Trusting Halfords... (Paint Question)
Discussion
So I ordered some spray paint a while ago from the local Toyota Dealer for my Mk1 MR2 and was told today that they only have the ‘touch up’ paint available. I have a couple of areas on the bodywork that I’d like to sand back and remove the rust from before it starts to spread and develop, so I could really do with the spray paint. (Un)fortunately Halfrauds sell the paint, or something in a spray can that is allegedly the same colour as the red on my car. Anyone have any good experience of Halfrauds spray paint? Just wandering whether to buy and use it or whether doing it barryboy style by going to Homebase and getting some Dulux and a brush might produce a better finish...
Also, does anyone have any recommendations of where else I might be able to get the paint from?
Also, does anyone have any recommendations of where else I might be able to get the paint from?
Andy47 said:
So I ordered some spray paint a while ago from the local Toyota Dealer for my Mk1 MR2 and was told today that they only have the ‘touch up’ paint available. I have a couple of areas on the bodywork that I’d like to sand back and remove the rust from before it starts to spread and develop, so I could really do with the spray paint. (Un)fortunately Halfrauds sell the paint, or something in a spray can that is allegedly the same colour as the red on my car. Anyone have any good experience of Halfrauds spray paint? Just wandering whether to buy and use it or whether doing it barryboy style by going to Homebase and getting some Dulux and a brush might produce a better finish...
Also, does anyone have any recommendations of where else I might be able to get the paint from?
Whip it down to a bodyshop mate... you may be suprised how reasonable it can be!Also, does anyone have any recommendations of where else I might be able to get the paint from?
And it will look a million miles better than anything you can achieve with a rattle can
KingRichard, thanks for that suggestion. I haven't really thought about taking it to a bodyshop as I'd like to do the work myself, but if they have the paint/mixing capabilities then that might be the best option.
Livid, thanks for your post as that was something I was concerned about. I know matching paint on a 20 year old car would be tricky anyway, especially as its red, but not having a matching colour to the original as a fallback is not helpful!
Any other suggestions about where I might be able to get the paint?
Livid, thanks for your post as that was something I was concerned about. I know matching paint on a 20 year old car would be tricky anyway, especially as its red, but not having a matching colour to the original as a fallback is not helpful!
Any other suggestions about where I might be able to get the paint?
Anatol said:
If you can take a painted piece to a decent paint supply place (colour-coded mirror casing or fuel filler cap?) many will be able to scan it with a spectrophotometer and provide a decent match, even on older cars.
Tol
Definitely the best option IMO.Tol
For pre-mixed where you don't suspect the colour match to be a problem, I can recommend Autopaint St Helens.
Order online, with very prompt delivery. I've used them on a few occasions with no problems although I see no reason why Halfords pre-mixed paint would be any worse.
Sheepy said:
If you know the paint code, Halfords can make up the paint you need into a can for you. When I had the XJ-S their attempt at metallic-steel blue was much closer to the car's colour than a panel sprayed in a bodyshop!
That wasn't my experience. I had them mix up a half litre of paint for one of our vans for work before it went back off lease. Standard VW Grey-White (not challenging!) and it was miles off. Whether that was down to the quality of their paint mix system or the care taken by the young lad mixing it, I couldn't say...Tol
Thanks to everyone who responded, much appreciated! I'll go ahead and do all the prep work and make a decision about what to do when I'm closer to the painting stage. Hopefully seeing how much 'spread' I get from sanding/filler etc will determine the best procedure to take. Cheers again!
Andy47 said:
Thanks to everyone who responded, much appreciated! I'll go ahead and do all the prep work and make a decision about what to do when I'm closer to the painting stage. Hopefully seeing how much 'spread' I get from sanding/filler etc will determine the best procedure to take. Cheers again!
I went down to LE Went, a specialist automotive paint supplier in New Malden. They supplied me with a standard silver paint for my alloy wheel refurb, and made up a can of Atlas Grey for my Mk2 Golf. The quality of the paint is markedly superior to Halfords. Don't forget to warm the can for 15 mins in hot water (not boiling) before you use it. With the right prep and patience you can get great results from a rattle can (if there's good stuff in it)
Joel
What he said ^^^
I had a go at the front end of my car but the colour was never quite right so the car is currently in getting a bit of a respray at a pro shop... then again, it didn't cost much to have a go myself and so if you need it sprayed you've little to lose by having a go yourself...
I had a go at the front end of my car but the colour was never quite right so the car is currently in getting a bit of a respray at a pro shop... then again, it didn't cost much to have a go myself and so if you need it sprayed you've little to lose by having a go yourself...
I bought a can to repair a piece of bodywork, that was partially hidden. The spray nozzle was crap, although the colour looked half reasonable. I don't think I would paint a surface panel with it tho'. Red is a dificult colour with pigmentation.I need a panel painted on the front quater panel on the Lotus and it will be done proffesionally.
Thanks for your post catsmaty, and welcome to PH btw! Thanks to subsequent posters as well.
I used the Halfrauds paint which was, as expected, a poor match to the original. However, for my purposes it was ok for a short term fix, especially as it was only a small area. In the future, I’ll most likely do what was suggested and supported by others when the thread was initially created.
Cheers.
I used the Halfrauds paint which was, as expected, a poor match to the original. However, for my purposes it was ok for a short term fix, especially as it was only a small area. In the future, I’ll most likely do what was suggested and supported by others when the thread was initially created.
Cheers.
the sprays Halfords have in stock are the original colour match as car came out of factory - and will be manufacturer standard and a perfect match pretty much guaranteed.
However...if your car has been outside...at all...the paint will have started to get slightly UV'd. older the car, more the effect. Some colours (silvers) are particularly immune, some(red) particularly bad.
The software we have for colours includes year matches for the vast majority - so a single paint code often has 15 or more sub-code variants...and even then they're effectively guesses. My chap often has to 'by eye/experience' tint a colour to account for that specific car.
A big halfords or decent bodyshop should know all this obviously...but its kinda critical info to get a good match
However...if your car has been outside...at all...the paint will have started to get slightly UV'd. older the car, more the effect. Some colours (silvers) are particularly immune, some(red) particularly bad.
The software we have for colours includes year matches for the vast majority - so a single paint code often has 15 or more sub-code variants...and even then they're effectively guesses. My chap often has to 'by eye/experience' tint a colour to account for that specific car.
A big halfords or decent bodyshop should know all this obviously...but its kinda critical info to get a good match
I think you need to have realistic expectations when buying paint from somewhere like Halfords. It is very unlikely a poorly motivated, undertrained sales assistant is going to possess the skills to accurately mix a properly matched paint sample. You wouldnt go to McDonalds and expect a gourmet meal, you'd want a fast simple burger. Thats what you'll get from Halfords, a quick fix that "may" do the job for a cheap price.
It takes a fair amount of skill to accurately mix paint (ok, its hardly brain surgery), so if you want quality you need to pay a professional proper money for it.
The standard paint most insurance approved crash repairers use costs in the region of £70-120 per litre...
It takes a fair amount of skill to accurately mix paint (ok, its hardly brain surgery), so if you want quality you need to pay a professional proper money for it.
The standard paint most insurance approved crash repairers use costs in the region of £70-120 per litre...
Anatol said:
Sheepy said:
If you know the paint code, Halfords can make up the paint you need into a can for you. When I had the XJ-S their attempt at metallic-steel blue was much closer to the car's colour than a panel sprayed in a bodyshop!
That wasn't my experience. I had them mix up a half litre of paint for one of our vans for work before it went back off lease. Standard VW Grey-White (not challenging!) and it was miles off. Whether that was down to the quality of their paint mix system or the care taken by the young lad mixing it, I couldn't say...Tol
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