car, but a lot of time and effort went into this bus so I thought I would share some pics. So here we go!

Before Pics (been sitting around for years) :

This was very very nasty!

The top was untouched - the side cleaned - the one panel used a 3 step to get it to that point.

One of my guys probably wanting a new job!

Closer view

Way worse than the picture picked up!!! This is mold and mildew from sitting for years!

This was using XG-5 an aircraft all purpose cleaner - My better half came hours later and made a home concoction with cleaners that was more effective and WAY cheaper!! I love that woman!!!

Rough stuff

After Cleaning the floors about 4 times!

Ceiling is hard to tell in before pics but was super filthy as well, this interior took quite a bit of hours to get it looking like this.

Decals took forever due to length of time being on bus.... another one of my guys probably thinking "Hmmm, I could have an office job right now!"

Getting there

Panels are done here - Black strips are not done yet, windows undone, and wheel wells undone - but day 2 most exterior is getting there

Restored bus - wish I had better finished pictures but it was late and there was no light - exhausted after this job!

Exhausted after 2 days of working on this - think this is 2 in the morning - POOPED


Well hope you guys enjoy the pics - toss me some comments!

 

[ScottB]

congrats for even tackling the job ...

 

[ALLN1WASH]

Strong work my boy.

 

[Dr Oldz]

rops: :dblthumb2:Wow!!!!

 

[slickooz]

That bus was really nasty.
Did a real good job on them seats. :goodjob2:
Overall GREAT job!!! rops:

 

[Crazy Amos]

That was a big job to take on, and to work until 2 in the morning? Now that is dedication! It looks great!

What product, pad and tool combo did you use for the 3 step?

Did you use a glaze of some sort in the process?

How much product and how many pads were used? I'm guessing A BUNCH!!!! Lol!

 

[Bates Detailing]

congrats for even tackling the job ...

Thanx, one of those gigs that you look at and say no in your head..... but I had only started the business 3 months prior and wouldn't so no to anything! This job landed me one of my best clients now - they toss me a couple of grand in work every month consistently and pay within 2 days of the job being done. They have helped me weather the weather too with work!

Strong work my boy.

Thanx - tested my drive to do this work!

rops: :dblthumb2:Wow!!!!

Pershiate it

That bus was really nasty.
Did a real good job on them seats. :goodjob2:
Overall GREAT job!!! rops:

Thank you, again - my better half concocted a effective and cheap mix to clean and after applied a vinyl protectant to shine

 

[Bates Detailing]

That was a big job to take on, and to work until 2 in the morning? Now that is dedication! It looks great!

What product, pad and tool combo did you use for the 3 step?

Did you use a glaze of some sort in the process?

How much product and how many pads were used? I'm guessing A BUNCH!!!! Lol!

I hand cleaned the exterior basically with a degreaser! My other products weren't fazing the build up. Then I used my makita with wool cutting pad with compound, yellow waffle pad with second application of compound, a cleaner with med grade waffle pad, and a machine brightner/speed wax (VIPER I think) with black finishing waffle pad....

Can't remember the name of the compound and second step - get them at a local chemical supply company - normally used on Semi s , did wonders though for what I had to work with.

Went through about 6 pads - there are a lot of metal lips that stick out and chew the foam pads up.

By far the toughest job I've ever had - next to that of a van interior I did last summer lol!

 

[Kristopher1129]

Incredible. You are definitely a noble man for taking that on. I know what it's like to be starting out and taking anything, ha. I did a few pavement trucks when I first got going. That wouldn't happen anymore.

I would have absolutely said no to that bus. But you gotta do the nasty stuff to get the good clients sometimes! I applaude your hard work, and dedication! Awesome job. The pics are fantastic! rops::applause::goodjob2::urtheman:

 

[Bates Detailing]

I applaude your hard work, and dedication! Awesome job. The pics are fantastic! rops::applause::goodjob2::urtheman:

WOW - That comment truly made me feel good - thanx man!!

 

[Kristopher1129]

WOW - That comment truly made me feel good - thanx man!!

You got it man. Keep up the good work!
:dblthumb2:

 

[Crazy Amos]

Ya know, a lot of people always ask the question "Why are there so many different products, why don't they just stick with making one of each?". This job is the exact reason why, if you only had a couple things to work with, the bus would not have come out as beautifully as it did.

Every product has its purpose and specific method of application that works best when applying it. Without the products, knowledge of the different products and the ability to apply them correctly this would nor have been done.

The paint on that bus was probably like concrete and a PIA to work with. Agian my man I have to tell awesome job. Some probably would not have taken the time to test different systems to create the finish you did and would have just tried a couple that gave mediocre results and went with it because of the time still needed to finish.

My hats off to ya buddy, I hope this job brings many Ferraris and Lambos through your door in the future!

Thanks for sharing and replying with your methods. It's always great to learn from others.

 

[Bates Detailing]

Ya know, a lot of people always ask the question "Why are there so many different products, why don't they just stick with making one of each?". This job is the exact reason why, if you only had a couple things to work with, the bus would not have come out as beautifully as it did.

Every product has its purpose and specific method of application that works best when applying it. Without the products, knowledge of the different products and the ability to apply them correctly this would nor have been done.

I agree completely - which is why I cannot remember the names of the products I use all the time. I do my best to find the newest best products, and sometimes the oldest best products. Doing so keeps me pretty busy because of the span of industries I service - car products don't work well on aircraft and vise versa - this bus did require ALOT of testing prior to finding the proper mix of products and steps to accomplish this job with these results.

Thanx man!

 

[slickooz]

You should be very proud of your work! I wished the buses I took to school back then were this clean.

 

[Bates Detailing]

You should be very proud of your work! I wished the buses I took to school back then were this clean.

Thanx man - well we can all insure that our kids buses will be clean!

 

[Shane731]

Awesome job! Props! :dblthumb2::urtheman:

 

[Bates Detailing]

Awesome job! Props! :dblthumb2::urtheman:

Thanx fellow Tennessean!

 

[Flash Gordon]

Wow, call me crazy, but that looks like it would be super fun to detail Im the MAN

Haven't looked at your webpage yet, but under your Gallery you could post this up and be done showing out/proving your madd skills :buffing:

Great work. I really enjoyed this one :hungry:

 

[tuscarora dave]

My hat is definitely off to you on this job. I get involved in polishing up some real cruddy wheelchair access buses. These companies buy a bus and run it for years until it looks so bad that it becomes an image problem for their business. They sell them off at auction for cheap and that's when I get my hands on them.

The buses that I do are half the length of the bus you did there and I get half way through with one and think "why do I even do this? I need an office job." I know how discouraging a big job like this can be half way through. It's nice however to see them when you get through the job and can benefit from the drastic before and after difference.

Great job bud!!! Keep up the great work!! This thread is a real inspiration to me!! :dblthumb2:

 

[Bates Detailing]

My hat is definitely off to you on this job. I get involved in polishing up some real cruddy wheelchair access buses. These companies buy a bus and run it for years until it looks so bad that it becomes an image problem for their business. They sell them off at auction for cheap and that's when I get my hands on them.

The buses that I do are half the length of the bus you did there and I get half way through with one and think "why do I even do this? I need an office job." I know how discouraging a big job like this can be half way through. It's nice however to see them when you get through the job and can benefit from the drastic before and after difference.

Great job bud!!! Keep up the great work!! This thread is a real inspiration to me!! :dblthumb2:

I love the wheel chair access buses!! They are so much smaller and there is so much room in the interior to work - gives me a break. Financially these buses are worth it to me - same as fully detailing 3 rides..... without the pickiness of an automobile owner.

Thanx for the compliments to everyone - feels great to see such quality detailers compliment your work. You guys are awesome!!!!