Hot Rods The damb painter won't paint

Find a young up and coming painter. Word of mouth type guy. A guy that is trying to establish a good reputation. Just check his previous couple of cars he has painted. Talk to those customers.

 

Painters are one of the professions that continually move from one place to another. I had some paint work done at a place that was outstanding. My neighbor wanted to get his Honda painted and I recommended the same painter. By the time the Honda was ready for paint the painter I recommended was long gone. Needless to say the Honda received the worst paint job I've ever seen. It couldn't have looked worse if it was done with a broom. I really felt bad and learned my lesson on recommending a place to get work done.

Gary.

 

Maaco

 

"Do-it yourself" spray paintjobs might be dificult in the U.S. because of the enviroment laws,
But if you CAN do it without upsetting the vocal minorities, learn to do it yourself.
It will be another skill to add to your arsenal, and something less for you to have to farm out.
Start by spraying small brackets, panels, etc , and make mistakes along the way.
Like my granpa would say- learn nothing by doing nothing.

 

^^^^THIS
If the body is ready for paint, (remember, paint doesn't cover bad body work), Maaco will, at SOME of their locations, give you a good driver quality paint job. A paint job that is SHOW quality and price will take the fun out of a hot rod for most average Joes.....guaranteed!
Also have the frame and chassis parts powder coated, if you have a go to shop in your area.

 

To the OP. Ya got yer car yet, if not what ya waiting for?

 

I may paint the Ford myself, just Wimbledon white is fine and matches the title color. I've already shot in the jambs and around all the glass when the car was apart. I'll get a better spray gun for certain. I'd rather be the master of my destiny other than depend on other people.

I may consider Maaco as an alternative. I know of a few good body shops in the area, one I've been doing business with for a while and they don't touch hot rods or custom cars... even for cash!

 

I rent a commercial space between two auto body shops where I build custom furniture, and build props and sets.

Our landlord is a ham fisted Italian guy who seems like a mobster in a movie. Once the shop to my left pissed him off. He came into my woodshop, asked to borrow my 20lb sledge hammer, came back 5 minutes later and returned it. He smashed up 1/2 the cars in their lot. Another time the shop on my right weren't paying their rent. He had a 40 yard dumpster full of rubble dropped in front of their roll-up, no cars in or out for 1 month. They found the rent $ somewhere. I make sure I pay my rent on time.

When I asked my neighbors about painting my 60 Caddy, the explained that sort of work just wasn't affordable for me or profitable for them, just as some in previous posts here have explained really well.

Some of you are doing very well painting cars, so you must have really good business sense and are finding the right customers, that's great.

My customers (wealthy people having custom furniture made) also tell me other woodworkers and contractors are flakes like the OP's paint guy. I just don't get it either. I need every scrap of work that comes my way just to keep food on the table. I can not afford to have a bad rep.

 

In Jasper, Alabama where I live, it is very difficult to get anything done, on any timetable. I've been doing my own work and work for select friends since the early 70's (including during the 20 yrs in the military). The only time I ever tried to get a car painted (69 Shelby GT500) was because my career simply did not allow the time, the car was in three different shops over a period of more than 3 years and in 3 different states, California, Florida and Alabama and I still had to finish it myself. Over the past several years I've done a few cars because I like to do the stuff. I only take in one car and I work on it until it is finished. I won't take money up front (except some for materials). If you can't find someone who works the way I do, one car at a time, you'd better learn to do it yourself.

 

Oldbill 51 I FEEL YOUR PAIN 80% of the work I get is after a customer has had there car at another shop for 1-2 years and get pissed off.

I usually plan 3-6 moths for a driver quality down to bare metal.
If they want nice I prefer to have them 1 year. I like to get them to the blocking point and block 2 times then let the car sit 3-6 moths (let everything cure) block 2 time more paint let set again 2-3 weeks and sand and buff. reassemble.

Bad thing with having it at one shop and moving it to another shop is they will probably want to start from scratch it is hard to go behind someone else's work and stand behind the finish work. If a customer does not want to start over I make sure they know and fill out a form reliving me of the out come its hard to warranty some one else's work

I will agree with Sinsiter Sled only difference is labor rat for me $30 vice $50
150 hr X30= $4500
blast $800
materials &3000
I usually figure around $10,000 on normal paint and body job

 

Why? So half the jerks on this thread can take advantage of the fact that he does not have enough experience to know what he is getting into and con him into doing 15 to 20 grand worth of body and paint work for 4 or 5 grand and then call him a braindead , drunken drug addict and try and cheat him out of that when he's done!!!! Even at a dirt cheap $50.00 per hour shop rate, one guy working a 40 hour week = $2000.00 plus materials. The op said he gave the guy 3 grand and so far has a painted chassis. In his pictures I see an assemble bare frame in a car that looks like it has been driven some. He also does not say if the guy also prepped and painted the differential, front axle assembly, ect. I don't know what kind of finish a highboy roadster frame should have to you guys? But I know what I expect and $3,000.00 worth of labor and materials would barely cover it. Always 2 sides to every story.

 

I held back from saying Maaco but now that the cat is out of the bag. I know a few 60's and 50's cars that went there. I was very butt hurt that they got as good a work that I got for far less. Another thing about (at least the one by my house) Maaco they work for you.

 

I have seen some very good maaco jobs as well. There is one here that can go to the next level as well for more $$ Friend had a 69 chevelle done-very nice job but not the normal maaco quality--well above that.

 

^^^^^ Agree, they can go the extra step.

 

Sadly, was gullible enough to be friends to one of those people, a bodyman moonlighting from his own garage. However, I failed to notice that the friendship started tilting one way: I gave, he didn't. We had some really good car experiences and swap meet experiences together, traded some parts, but in the end, I really got burnt, and I think I was just another 'mark' in his career.

I realize there is many a honest body man. However, as in any profession, there is the sort that gives the group a bad name. Sadly, there seems to be plenty when it comes to autobody work.

One can't turn back time, but learn and go get your car before it disappears.

 

In all my years of being a dealer and a collector,I have found paint guys to be the worst.How can anybody be that lazy and yet be out there self promoting?That's why so many of us become our own body man and suede is an in look.On the bright side,we enhance our skills in the process.

 

The absolute coolest things about bodywork and paint stories is that the good stories don't have any drama. When it goes off like planned and promised with realistic expectations there's no headlines, no group think, it's just another day where everyone smiles.

 

To the OP, there is a local guy that is very very good but like you cannot physically be around paint work anymore. I do not know if he never used any filtration when he was doing it all the time, but now he gets very sick if he gets around it for more than a minute, so everything he has is pretty much as found, no bodywork at all.

Anyway, one thing you might do once you get the car back is to buy a full suit and mask/hood that will pump in fresh air, this should allow you to mix and spray the paint without getting sick. I am sure you can buy a setup for less than what you spent already.

Good luck

 

Before writing a contribution to this issue, I had to decompress for a few hours, have a cup of coffee and think about what to add to this topic. I've been going thru this type of hell for more than six months dealing with a flake who ripped me off and actually moved my truck to a different location after being evicted from his shop without notifying me. I tracked down the new location of my vehicle after numerous frantic emails and telephone calls and even contacting local police. So now as I write this I've found a more competent body man who is completing the repaint process rapidly and to some awesome high standards. Seems quite possible that the job will be finished as promised in a week or so. Nevertheless, what should have been a task that met the original schedule and cost threshold turned into a nightmare that cost me sleepless nights for months on end and much more money than I bargained for. I will never - repeat never- go down that road again. I am building my own shop and buying better equipment to perform finishing aspects myself. I was not naive going into this original business deal, having observed other such deals gone bad to acquaintances who knew better too, but hugely dismayed that it did just that. I will post pics of the finished vehicle as soon as I get it back safe and secure. Keeping my fingers crossed.

 

The Police are very good at being a presence while getting your stuff back.
Have the papers, call the police, don't make threats and be swift.
I've had to do it several times. Take a friend who can work hard to help you load.
Sucks every time. The biggest lesson I've learned is proficiency.

 

Funny my son and I get the work done and have to wait to get vehicle paid and picked up. We have an off topic musclecar we painted in july and we are still waiting.

 

Sucks when you pay up front and the work takes much longer than quoted, but what body shop is doing jobs with no money up front? (or just materials).

I would think that if someone ran their shop that way, they'd have a shop full of jackass customer cars who want their stuff done but can't afford to pay for it in the end. Like 62hotcat says above, the cars would get done and the customers wouldn't be able to pay.

Maybe some kind of escrow system would help, I don't know.

I've had cars that took several years to get painted, but I just planned on it being that way, and I kept in touch with the guys doing it. Eventually they get done, and the price was right. Like the old saying goes, you can have your car done fast, cheap, and nice. Pick any two.

Also, being nice and understanding gets a lot more done than being a dick and making threats. I know you're rightfully upset, but showing up with a bat is just stupid. Beating up the guy's other customer cars would be a dick move to the other car owners, and even threatening violence against him can put you in jail. It'll be tough to ignore a customer who is well liked and keeps in constant contact, it'll be easy to dump a project owned by a guy who makes threats and demands.

 

Rip the full stack of $100.00 bills in half.
You keep 1 end and give up the other end.
Neither one of yous can spend any of it
You both have a vested and genuine interest in getting the pile back together. All that's required is finishing the car.

 

Written contracts, everyone. If money changes hands for work to be performed, have it in writing. I know my memory isn't perfect, and I haven't sucked in near as many fumes as a "professional" painter.

It will also help you get your money back in court later.

 

If the car doesn't get done, you still can't get your money back unless the painter willingly gives up his half. Also some illegality about defacing currency.

In real estate, escrow is held in a bank with a contract. If the contract is not fulfilled, the client gets the money back. If it is fulfilled, the seller (painter in this case) gets paid.

Still not a foolproof system as some customers will want to hold the money ransom while they bitch about whatever flaws they find.

I'm really not sure if there is a good system to use in this case.

 

OK i'd say get our car out 1st.

not easy, but look for that guy that has a--- (1) one stall er 1.5,--- where he's limited to
one car at a time he gets it in, done, and ready for the next.
kinda like an upstart young person , and if it turns out well [TIP] Him.

Of ALL the painters i've seen they are drunks, druggies, -n-doper smokers.
I don't smoke or drink and have painted ALL brands , most guys end up only liking one brand,
because they get used to the mix formulas and won't try or change to try other brands.
(the easy way out).

I could write 15 more pages HERE but MOST of the other posters HAVE covered it.

what was that old saying...

.

 

There is a good system, accept no excuses, period. If you cut a deal with someone to work on your car, yours and his word are your bond, you do what's promised, no matter what pops up in the meantime. He works, you pay him, period. Pay up front? Does your boss pay you up front? I think not. Find someone who is recommended, if necessary truck the car halfway across the world to get it done and don't bitch at what a reliable guy wants for the work. In this case, having seen 31's work, he's offered to finish the car, get it to him, borrow the money to pay him and get on with it.
As someone who spent years doing others work on others cars, I took the car in, did the work and got paid when I was done, after all, I had the car as collateral, and didn't take the work if I suspected the guy couldn't pay, it's really that simple.

 

ok ok NOT ---ALL --- painters are drunks.... but a big % have ta go toke,
or down 2 beers just before the FINAL paint.... WHAT to calm down the jitters?
I love the FINAL paint (that must be my hi...lol)
NOW is when it ALL comes TOGETHER.

On another subject
just like FIRING up that engine you just BUILT,
or for some, just ASSEMBLED.
vroom vroom vroom!

 

You guys have me convinced... all painters are the same. Guess I need to start drinking and doing drugs work for months with out pay.[emoji12]



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A little over 500hrs tracked (more that were never billed) on this project for 14K - 3000$ paint and materials (color alone wss 200$ qt) = 11,000$ ÷ 500 = 22$ hr. Forget about heat,electric,shop space. Thats why it is tough to find a good bodyman.


Not sure why the pic is upside-down. I must be drunk.[emoji23]

 

I had a model A pickup bed that need some metal replaced in the channel at the rear of the bed. Asked a club member what he would charge to fix it, reply was $100 and $250 to make it ready for paint. I told him to make it ready for paint.
When the price doubled he said nothing, said nothing when the price tripled, said nothing when it was 4 times the price he quoted. At a club meeting he said he was almost finished and the bill was $1200. He said he would accept $800. I wish I had just given him the bed. Pisses me off to even write about it. Don't go to as many meeting now.