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BusChaperone
New Member
USA
8 Posts |
 Posted - 09/11/2012 : 1:06:28 PM
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Is the paint on your bus faded? If you say yes I say maybe. Paint gloss is the paints shine and that can be subjective. Each person will physically see paint reflection and gloss differently with one person seeing a bus badly faded and another seeing gloss. When paint fade issues arise the bus manufacture will use a gloss meter to see if the paint gloss falls within there warranty and state spec's for gloss. Gloss readings need to be above 30 @ 60 degree in order for the paint to be classified as National school bus Glossy yellow (Originally called National School Bus Chrome because the pigment used for this color was, for a long time, the lead-containing chrome yellow.)
My point of this post is to encourage transportation departments to buy a 60 degree angle gloss meter. They can be purchased online at Ebay for under 200 dollars from Hong Kong. Or order from a local dealer and pay six to one thousand dollars for the same exact thing! With a gloss meter you will be able to tell if your bus is truly faded and you can debate objections from the manufacture or anyone without a meter. |
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bwest
Administrator
United States
3820 Posts |
Posted - 09/11/2012 : 2:14:22 PM
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| Sorry, but your goofier than a pet coon! If my hoods are faded (which they have been) I buy a good compound and use a buffing machine to bring back the luster. Good products will have both the buffing compound and a wax or similar to hold the shine. I don't need a machine to tell me if the dog gone things are faded out!! |
Bryan |
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Thomasbus24
Administrator
USA
4545 Posts |
Posted - 09/11/2012 : 4:28:28 PM
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I bet ya we will have a link to this fabulous meter within hours!
Yellow fades, all the bus makers have problems, get over it. I know my 06 AAFEs looks TERRIBLE parked next to anything, even the 1992 TC! |
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BusChaperone
New Member
USA
8 Posts |
Posted - 09/11/2012 : 6:20:26 PM
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| Professionals will understand the problems with paint fade,clear coat peel on hoods and other paint issues and they know what this meter is used for. They will also appreciate I found a seller other then myself that sell these for a very low cost. Polish and wax is not intended to be used on dead paint (read the instructions) but they are met to maintain new paint.If they meet your needs thats great. |
Premium Bus Coatings
http://www.crystalshieldsystems.com/ |
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Thomasbus24
Administrator
USA
4545 Posts |
Posted - 09/12/2012 : 03:52:46 AM
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It is a school bus, a utility vehicle for intents and purposes, 95% of those who own them really don't care if it fades as long as it passes inspection and is safe.
I like my fleet to look good, it sends a positive impression to the tax payers, but there is no way I will spend their money on a fade meter or a complete paintjob unless the bus is not going to be roadworthy otherwise. |
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Bassman
Top Member
USA
558 Posts |
Posted - 09/12/2012 : 04:02:08 AM
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| This is a service related forum...not a sales related forum. I can tell a dull hood just fine. |
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Fastback
Top Member
1500 Posts |
Posted - 09/12/2012 : 04:54:22 AM
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No need to pay extra for the "lusterless yellow" hood to reduce glare, we just park them outside, preferably headed south  |
Why yes, the ORIGinal CHARGER is a Fastback |
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Offroadwolf
Active Member
41 Posts |
Posted - 09/14/2012 : 08:47:47 AM
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| Im with ya bwest. I have 3 C-2's and some internationals all with faded hoods. Spent sometime over the summer and buffed, polished, and waxed them. Look like brand new again. And some of these are almost 10 years old. And wow didnt need a 1000 dollar meter to tell it looked good or bad. Bus looks brand new again! |
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bwest
Administrator
United States
3820 Posts |
Posted - 09/14/2012 : 11:40:42 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by Offroadwolf
Im with ya bwest. I have 3 C-2's and some internationals all with faded hoods. Spent sometime over the summer and buffed, polished, and waxed them. Look like brand new again. And some of these are almost 10 years old. And wow didnt need a 1000 dollar meter to tell it looked good or bad. Bus looks brand new again!
I did the same thing with some old B7 Chevys. I have the best looking fleet around. That is if the district doesn't trade every 3 to 5 years like some do around here.
I guess this guys is telling us we are not professionals. Sounds like a slam to me.  He also thinks we are as gullible as he is when he says "I found a seller other than myself" |
Bryan |
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Mechan1c
Top Member
USA
853 Posts |
Posted - 09/14/2012 : 3:15:07 PM
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Quote: "Professionals will understand the problems with paint fade,clear coat peel on hoods and other paint issues and they know what this meter is used for. They will also appreciate I found a seller other then myself that sell these for a very low cost."
Really? Chinese stuff for 20% of what you would normally expect to pay?? Sonny, professionals know better...That's like buying a $100 slack adjuster for $20. What could possibly go wrong? |
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Offroadwolf
Active Member
41 Posts |
Posted - 09/17/2012 : 2:39:42 PM
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| It did sound like a slam bwest. But as you know us poor unprofessional techs are too busy worrying about our fleet rolling down the road as safe as possible with zero failures to have time worry about how glossy they are. Some rubbing compound and elbow grease fixes all of that. |
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partsman_ba
Administrator
United States
377 Posts |
Posted - 09/19/2012 : 11:23:01 AM
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| Can a school bus be faded enough to be illegal? That's what the OP seems to be implying, that we all need a meter to make sure our gloss is in compliance. Wouldn't put it past the NTSB to have a rule about it... |
"Growing old is mandatory. Growing up is optional." |
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Thomasbus24
Administrator
USA
4545 Posts |
Posted - 09/19/2012 : 12:58:20 PM
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| I think only a Marysville, Ohio built Wayne could fade bad enough to be illegal, most of those things were darn near white towards the end of life, but life has ended for most of those already. Maybe they are still running them in the OP's country? HAHAHA! |
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Wolf0r
Top Member
USA
2181 Posts |
Posted - 09/19/2012 : 2:48:18 PM
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| We just check a paint sample with our discount chromatography equipment. |
“The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it.”
Neil deGrasse Tyson |
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partsman_ba
Administrator
United States
377 Posts |
Posted - 09/19/2012 : 5:42:15 PM
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| Tell you what - when I think of gloss meters, I always think of http://www.gloss-meters.com/ - why buy from anyone but the experts? |
"Growing old is mandatory. Growing up is optional." |
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Thomasbus24
Administrator
USA
4545 Posts |
Posted - 09/20/2012 : 03:35:00 AM
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| WELL! If a few people in white lab coats use them, they must be good! Count me in...I'm going to order three. |
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IBTMech
Top Member
USA
973 Posts |
Posted - 09/20/2012 : 3:58:09 PM
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| Hmmmmmm.... hard to find someone who gives a s*** here..... |
If it doesn't fit, FORCE it.
If it breaks, well, it needed replacing anyway.
Pullin' wrenches for 45 years. |
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Topic |
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Faded Paint
