Opinions on auto painting companies?

Basically it comes down to...you get what you pay for.
There are several reasons the chains have lower prices: big corp to spread cost's, bulk buying power, sometimes cheaper materials, lower wages for less experienced workers, labor process turned into system. I've heard stories on both sides of the coin about the finished product from the chain stores. Regarding locally owned auto painters: Some produce good to exceptional quality finished product. Others are just crooks. Most are the latter.

The next question is: Is the truck really worth dropping $500 to $1000 on?

You might consider trying it yourself. You can produce a decent looking paint job if you can do the prepwork. There are several methods of painting to consider as well. Some people have done well with rattle cans. Others have had success with the tractor enamels you can buy at Tractor Supply and farm type stores/co-ops. I've heard the tractor enamel is good because it goes on smooth, has a good even finish and is really tough, holds up well, when dried/cured. The nature of the enamel allows it to almost level itself to create a nice finish. But I have heard too much can produce runs which are hard to smooth out. But the biggest factor is the prep-work.

It's all in what you want out of the vehicle.

 

I had one of those $400.00 jobs done on a truck I use to own. I kept the truck about 5 years after the paint job and it still looked good. It wasn't a factory job but for the price difference, I was very satisfied.

 

Snoozy have you checked with you local Vo-Tech they have a auto class for painting and the cost will be not much over the paint. secondly there are add of prefilters you can install they use a cheap insert cartridge that costs about $!12.00 to buy the add on filter is a inline and is simple to plumb. It installs on the inside of the engine compartment the unit looks like a transmission filter external unit and is basicly the same thing just a fuel filter from frtlnr os mack to fit it. Or try a truck salvage and get a 2 stage fuel filter takes the lubafinder filters you change them every 25000 miles .that what they use in mexico because the fuel has impureities in it.

 

"Anyone have any home methods for getting diesel stink off your hands? Is there some country recipe like tomato juice or crisco or boiled nettles or something?'

Pine tar soap.

 

Macco is the WORST experience that I have had in a long time, very bad, maybe not all outlets. However, the one in Vancouver, did a bad job, and helped create a very bad experience (I guess I was the other part of the bad experience - since it takes two to create such a situation - I did not like my reaction to the situation - very bad experience for me - and probably for them - and this was maybe fifteen years ago - so I hope things have changed for the better - they have changed for the better for me).

Painting a vehicle yourself is great fun, a little filling, a little sanding - prep. is the hardest part - like any reconstruction task, then the fun part several coats of paint and or primer and paint.

I say have some fun and forget the trouble and contract issues and on, and on.

Enjoy the painting.

Alex

 

My friend had bought a decent car for a great price but it needed a little cosmetics. She took it to Macco for a cheap paint job. They gave her the price quote and she thought the price to be accpetable. When she went to pick up her car they asked her for a little more than TWICE the estimate. They had charged her for prep work, stripping old paint, body work, and so on. They would not give her the car until she paid up. I think they are independently owned and operated, so hopefully this is not standard practice.

I have to agree with the poster who suggested looking to a Vocational School for your paint job. They are under supervision and are taught quite well. You can really get a good deal on just about anything through a good Vocational school including automotive work and basic carpentry stuff.

-Heather

 

Funny you should ask....

I've painted tractors, but I've never tackled a car.

Curiosity got the best of me, so a couple of weeks ago I checked a book out from the library that covered the process, complete with lots of color photos. I've returned it, and old-timer's disease won't let me remember the title, but armed with the info inside, I believe I could do a passable job (especially if nobody got withing 15 feet! :haha: ).

Seriously, if you already own an air compressor and a gun, or can borrow a decent rig, it is well within reach, since you don't have major body work to consider.

 

snoozy i hav repainted evything from truck and tractors to cars and trailers you can spend thousands of dollars and not get a good paint job or spend a hundred dollars and get a good one.
the biggest thing is the prep work and you can do that yourself take a wire brush to the rust spots then some 120 sand paper on a block then wipe on some ospho( this kills the rust if you dont kill the rust new paint wont mean athing it will just bubble back up )then use a good primer if its still rough use some spot putty sand smooth and primer again then you are ready to paint you dont need an air tite sterile place to paint some tarps or an old barn will do a wagner power painter will work wonders and if you use enamel you will want to use a hardner or it will stay soft .

 

Your next step should be to hit the library or book store. Also start searching some automotive websites. Then go talk with the guys/gals down at the local auto paint store. But don't stop at one, go to two or three to get varied opinions on product and process. Back in high school, my dad, brother and I painted our car a few times (always my bro's fault!). It's really not that difficult, but it is time consuming. We had mixed success, overall the car looked great, but if you got up really close, some areas looked better than factory, other areas had orange peel, with a few runs and bugs here and there. That's when you do do the finish sanding. Time consuming, but fun and satisfying as well. Good luck!

 

yes sand the entire vehicle use 220 grit on the good paint you dont have to primer the entire vehicle the old paint will act as a primer then wipe down with laaquer thinner to remove all oil and wax.
drying depends on temp. and humidity and type of paint.
ospho is phosphoric acid you can find it in hardware stores and auto parts ospho is a brand name there are others.
on primer some of the spray cans dont work very well its a try and see type a deal but it should say sandable.
hardner is used in automotive type paints especially enamels otherwise they stay semi soft you can make marks in it with something hard .
you need to add the hardner to the paint to make it last .
your library should have a book on basic auto body dont let it scare you it its not perfect even new cars have flaws in the paint and when someone hits it with a car door it won t matter.

 

My uncle used to be an highly paid car painter. I asked his advice on painting my car. He said "if you do the preparation work, Macco or Scheib could do as good a job as anybody. The key is the preparation." The painters in the cheap shops paint so many cars they are good at it. He said, "You buy the paint and get the car ready and you'll get a good paint job. If you do it yourself without the booth, the good spray equipment, lights, or experience, you will be lucky to get a great job."

 

Hello: I had a van that needed painting when i lived in tucson. I did a bit of sanding myself and removed all the trim (had that ugly wood look stuff on the sides). It cost me 100.00 to sand and remove the wood look, then I took it to Earl Shiebe and got a 350.00 paint job. It still looked great 4 years later when the kid rolled it!

 

I just had my Suburban painted by Maaco. Estimates at private shops ran from I wouldn't do it to $2,000. Maaco charged $700 with tax and the truck is red which is more expensive paint. Like others said if you do more of the prep work you will get a better job. I removed all trim and bumpers. I had one spot I wasn't satisfied with and they redid it with no problem This is the 2nd truck I've had painted by Maaco in 2 different states and I have been satisfied with both jobs. I plan on bringing my Bronco next week for them to paint.

 

Snoozy,

I forgot you are in Kitsap County.
Call the kind folks at Kitsap Penninsula Vocational Skills Center in Bremerton. I forget the name of the road, but its right off of Kistap Way, past the good ole Chiefton Motel (is that place still there?)
It is (or was!) an *excellent* vo-tech school. They do a little bit of everything up there... really a great school.
-Heather