Compressed air appeared in my exterior-preparation sequence when I blew dust off the sanded van. The pancake compressor is part of my purchased air-tool equipment around that cleaning and coating workflow.
My van with masking around the exterior areas prepared for coating.
The item in my kit
I bought DEWALT DWFP55126 Pancake Compressor as part of my camper van equipment.
Compressed air appeared in my exterior-preparation sequence when I blew dust off the sanded van. The pancake compressor is part of my purchased air-tool equipment around that cleaning and coating workflow.
Where it fits my build
I taped the boundaries and covered the areas that would not be painted with plastic sheeting. I then sanded the exposed areas with an orbital sander and 60-grit abrasive, blew away the dust with a compressor, and cleaned and degreased the surfaces.
I mixed clear bedliner with white tint and sprayed the van. After it dried, I removed the masking. The tape and sheeting stage alone took around eight hours, and the finished edges still needed some touch-up.
The side of the van during the white-bedliner project.
My build notes
The most useful detail in my diary is the result, including the problems. Rust-Oleum pooled and dripped in places, and trying to repair one area with a paintbrush made it worse. I wrote that I would use a foam roller for touch-ups and preferred the more consistent finish I had obtained with RAPTOR.
Masking, preparation and application method each became a substantial part of the exterior-coating job.
Alternative products
Two alternatives to compare
BOSTITCH provides another six-gallon pancake compressor. The CRAFTSMAN package combines that general tank layout with an accessory kit.
Bostitch BTFP02012 Six-Gallon Compressor
This oil-free pancake compressor supplies regulated compressed air from a six-gallon tank. It is an alternative for compatible pneumatic tools used during a camper-van build.
This CRAFTSMAN package combines a six-gallon pancake compressor with air accessories. The round tank and carry handle provide a portable air-supply arrangement.
