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Mon Dec 06, 2021 6:43 pm

What to ask/ tell/see of a new painter that you dont know anything about?

Define what I want done. Scope of work, start an finish date.

Anything else ?

Mon Dec 06, 2021 6:47 pm

aa390392 wrote: What to ask/ tell/see of a new painter that you dont know anything about?

Define what I want done. Scope of work, start an finish date.

Anything else ?
It's a crap shoot.

Use someone that you get personal recommendations from people that you know.

Mon Dec 06, 2021 8:30 pm

aa390392 wrote: What to ask/ tell/see of a new painter that you dont know anything about?

Define what I want done. Scope of work, start an finish date.

Anything else ?
I would never trust a painter that gives an estimate unless the car is down to bare metal. If you try to hold them to a guesstimate on time they will take short cuts to meet the hours, which means you will get a shit paint job unless you find the rare painter who’s more concerned with pride in his work vs money. That’s why many will charge by the hour.

Mon Dec 06, 2021 10:07 pm

For a photographed body of work. How long has been painting? Is he an independent or part of a shop? Will he give you previous customer refs? Even if you don't talk to previous customers see if there's a car or two he's painted you can see? How long has he been in business? Is it his business?

Things like that will let you know if this is gonna be a nightmare during or after delivery. I think questions along those liens are reasonable considering that if its a good paint job from a good painter you're gonna pay between $5K and $10K for a paint job. As someone mentioned above depending on the condition of your car.

Tue Dec 07, 2021 8:16 am

adventurebob wrote: For a photographed body of work. How long has been painting? Is he an independent or part of a shop? Will he give you previous customer refs? Even if you don't talk to previous customers see if there's a car or two he's painted you can see? How long has he been in business? Is it his business?

Things like that will let you know if this is gonna be a nightmare during or after delivery. I think questions along those liens are reasonable considering that if its a good paint job from a good painter you're gonna pay between $5K and $10K for a paint job. As someone mentioned above depending on the condition of your car.

Prices vary radically depending on where you are. I live in San Diego, CA and you can’t find a shop that will touch a classic car for under $20k they prefer to do insurance work.
Independent painters are few and far in between and the quality varies often from job to job.
Best thing is to ask guys who have had their cars painted locally and inspect not just the paint but the body and metal work. Few painters are proficient at all three.

Tue Dec 07, 2021 11:16 am

I kinda got burned lately by a "friend". Never got a price, which is my fault. shows up and says he'll get the body straight and primered in a weekend. Cut to sunday, one small corner is primered with a bunch of unsanded filler everywhere else. Morale of the story, get a firm price and dont do business with firends.

Thu Dec 09, 2021 5:00 pm

Thanks for responses,

So all the major body work has been completed,

Now it just needs to be prepared fill in the highs n lows skim coated, sanded,
cleaned, and painted, color sanded….sound about right?

Thomas

Thu Dec 09, 2021 6:09 pm

[quote="aa390392"]Thanks for responses,

So all the major body work has been completed,

Now it just needs to be prepared fill in the highs n lows skim coated, sanded, sanded and sanded again often another primer coat,
cleaned, and painted, color sanded, sanded and sanded again….then buffed with wool pad, compound pad and polish pad...pray there are no after paint fixes...sound about right?

Thomas[/quote
yes if all goes well, from one who just spent the last few months doing it.

Mon Dec 13, 2021 10:34 am

Hit up a local jobber/auto paint supplier for suggestions. Try a few places...