TheSamba.com :: View topic

Tue Nov 10, 2009 3:42 pm

Hey, my sweet Eleanor's fender got bashed up pretty good a while back by the not so friendly snowplow. So I got one from a white super on craigslist, but now i need to paint it marina blue. whats the best/cheapest way to go about this? Is there a way to get paint from a local body shop and DIY or a local shop that could do it for cheap (i live near spokane)? Or is there a website where I can buy it from?
Thanks!

Tue Nov 10, 2009 5:56 pm

Quote: do it for cheap

Take off the gas cap door, take it to a Lowes Home Center, get them to do a color match and make up a quart of their best outdoor gloss oil based paint. Get a brush and you will have the cheapest paint job you could want in no time. :lol:

Tue Nov 10, 2009 6:09 pm

You can do as suggested above, same paint store - ask for a Pre-Val system, which is only a glass paint container powered by a disposable aerosol sprayer system. Works just like canned spray paint, 'cept you can put your mixed and matched paint in the container. Spray away! Leaves a better finish than a brush. This from an old (62) house painter, I use this system to paint such as window latches, door pulls (cabinets), small items that you don't want brush marks on. Have used it for entire door facings on cabinets.

In8 8) angst

Tue Nov 10, 2009 6:23 pm

take it to macco. how much could it be. they will paint a whole car for three hundred. one fender may 75.00 or so. buy time you buy what you need at the home center you'll be about the same in price, but nicer finish

Tue Nov 10, 2009 7:01 pm

I would just as soon use Krylon as let Macco touch my car. They mix the clear in with the topcoat to really make it shine. Bad part is it turns to shite a year or two down the road.

Tue Nov 10, 2009 7:54 pm

I'd second Viande. No Maaco.

Also, you used 'best' and 'cheapest' like synonyms. When referring to auto painting, they are essentially antonyms. Sorry.

You must decide which one takes priority.

M

Tue Nov 10, 2009 9:51 pm

You get what you pay for. I don't like a blanket statement dising a supplier or etc without some teeth to it. Maybe your local Maaco has a different policy as they are all independantly owned. Perhaps the car wasn't prepped correctly of the finish not maintained?

A couple of tips from me about using a production shop. 1st some facts cuz folks usually will ask.

I've been using Maaco since 1979 and they recently painted the 150th car for me if I've kept count accurately. I still maintain 18-20 of these cars and most still have the paint job I prepped and primed and Maaco painted. I've only had two problems in all those cars using four local Maaco shops.

1) They don't automatically mix in a clear, they have several finishes to chose from.
2) You can get a full single stage paint job, one with integrated clear or a full base coat / clear coat and also eurathane finishes. Depends on how much money you want to spend.

I fully prep the car doing all bodywork and priming / block sanding and give them a car ready to paint. If I'm doing a complete I'll sometimes have them mix all the paint beforehand, do the interior and jambs myself and take the car and paint back to them for the exterior. I can't do a complete car in my home shop, I know it and don't even try. Too much dust, bugs, nagging wives etc.

I normally cut the outside of the window seals back so they don't have to worry too much about masking the seals. Leave just enough to hold in the glass. I've made two masonite vent windows and roll the door windows up w/o the seal or trim on a slit piece of 7mm fuel hose. As a production shop they want to get the car done and gone FAST.

OK back to the question and suggestion let Maaco paint a single fender.
1) They are not going to want to take the time to blend the paint so you'll get a "close" match
2) Prep the fender 1st
3) Take them the old fender too to "test" spray, this will give you a better chance at a fairly decent match

I agree however if this is going to be a temporary job maybe a spray can will do. Rustoleum makes a paint called 'Painter's touch" and their "Country Blue" is as close a match to MArina Blue as you'll get in off the shelf spray can.

Here is "Vern" a spec built '73 Superbeetle that I restored for a customer out of a rotted out mess. Paint now about 10 years old was Maaco's single stage with a add'l clear.

Wed Nov 11, 2009 2:53 am

An automotive paint store can make up aersol cans of spray paint for your car. I had five cans made for my 1988 Mazda truck back in 1995 so we could paint the hood and roof, was about $10 a can. They can match, best aif paint has aged (take in the fuel door) or do from chart if original.