is $250 reasonable for painting only?

koso_64 · Feb 16, 2004

I have a friend that owns a autobody/collision shop that has offered to paint my car for $250.

His shop's paint booth is supposedly pretty state-of-the-art with some sort of updraft (or downdraft?) ventilation, grated water-trap floor and "special" paint baking lights.

He wants us to buy the paint off him at cost, as he is a Sikkens approved applicator. He has assured me all materials we have used so far (primers, sealers, etc.) are compatible with his paint system. The interior, inside trunk, under hood, under cowl, under car, door, window and fender jambs are/will be already painted.

So all he is really doing is masking, cleaning and painting the outside of the car with a pearl basecoat/clearcoat.

Sound reasonable?

Any experience with Sikkens paint?

Racer613 · Feb 16, 2004

If he is TRULY a friend...and you have seen some work before and he is a veteran of painting, and IF you TRUST him, do it....but $250 for a paint job....

I hve heard of "friend" paint stories before, and in the end... get what you pay for. (Most of the time)

Zman · Feb 16, 2004

As an ex painter, I think it's within reason...

more ambition than brains · Feb 16, 2004

Sikkens is an excellent product. Very spendy.

$250.00 plus material is a gift. For that price he is more than a Friend.

Karl

baddbob71 · Feb 16, 2004

Definately take him up on the offer, Heck that's onlt 5 hrs labor in my area. The rental of the booth is worth that! Sikkens products are used by many of the body shops in my area with no complaints. Ask him if he will be shooting the Lesinol line of paint, I'm curious. All of the shops in this area have switched over to Sikkens Lesinol. Bob

Jblack · Feb 16, 2004

The guy (friend) who is painting mine charges $25hr to friends. Plus he'll get material cheap (Sikkens). My car needs some body work.No panel replacements. All and all it's going to run me $2500 (materials included) Very cheap as far as I'm concerned.And this guys does top shelf work. So I figure I'm getting off lucky.

koso_64 · Feb 16, 2004

Thanks for all the replies so far.

How do you feel about the "paint-baking" lights that he plans on using? It is one of the reasons that the job will be completed so quickly at his shop. He plans on painting it near the end of the day, baking it and letting it sit in the shop overnight.

Any experience with these lights?

RacnJsn95 · Feb 16, 2004

I take it that all the body work is done already on your car? If it's not don't just send it in there with dings and dents everywhere...

Jblack · Feb 16, 2004

Someone may correct me, but the lights are just for curing paint faster. Has nothing to do with making a better paint job. Just gets the car out the door faster for shops. JMHO

baddbob71 · Feb 16, 2004

Jblack you are right, the lights are for speeding up the cure process. Some claim it adds to the durability of the paint but I haven't seen any proof to support this. The recomended waiting period for products before waxing is the same reguardless if the bake is done.

koso_64 · Feb 17, 2004

Excellent! Thanks again all.

RacnJsn: lol, yes all body work is done

storm · Feb 19, 2004

the lights in our booth is just to see we have a heater that we put up to around 140 for about 40 minutes . thats what cures the paint not the lights.

is $250 reasonable for painting only?

koso_64

Racer613

Zman

more ambition than brains

baddbob71

Jblack

koso_64

RacnJsn95

Jblack

baddbob71

koso_64

storm

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