where to get paint job?

[Lithium381]

curious to know where i can get a CHEAP paint job... I'm in bay area california. i've got an older (91) vehicle that I want painted white. little bit of rust on the hood and roof. My friend said paintjobs run 2-3000..... nothing cheaper?

 

[Juddog]

curious to know where i can get a CHEAP paint job... I'm in bay area california. i've got an older (91) vehicle that I want painted white. little bit of rust on the hood and roof. My friend said paintjobs run 2-3000..... nothing cheaper?

If you're looking for something that isn't that long lasting, then you could also go with Maaco.

They are infamous for doing bad jobs though, but they are cheap.

 

[Lithium381]

If you're looking for something that isn't that long lasting, then you could also go with Maaco.

They are infamous for doing bad jobs though, but they are cheap.

i called them, they wouldn't give me a quote over the phone, they want me to come down so they can see the extent of the rust damage.

what is "long lasting"?

 

[SpatiallyAware]

Every single Maaco paintjob I've seen looks worse than the paint it covered after a year or so

I'd try and find a smaller shop that needs some work before going to maaco..

 

[Juddog]

Every single Maaco paintjob I've seen looks worse than the paint it covered after a year or so

I'd try and find a smaller shop that needs some work before going to maaco..

^^ Yeah pretty much it will look like crap after a year. If you're just trying to sell the car or use it as a trade-in or some such, it might help long enough to get it off of your hands.

 

[exdeath]

You get what you pay for. The $3000 quotes you have will be factory quality base + clear for a standard commuter car.

 

[summit]

do not go maaco! go to a few shops and see cost. should run you about 2500 to 3500.

 

[Lithium381]

ugh, that's WAY to much, this is a 3rd car that i just want to look "more decent"......
maaco does 300 jobs??? that's what i was looking for......

 

[Howard]

ugh, that's WAY to much, this is a 3rd car that i just want to look "more decent"......
maaco does 300 jobs??? that's what i was looking for......

How much time you got on your hands?

 

[jtvang125]

I think their cheapest package is around that price. That's with little or no prepping at all, just mask and paint. Any additional prepping (dent or rust repair) will drive the price up quick.

 

[Doppel]

If you paint over rust it's going to bubble back up within a couple months, don't bother. You can either pay to get it done properly or flush your money, there's a reason a real paint job costs thousands.

 

[DougoMan]

Unless your car is a collectible or something really special it does not make much sense to get a paint job. A decent to good one costs around $5,000. Might as well just get a new car.

 

[Zivic]

Unless your car is a collectible or something really special it does not make much sense to get a paint job. A decent to good one costs around $5,000. Might as well just get a new car.

+1... just let the POS rust out if you don't want to spend the big money. the prep is where it is at, and if it is already rusting, you are looking some decent labor hours to properly prep the car for paint.

 

[Imported]

There's a place in San Jose that gives a 15% discount to SCCA members.. The owner is active on the Bay Area autox forum I frequent.

http://www.makeitlikenew.com/

Not sure on normal pricing.

 

[Bartman39]

I`ll paint everything for $99.95...:biggrin: Right......!

Petroleum jelly is extra...:\

 

[JulesMaximus]

The key to a decent paint job is prep work. That's where all the labor is and that is the key to getting a good quality paint job that will a) look good, and b) last for many years if kept up.

The phrase, "You get what you pay for" really does apply here.

 

[thedarkwolf]

Take it to a decent place and see what it would cost to have just the hood and roof fixed. Then see what it would cost just to have the roof fixed and call some junkyards and see if any of them have a good hood that is the same color as yours.

 

[exdeath]

The key to a decent paint job is prep work. That's where all the labor is and that is the key to getting a good quality paint job that will a) look good, and b) last for many years if kept up.

The phrase, "You get what you pay for" really does apply here.

Weeks of sanding and filling... all for 30 mins of glory in the paint booth.

I've known these guys in Tucson for years, this is some great shit:

http://www.maxscenterattractions.com/

 

[Lithium381]

How much time you got on your hands?

I just watched two hours of various instructional videos online for how to do it....... it looks time consuming, but not exceedingly difficult. Something a complete newb can undertake? two basketball sized areas on the hood and the majority of the roof.....

 

[exdeath]

I just watched two hours of various instructional videos online for how to do it....... it looks time consuming, but not exceedingly difficult. Something a complete newb can undertake? two basketball sized areas on the hood and the majority of the roof.....

Body work and paint is one of those things that takes artistic talent and tons of practice. It's not like building an engine or doing electrical work where you just read specs from a book.

 

[Vette73]

Sand the car a little and sand real well on the rust areas. Then prime any bare areas that are metal or close to it.
Then this...

http://www.rickwrench.com/index79master.htm?http://www.rickwrench.com/50dollarpaint.html


This will work better than macco/earl shicb type places.

 

[Zivic]

Body work and paint is one of those things that takes artistic talent and tons of practice. It's not like building an engine or doing electrical work where you just read specs from a book.

no doubt, you can't just watch a vid and go and pick it up on the first try. My brother does bodywork for a reputable shop around town and have seen a lot cars come throw our personal shop that he has done. It is a real talent and skill that takes yrs to perfect. Sure anyone can sand, but you have to have a touch to know when enough is enough. Also, you need to be able to 'feel' when things are straight.

I laugh at something thinking they can just pick up a block and/or DA and start going to town.

 

[NutBucket]

There's always option C; prep it yourself and go to Macco.

 

[Lithium381]

There's always option C; prep it yourself and go to Macco.

that's what i was thinking

 

[Black2na]

There's always option C; prep it yourself and go to Macco.

This would be your best bet. Also find a hood in good shape from a junkyard. Save you alot of time and in the end money then repair the spots on the roof then fix any dents you care to. Then after that assuming your going single stage white sand the car with 400 on a DA then after that buy a red scuff pads and hand scuff the car making sure to get near the edges and any shiney spots from there your ready to take it to maaco biggest problem with maaco is the lack of prep near edges of things such has windows or door handles but if you do a decient job with the prep they will be fine. And your paint will look good. also step up slightly from the low end paint job they will use better materials which will make the paint job stay shiney longer without chalking up like most cheap single stages do. Best of luck if you were close I would say bring it to my shop but im not near the bay area at all lol!