Cheap Paint Jobs

mark · May 23, 2015

I got a rig that needs to be one color, and I want something a little nicer and more durable than a rattle can job (although I've gotten pretty good at making a rattle can job look good).

This is a summer/street toy, not a wheeler. It is strait and clean, just needs to be freshened up and one solid color. Looking for a good 2' paint job, will need basic prep work, maybe a little bit of body work for a couple small dents/creases. No real rust I'm concerned about right now. I have little to no budget, so looking for a sub $1000 paint job that will last 5+ years.

Any recommendations? I really don't have a space or time to do it myself, or I would give it a try. Someone willing to do it in the garage would be fine, or a shop that does good work for a budget price. Bothell, Woodinville, Kirkland or surrounding areas best. Pretty much anywhere within 30-minutes of Kirkland. Can do most of the prep-work (removing things, and basic masking) to help. I'll be pulling the engine soon to replace the flex plate and freshen a couple things up, that would be a great time, or I can keep it drivable.

:beer:

Old picture of rig in question. Side graffics are gone, and its got much nicer wheels and seats in it now.

Poohbair · May 23, 2015

http://www.maaco.com/auto_paint.html

mark · May 23, 2015

Maaco and Earl Shib are two of the thoughts that come up first, but I hear/read so many horror stories that sometime it seems like throwing money down the drain. However if anyone has any personal experience with any local branches, then I would listen.

From my "research" it seems like you can have a good job or a crap job from either of them, all depends on who is working that day, if they do the prep right, and if the management will stand by their work. Sounds like many don't.

GRW · May 24, 2015

The only Earl Swab paint job I owned (previous owners doing) looked ok and was not to bad till it got a little gas on it boiled up and pealed of. :looser:
Cleaned it off but it just kept on going to $hit every were the gas got close it was junk in a couple days.

KarlVP · May 24, 2015

I'm cheap and I will paint your job.

Lucky Jeff · May 24, 2015

You'll have a better chance of getting a good paint job from rattle cans than paying someone less than 1k to do a "real" paint job.

Glenn · May 24, 2015

I had a cheap paint job on one of my old trucks. It was a single stage synthetic enamel paint that looked OK for a year or so. But it did not hold up after that. It soon looked dull as primer. When I sold it, huge pieces were flaking off and the original paint was in better shape. It was good enough for a wheeler that I didn't care about getting scratched up in brambles, but otherwise it was a cheap paint job that looked like it was done with the cheapest rattle can paint at Wal Mart.

skinny_pedal · May 25, 2015

Have a votec/ technical college do it if time is not of importance

crash2 · May 25, 2015

Its all about the prep....

WA-Wheeler · May 25, 2015

crash said:
Its all about the prep....

That's what I was going to say. Prep it yourself have some else spray it.

mark · May 25, 2015

KarlVP said:
I'm cheap and I will paint your job.

We all know you're cheap... question is can you PAINT? :fawkdancesmiley:
although if I had you do it, not sure what I'd get back.... probably a couple different shades of pink with phallic symbols on it. Keep in mind, the kids and Ms. are going to be bombing around in this likely, hence the desire for a paind job that at least has some sort of shine. :redneck:

skinny_pedal said:
Have a votec/ technical college do it if time is not of importance

Are there any left on the eastside? Seems to me all the tech schools in this area have vanished. Something to consider. To an extent, I'm willing to trade time for money.

crash said:
Its all about the prep....

WA-Wheeler said:
That's what I was going to say. Prep it yourself have some else spray it.

Fully aware of that, even from the rattle can jobs I have done that is true. Every time I do a rattle can, I tell myself that for the amount of prep I did, I might as well lay down some real paint..... then I roll it or rub a tree.

I'm not afraid to do most of the prep myself, but it again comes down to the time and space thing. Right now it lives outside, not conducive to sanding it down and prep work.

Glenn · May 25, 2015

I asked the auto body teacher at a community college about them doing it. It would take 3 months.

skinny_pedal · May 25, 2015

Lake Washington Tech in Kirkland.

Harvester of Sorrow · May 26, 2015

Mark you could knock out spraying that thing in a weekend for sure!

Harbor Freight has some decent cheap guns. Mask and bag everything as you would for rattle can. Prep and spray.

Do you have a top for that thing as well?

Good looking rig.

mark · May 26, 2015

Harvester of Sorrow said:
Mark you could knock out spraying that thing in a weekend for sure!

Harbor Freight has some decent cheap guns. Mask and bag everything as you would for rattle can. Prep and spray.

Do you have a top for that thing as well?

Good looking rig.

No space right now. You volunteering your garage :redneck:

ain'tstuckjustresting · May 27, 2015

I've had a bunch of our older work trucks painted at Maaco. Sure there is a difference between a $500 job and a $2500 job but I have been impressed overall with how the maaco paint has held up. My biggest complaint has always been their ****ty masking but if you pull everything off yourself it turns out pretty good. Make sure to get the Urethane and not the Enamel though. The cheepo enamel paint isn't much better than a poof can.