average paint job

shine

shine

Member
i'm just curious. possibly the world of hotrodding has changed but i would have never been satisfied with an average bodyshop paint job on my hotrod i spent 5 years building.
how about you. would 2 coats and gone please you ??? would you trust a shop that used cheaper 2nd line paint ?
 
Thats something I have never been able to understand either. Not only a lot of time spent on the project, but they also spend a lot of cash on chrome and go fast goodies that are just for show, then go cheap on the body and paint.
 
I only do sidework so I dont have the luxury of a clean booth. So in the end all of my stuff needs sanding and polishing. Number one reason I refuse to do basic scuff and shoot jobs. Plus its so much work. I only like to work on cars/toys that I know people are going to take care of and enjoy. I'm going through this with my father lin law right now and his full size chevy truck mess. I am doing my best to get him to take that shit to maaco.
 
Has the world of hotrodding really changed that much, I mean I remember guys spending several grand on engine parts and then not upgrading their front drum brakes at all.

It's all about priorities on a usually limited budget, seems to me that 90% of the effort goes into making horsepower, that has not changed too much in my view.
 
crashtech;18469 said:
Has the world of hotrodding really changed that much, I mean I remember guys spending several grand on engine parts and then not upgrading their front drum brakes at all.

It's all about priorities on a usually limited budget, seems to me that 90% of the effort goes into making horsepower, that has not changed too much in my view.
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Its funny I have been into drag racing since I had my first car. A lot of my buddies have moved onto bigger and better things while I got tired of spending massive amounts of money. Most of their cars are small tire/drag radial 7 second cars. Nowi that they are looking for sponsors all they care about is what the cars look like, lol. Guys that couldnt possibly care less about paint work are now getting excited when their cars are all shiney and nice.
 
Crash is right about the average Joe, but I have seen some cars that had a build that seems like it had no cash limits on it, and it still needs a lot of body work. It could be that when the priorites are into speed, that they just don't see the waves and imperfections as long as the paint is shiny
 
My 2 cents: Most people do not have an "eye" for the stuff that we do. Having just picked up painting as a hobby somewhat recently, I can remember how easy I would have been to please about 10 years ago (before I found SPI). Now I just cant help myself from looking for blems on every paint job I see. Even while driving :eek:
 
The number one thing I hear from this portion of the hobby, Its just a driver, not a show car.

They are happy if it shines, or not, all the rat rod crap out there proves that.
 
I hear that all the time...but when it comes down to it, they are only happy with shiney untill one of their buddies makes a comment about it. Then, YOU (the painter) gets drug through the mud as if it is your fault the guy was a tight ass.

Thats why I say there are plenty of guys around town that will give you an average joe bob driver.
 
I asked the same thing last year. Last couple car shows I was at 90% of the car were waving at me from across the street!
 
Senile Old Fart;18495 said:
Its just a driver, not a show car.
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I hate that saying. My buddy tells me that all the time when I'm stressing over getting something right. Just because it's a driver doens't mean it it can't look good. In fact, to make a nice driver it takes even more work. It has to stand up to the punishment of stone chips, bugs, people leaning on it, rain, crappy roads, etc. It's a lot easier for a show car to stay looking good if it goes from a trailer to a garage.

Case in point, I had powder coated my brake rotors on the edges and areas not the face of the rotor. It still rusted where I masked off but where the pads did not swipe, so I had rings of rust on the inside and outside edges. So I got cad plated rotors, they are staying very nice and no rust.
 
it doesn't have to be perfect to look good. i just get tired of arguing about cheap paint and the 2 coats are plenty to buff.
i doubt very seriously if any novice painter would be able to cut and buff 2 coats. even if you can you'll only do it once.
i have cars over 20 years old that still look good. chipped and stared but still slick. because there was enough clear on them to buff on for years.

if you want perfect it's going to cost. it's all about man hours. you can burn a couple hundred hours up quick on a show car.

if it's just a driver why bother ? i dont even wash my farm truck.
 
crashtech;18518 said:
That's just code for "I want it nice, but don't want to pay much."
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Usually what it means, then get picky in the end. Lol.

I have been doing a few basic "driver" paint jobs, with that in mind, it's usually get body work as nice and can be. 3 coats of epoxy, quick blocking, 1 coat epoxy as sealer, 3 coats 2k. and that, normal paint, with 3-4 coats of clear then block and buff.

You have to have a basic minimum on nicer cars, that's where I have been at with it lately. I feel it's a good lasting foundation.
 
shine;18514 said:
ears.

if you want perfect it's going to cost. it's all about man hours. you can burn a couple hundred hours up quick on a show car.
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Can say that again.
 
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