Paint Job
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 214
Likes: 0
From: Baltimore MD
Paint Job
Hello all, I always see everyone talking about there paint jobs and like everyone else who has yet to get to that step, day dream about that moment in time when it's my turn. Well, it's my turn! 
My question is, what is price range is a fair price, and when am I getting ripped off. I understand that there are many things that go into determining price. I am just looking for a ballpark figure, so when I begin getting estimates I can tell if I'm getting a fair price. Thanks for any input.
My question is, what is price range is a fair price, and when am I getting ripped off. I understand that there are many things that go into determining price. I am just looking for a ballpark figure, so when I begin getting estimates I can tell if I'm getting a fair price. Thanks for any input.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,069
Likes: 2
From: Sherwood Park AB
It depends on how much bodywork and what level you want. I figure 3K for a driver with flaws, 6K for a nice driver/show and shine, 10K for a show quality. Prepping and painting can take 100 - 200 hours, what is the hourly rate?
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,481
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Do it yourself and your total costs are paint and supplies. I don't count the cost of my compressor since I had already decided to buy it before I talked myself into painting the cars myself. 5hp compressor was on sale at Sears. $199.99
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 214
Likes: 0
From: Baltimore MD
Scary!! I have only touched a paint gun once. I turned out O.K., but I'm not sure that I'd want to do my car. I am not looking for show quality paint job but I know I don't want what ever I could do.
I would consider doing the prep work myself.
I would consider doing the prep work myself.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 214
Likes: 0
From: Baltimore MD
If you had any pictures available I'd like to see your work?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 5,269
Likes: 54
From: Orlando Florida
St. Jude Donor '05
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,481
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
No pics. Both jobs were done before the current popularity of digital cameras. Both were/are five footers, but neither cost four or five figure$. I hope to shoot the '80 again this spring/summer and I am now equipped with a digital camera.
I'm not trying to convince you otherwise, but you could paint the car yourself. If you make a mistake, no big deal. Sand it out and go again.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,589
Likes: 5
From: Salisbury Maryland
I have a friend with a '64 Coupe who had first taken it to a "tuner"
shop. After $3000
and two trips back
, he then went to a reputable shop, $4000 later, it looks great. Total cost $7000
. He did all the prep work himself and trailored it to and from the shop.
So, figure $4000 if you do all the prep work.
shop. After $3000 and two trips back , he then went to a reputable shop, $4000 later, it looks great. Total cost $7000 . He did all the prep work himself and trailored it to and from the shop.So, figure $4000 if you do all the prep work.
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Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,359
Likes: 57
From: Mundelein Illinois
I don't know how to paint or due body work, so I have to pay the man. I looked at different paint jobs and decided on one I liked. I then asked the paint shop "How much for that kind of quality on my car" I had my car their and got the estimate. I wanted a very nice paint job. I dis asembled the car so all they had to do is body and paint work. It cost me 8 or 9K. 5 months plus I did a color change. It would of been cheaper if car was painted same color. Car came out exactly like I wanted
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 93
Likes: 0
From: Hershey PA.
Im not a paint sprayer either but I have tried it already and the paint looked pretty good but gun was sprating out little speeks of water is what it looked like. How could I stop that from happening?
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,359
Likes: 57
From: Mundelein Illinois
You need a dryer in the line before the gun. It takes the water out of the line and make sure there is no oiler on the line. This puts oil into the air tools that you use.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 4,233
Likes: 355
From: Albuquerque, NM
Those are reasonable ballpark figures. Be really careful when getting quotes to figure out exactly what each shop is going to do for the money. Some won't strip the car, do the door jams, etc. So make sure when you're comparing that you know exactly what each shop is going to do. If your car needs body work, make sure the shop you take it to has experience working with fiberglass.
You can save a lot of money by disassembling and then reassembling the car yourself... I'm talking about things like emblems, weatherstripping, mirrors, bumpers, lights, etc.
Racer
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 423
Likes: 3
From: New Port Richey, FL
Any good books, videos, or DVD's on Vette fiberglass body prep? You know, finding and filling high/low spots, using a cheesegrader sander etc., disassembling doors from the body, and front/ rear bumpers, trim etc? I'm not afraid to shoot paint(painted jets in the Navy), but mostly used lacquers and epoxies. I'm going to get a compressor anyhow, but need to know about the other stuff. Thanks
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 755
Likes: 1
From: Hobart Tasmania
It pays to have a good friend who has a body shop. I did some prep and he did the rest for 1500. Friends reckon it's the best paint job they have ever seen. Sorry will have to work out how to post a photo, saw somewhere 500x500 max pixels.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 5,269
Likes: 54
From: Orlando Florida
St. Jude Donor '05
I run roughly 20' pipe between the compressor and filter, the filter collects a lot of water. If your filter/dryer combo (also called a water trap) is too close to your compressor then the moist air will condense in your hose after the filter... place another small $5 fillter at the gun inlet.
Here's what I use:
Devilbiss filter/dryer combo 20' from compressor tank. The Harbor Freight $25 filter (the blue one) is fine, my devilbiss filter came with the gun so that's what I use.... wouldn't buy it for $89 (that's how much it is if you buy it separate)
from the filter: 50' hose, small $5 water trap (the plastic version),
Devilbiss dessicant snake (2' section of hose filled with dessicant to remove moisture), moisture indicator, 10' flex hose to gun.
The dessicant snake is heavy, you don't want that thing right at the gun....
Racer
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 395
Likes: 0
From: Orange massachusettes
Spedaleden...Very nice looking paint job. As the old saying goes, "You get what you pay for''. You dont get a paint job like that for $3000. Here in the "small towns" of the northeast, your looking at $6000-$7000 for a good (but not show quality) paint job. $8500+ for one like Spedaleden's. Local freind/ 71 BB owner had his done in town. Took almost a YEAR and $11000. Wish I had pics to post. Looks awsome! For some one looking to paint themselves, there is a HUGE oppertunity to save some BIG money, but I wouldn't think your gonna get the same results as a proffesional, w/ 20+ years experiance. Just my .02
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 5,269
Likes: 54
From: Orlando Florida
St. Jude Donor '05
It took me about 40-50 hrs to get the old paint off the car, that's scraping and sanding over several weekends... I worked slow - professionals would be quicker but I'd still expect 20-30 hrs at $100/hr
That's $3000 just to get the paint off the car