That's absolutely true. However, if I can find a silver lining to this whole thing it's this; there has never been more access to free information and cheap tools than there is now. So while the cost of materials has gone up dramatically, there has never been a better time for the hobbyist to do professional quality work themselves than right now. Years ago, people were winging this stuff, or you needed to know somebody to steer you in the right direction. Now, you can jump on YouTube, the HAMB, or any number of free resources to have folks with decades of experience guide you through virtually any task on a car you could imagine. Additionally, places like Harbor Freight, that offer quality tools at low prices, allow the home hobbyist on a budget the opportunity to own the tools to achieve their goals without having to be in a commercial environment. Frankly, I don't know of a company that has done more for the automotive hobby as a whole in recent decades. I know that might be a controversial statement but I'll stand by it. The sum of these factors is that now, more than ever, the home hobbyist with some skill, patience, perseverance, and pride can do professional quality work to cut down on their labor cost, even if the price of materials have gone up. And in all reality, the labor is by far the largest expenditure in a expert refinish.
@ OP an omni based red will not be anything like the Deltron color that you want. Red in omni versus deltron, is usually one of the worst color matches. It will be pinkish looking and sorta muddy looking in comparison. The omni toners are not as clean, vibrant, or saturated, as the current deltron line. Also the pearls will not be comparable to the current/newer deltron pearls. If specialty type pearls are used. With the omni to get good coverage, you'll probably need 4-5 coats. With the deltron probably 2-3.
I am also a fan of TCP global paints. This was shot with their single stage urethane and was only $250/gallon. Recently found an awesome polyester primer from House of Kolor (SP1600) which can be bought on Amazon for less than half the price of Evercoat products. I think decent affordable products are out there if you are a careful shopper.
It's probably good that you returned it. The omni black base coat has a brownish cast to it in some lighting angles. Almost like if you had a weak brown pearl coat over it. Also if they sold you omni clear, it has a bad reputation for peeling. Especially if the tech sheet isn't followed and too few coats are used.
Good, I'm glad you brought it back. 3 gallons of paint $3,800 !!!! That's absolutely nuts - these prices are being charged because some people will pay it. Eventually nobody will buy it - price it out of existence which might be the eventual larger plan anyway but there is plenty of decent quality stuff at a fraction of the cost that will work just fine. I know of no one who would look at your paint and say - Oh - Oh I see you used that $3,800 high dollar product ! Glad you took it back and surprised they let you. Hey it's your money to spend if you really wanted that paint - but I'm disgusted with the paint market insulting prices. Who do they think they are $27.00 Hamburger and fries at O'hare Airport ?
Unless Anthony told everyone it was Rustoleum, you'd be hard pressed to know the difference. Sand - prep - primer - sand - prep- spray - multi- fine sand - prep - clear - final buff. Looks good Anthony.
I fully expect the big paint manufacturers to try and regulate guys like us out of the business. They only want to deal with the big collision shops. I thought the UV cured paint was their first attempt at running us out, but that didn't seem to get traction. Once it's just collision and insurance folks then they control the market. I'm gearing up to start powder coating as much as possible. It's in the plans for the new shop under construction.
The most expensive paint you will ever see is a woman's Make Up sticks and creams laid out on her vanity desk or on her sink side.
My wife is an equestrian - rides retired show jumpers. When I came home from buying the paint needed to paint my pickup in a two-toned/basecoat/clearcoat I was a bit stunned and told her, "Honey, I owe you a new pony."
It’s all prep. The funny part is this particular piece was just cleaned and sanded with 400. Ive buffed oil based enamel and it looked great. I guess the biggest difference is durability. This will fade quickly if left in the sun and chip easily. But it’s just a tractor part. I wouldn’t be afraid to use the cheaper Alkyd enamels from our local ppg store. Not much more $$$ than rustoleum. Tons more “factory pack” colors and can be custom mixed. When used with the hardener it’s fairly durable and I have feather edged damage. Meaning it’s repairable. Using top shelf paint/clear seems odd for building a daily cruiser. Especially in the jambs and chassis. The latest and greatest pigment technology isn’t needed for our all over paint jobs.
There's no doubt PPG has been way over priced, for years now. I can remember buying a gallon of dc4000 plus catalyst. Was less than $300 out the door.
No, just used as an example. I know you get what you pay for, but the extremes are ridiculous. $100 vs thousands of dollars.
Thanks for the input. I have ruled out the Omni line for my basecoat, and am still waiting on my nephew that owns a body shop to get me a price on Matrix. I'm also interested in TCP Global's restoration shop paint. Hearing good things about them is helping me lean towards going with them. I priced out a gallon plus an extra quart(just to make sure I have enough) and a gallon of reducer and it priced out at $667. Very doable for me. When I started this thread, I never expected it to lead to so much info!
This has been a very interesting thread indeed! I was quoted a price of $5000.00 minimum to paint my 46 International KB-5 Firetruck. That was back in 1994, that's 30 years ago ! I opted to have my friend do it, even back then, the gallon of DuPont Imron Egyptian Red, was $110.00, nothing I could do about that! Now a days, with inflation, I would bet that even Earl Schieb, would be forced to say, " I'll paint any car, for just $2900.95 " In regards to all that has been said in this thread, that would be a bargain cheap paint job! Everyone's results may vary!
Being as it looks like your going to be switching paint/brand/lines. Are you concerned with the exact color match. Or are you going to re-jam your firewall ?
Any of the guys here with mixing systems will tell ya the toners and pearls aren’t cheap. The bulk of the pic I posted looks like that’s what they are. My old shop has an expensive clientele. They don’t use that shop to save money. My old boss would not be serving them correctly by mot using the best products available. On the flip side of that is our shop at school. The last all over (we don’t do em anymore) cost around $1500 to spray it. Shopline base and shoplines higher end clear. We used our estimate writing program at school before we started on that last all over. A detailed estimate with all the R&I, repair and refinish times. The price was over 7k to refinish the truck. That’s a late model truck with clear coat damage and a few dings and that’s low in my opinion but doesn’t include “cut and buff” No rust or rot, no jambs no removal of any body panels other than bumpers Didn’t need stripped other than the hood. We added a custom stripe that would have added another $1500 with of labor plus refinishing a hard bed cover. We have a new custom shop locally. Younger guy started it. No exoerience professionally just his own builds. Guy is brave as hell if ya ask me. I kinda envy him. But he works his ass off doing all overs on old cars. Priced a 70 dart gt at 10k to strip and shoot it. Gonna be tough I’m driving rust I’ll paint one eventually
I'm not too worried about the firewall mismatch. It won't be a showcar, but will be as nice as I can make it. It will be driven often, I hope!
The Jalopy Journal
