Why Glass Blasting Works? | Bus Conversion on The Gypsy – 1972 MCI MC-7 | Ep3
In this Leisure Coachworks video, we’re bringing you the latest update on The Gypsy, a 1972 MCI M-7 bus conversion. In episode one, we got our first look at this big project. It was a big, empty bus waiting to become a practical, stylish, and comfortable home on wheels.
During our second video of this transformation, we took a look at some steel corrosion and got our first look at the interior mock-up. This time, we’re going to meet the team that’s in charge of getting all the old paint off this 1972 vintage bus.
We’ve done paint removal with the team from Global Soda Blasting Company before. They came in and used baking soda blasting to clean Dirty Gertie. This time, they’ve recommended glass blasting to clean the surface and prepare it for new paint.
Like sandblasting, both soda and glass blasting use high-pressure hoses to get rid of dirt and paint. The benefits of blasting include speed and precision. The team tells John how blasting cleans better than hand sanding, especially around rivets, and saves both time and money.
When Dirty Gertie was cleaned, the best choice of blasting material was baking soda. There were glass and rubber components in place that baking soda did not damage.
This time, the bus has been stripped bare. There are no rubber or glass parts to worry about. So the team is using glass blasting instead. Glass blasting uses finely ground glass sprayed at pressure to remove the paint and other coatings.
The glass is a neutral material and the process uses no chemicals. Any glass that is left on the ground will aerate the soil without cutting anyone. It’s a little coarser than baking soda, making it faster to use and easier to clean up.
The team from Global Soda Blasting Company suits up with protective masks, shields, and hearing protection. Their goal is to remove as much paint as possible without any damage to the surface of the bus. These professionals are balancing paint removal with surface protection to get the very best final result.
They do some test patches on both the inside of the bus and the exterior. This bus conversion is a big job and there is a lot of surface area inside and out that needs to be cleaned and prepped.
We get to watch as the paint is blasted off and the clean surface underneath emerges. The technicians are careful and methodical, making sure they don’t miss a single spot.
When they’re done, The Gypsy is clean and ready for the next step in its bus conversion journey. This vintage MCI bus is a really interesting build. The skilled, experienced Leisure Coachworks RV repair and remodel team has a clean, empty vehicle to turn into something new and special for the customer.
Our commitment to quality craftsmanship has served us well through everything from a teardrop trailer remodel to a luxury bus conversion. The team will continue to use the best methods possible to completely rebuild this bus with everything the customer needs to live their best RV life.
Subscribe and follow Leisure Coachworks on YouTube to get notified when a new episode of this MCI M-7 bus conversion arrives. Have an RV project to discuss? Contact us or stop on by our full-service shop in Fontana, CA.
