Need some advice re paintjob

[Dazaa]

I’ve been building my dream car over the last 2 years and now it’s time for paintwork. I’ve done the various fibreglass repairs and rolled it in primer. Experimented with rolling coach enamel but couldn’t get a nice finish unfortunately. Now want to get a body shop/someone with a compressor and gun to lay on some colour. Nothing about the car is perfect and i’d be happy with a half decent daily driver finish, it’s not a show car and never will be one. Does anyone have an idea as to how much it would cost to get sprayed? No prep needed, shoot right over it as is.

Edited by Dazaa on Friday 1st January 10:48

Edited by Dazaa on Friday 1st January 10:49

Edited by Dazaa on Friday 1st January 10:50

[jeff666]

Most decent body shops won't take on self prepared paint jobs,

If that has sat around in primer for any time (unless epoxy) their is a good chance it has absorbed moisture which could lead to micro blister at a later date.

I noticed you also wet flatted it which is also a big no in our industry, most paint systems now are a dry flat system for reasons given above.

Try to find some one with a low bake oven and ask them to put it thru a couple of bake cycles to dry it out before paint.

[Keep it stiff]

jeff666 said:

Most decent body shops won't take on self prepared paint jobs,

If that has sat around in primer for any time (unless epoxy) their is a good chance it has absorbed moisture which could lead to micro blister at a later date.

I noticed you also wet flatted it which is also a big no in our industry, most paint systems now are a dry flat system for reasons given above.

Try to find some one with a low bake oven and ask them to put it thru a couple of bake cycles to dry it out before paint.

I echo that, body-shops will either take on a job to get it 100% or not at all. That aside, why would you want to compromise? You have put in a lot of effort thus far why waste that with a crap finish?

[AMGSee55]

Dazaa - which part of the country are you in? Can recommend Phil Waller in Sarratt (near Watford, Herts) - https://www.classicdreamworks.co.uk/.

Phil is excellent and doesn't charge exorbitant rates either, but he is selective in what he takes on - he'll do a proper job or not at all.

[Dazaa]

It’s not really worth the expense of a proper paint job to be honest, I just want to get it on the road as fast as possible and start enjoying it. Would rather put however many thousands a pro job would cost towards an LS swap.

[john2443]

I'm not suggesting that coach enamel is the right answer, but if you roller it on, you need to lay it off with a brush.

[Skyedriver]

Understand your thoughts OP. So, why not buy a compressor and gun and give it a go yourself? It's not hard if you are going for a basi paint rather than a metallic.

i have a TVR at the moment that could really do with a respray, there's a spider on the bonnet, one on the spoiler, few scratches down the side and a little bit of blistering. i could use it as is without worrying about taking it to Tesco (other supermarkets are available), get a decent tidy up and not worry too much, or get a top rate respray and be frightened to use the car as you just know some twonk in a bloody great 4x4 truck/campervan/knackered SUV will hit it or open a door onto it.
Would do mine myself as I have sprayed a few cars in the past but this one is clear over base metallic and I've never tried that before.

[Dazaa]

I've been experimenting with the coach enamel, rolled on, then tipped with a Hamilton 4 inch brush, but no matter what the brush lines are always somewhat visible, i'm going to have one more go warming the paint up before hand and see if that solves it. It's a shame because the finish is unbelievable, like a mirror, just the damn lines when you look up close. I'd love to buy a compressor and have a go spraying, but as you can see from the pics i've built the car in a private car park, no issues with anyone but the risk of overspray on some of the other rather nice cars parked nearby is one I can't take.

Edited by Dazaa on Friday 1st January 12:39

[Dazaa]

Heres what the T top i’ve been experimenting with looks like. Top pic shows the lines that are visible up close

[Dazaa]

Lines are visible and there are some pin dots, I had a go at sanding it with 1000-2500 which makes it smooth as glass but it can’t be polished to get the shine back which is a shame

[Dazaa]

Skyedriver said:

Understand your thoughts OP. So, why not buy a compressor and gun and give it a go yourself? It's not hard if you are going for a basi paint rather than a metallic.

i have a TVR at the moment that could really do with a respray, there's a spider on the bonnet, one on the spoiler, few scratches down the side and a little bit of blistering. i could use it as is without worrying about taking it to Tesco (other supermarkets are available), get a decent tidy up and not worry too much, or get a top rate respray and be frightened to use the car as you just know some twonk in a bloody great 4x4 truck/campervan/knackered SUV will hit it or open a door onto it.
Would do mine myself as I have sprayed a few cars in the past but this one is clear over base metallic and I've never tried that before.

This sums up exactly why I won't spend the money on a fancy paint job, living in East London, it's only a matter of time before someone keys it or bangs a door in to it in a car park, it's just not worth the headache.

[aeropilot]

Dazaa said:

This sums up exactly why I won't spend the money on a fancy paint job, living in East London, it's only a matter of time before someone keys it or bangs a door in to it in a car park, it's just not worth the headache.

There must be any number of back street 'blow over' merchants dotted around East London that will run a gun over it given you are not looking for a Rolls Royce finish....?

[Dazaa]

I'm going to ask around next week but was hoping for a rough estimate as to how much it could cost? I know quality paint isn't cheap, likely 200 alone so would 500-700 be in the ballpark?

[jeff666]

I charge the best part of a grand for paint and sundries on a re paint,

Cheaper products are available, best to get some quotes and go from there.

[TISPKJ]

Hi Mate, I did all the prep work on my second race car under the supervision of my local painter in his workshop, (see Team Hartwell Subaimp thread)
I can ask him if you like but his normally really busy hence in part why I did the job myself.
Even at mates rates your probably looking at over double your estimation.
if you are happy that the car is flat and smooth, why don't you wrap it ? ......... again as per my threads I have some boys can do that as well.

ps Im in the process of buying a C3 as it goes

[jeff666]

Wrapping it is a good shout,

Usually around 1K from memory.

[TISPKJ]

I looked at getting a TVR done and best I could get down to was 2.5
Im told you get what you pay for like most things in life ....
I have heard of £1500 for a complete car
You can also now get a spray on film in any colour you want but I have no idea on price

[vpr]

My nipper had his 1M wrapped by probably the best company in the UK and it was circa 2k.

Spray on wrap will cost the same as a full blown paint

[Jaz2000]

Even a cheap job would probably cost £2K and its not easy to find someone to do this.

If someone came to me asking for a quick cheap and not perfect job I would not even entertain it. Im not a painter by the way but that would apply to any trade.

[steveo3002]

Sounds like you need find someone with a barn and compressor that will let you diy it for some beer money...as said prime candidate for blisters leaving that in primer