Paint

suzebug · Post by **suzebug** » Sun Jun 03, 2001 8:56 pm

Me again....I've seen cars that are so shiny they look like they've been coated with nail polish!! What makes it like that and what's a price range I can expect to pay?

Barry · Post by **Barry** » Sun Jun 03, 2001 9:37 pm

more than likely it is 2 pak
it comes off the spray gun shiny - no cut & buff like acrylic.
V Good paint but (to me) not what you want for a daily driver. You cant touch it up very well for all your nicks and chips. Also it is dearer.
In Aust a good 2 pak job is say $4000 for a quickie to say $10,000 for a really good one with some body repairs.
I did an acrylic myself with some help for $1,000 including ruct repairs - and i wont win any shows for paint but it looks a whole heap better than it did. A good professional job is say $2,500 to about $6,000
Personal opion
2 pak - show car
acrylic - daily driver

regards
barry

oregonian52 · Post by **oregonian52** » Mon Jun 04, 2001 7:56 am

$350 from Maaco. Its not show quality but looks great for a daily driver.

tomt · Post by **tomt** » Tue Jun 05, 2001 5:59 am

I've seen some really nice looking Maaco paint jobs. The key is to have the body work perfect. Those guys spend all day shooting paint so they are good at it. The body work guys are usually not paid very well, they do a workmanlike job.

fastmatt1 · Post by **fastmatt1** » Tue Jun 05, 2001 6:24 pm

OOOOHHHH I cringe when I see someone recommend Maaco. Maaco manufactures their own paint line that is way inferior in comparison to other brands. Their workmanship is the pits!
Look at this way, the typical Canadian hourly shop rate is approx. $50.00 for body work and $65.00 - $75.00 an hour for paint. what are you getting for $350.00????

On the other point, Base/ Clear jobs are more expensive but the durability and protection of the paint is why all new car manufacturers are using this. Clear can be wet sanded with 1500 grit and polished to a beautiful finish. Acrylic urethanes also polish very nicely, but if you don't want to be out there waxing and polishing your car once a month, go with the Base/clear.

Matt

oregonian52 · Post by **oregonian52** » Tue Jun 05, 2001 9:52 pm

Well, some of us can't afford to spend big bucks for a paint job. I don't expect a lot for $350, but I'm pleased with what I did get. There are a few runs here and there, the pass door could have been sanded a little better, and the overspray on the interior trim could have been prevented. But I wasn't looking for a showcar paint job. This is my daily go to work car. The car is parked outside and has been waxed twice. The paint job is 18 months old and still looks like new. I get lots of complements on its looks.
When I get the mechanical side restored and if I have a few thousand dollars laying around, I might get that perfect paint job. Until then, I'm happy.

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Ed

me and my Erroll,
taking the high road;

tomt · Post by **tomt** » Thu Jun 07, 2001 6:29 am

I guess it all comes down to what you do with the car. On a show car that will never see a parking lot or have rocks thrown it its face the fancy paint jobs might make sense. But it doesn't take too many door dings and rock chips before that multi-thousand dollar paint job looks like s**t. For a daily driver, it just makes more sense to get a "10 foot" paint job and enjoy driving the car without worrying about a few chips.
As I said before, I've never been thrilled with the body work you get from Maaco and their clones. You aren't going to get perfect bodywork AND a paint job for $350. The paint cannot be better than the bodywork, so if you do a good job prepping the body you will get a better looking paint job.

MARTINSR · Post by **MARTINSR** » Thu Jun 07, 2001 8:30 am

fastmatt1, Maaco doesn't make their own paint most use a quality line of Sherwin Williams. But I agree I too wouldn't think of recommending them. I have had some HORABLE experiaces with the "econo" paint shops.

My feeling is if you MUST go there, shoot your sights WAY LOW. I mean,when you go to pick up the car just picture it the wrong color, dirt the size of golf balls, runs that have dripped off onto the floor, paint on the chrome and windows, etc. Then when it isn't "that" bad, you'll be happy.

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Always a Bug lover, just got a 72 Beetle, my first.

vwnate1 · Post by **vwnate1** » Thu Jun 07, 2001 10:17 am

FWIW; YOU can make a HUGE difference in the look of a cheapo paint job - remove the door handles , body trim _and_ clips , bumpers , lights , fender welting and cut the outside of the window rubbers back to the chrome strip -did you just put in new rubber and don't want to cut it ? get some 1/4' nylon rope and tuck it under the lip - this holds it out and after car it painted you pull it out , looks really nice . all this really adds up , do NOT think the body shop will do any of this even if they say they will - for minimum wage you cannot expect much . look at some of the finished cars , pick the one with the best paint and ask who painted it , pay that guy $20.00 directly to do your car - worth twice that much . I know this , having rebuilt salvage and impound cars to resell for 30 odd years now . if it looks crappy , I can't sell it no matter how cheap .
-Nate

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-Nate
Filth & Greed Imports
(the LAST honest VWshop)