That's a pretty damn good profession!
Being a painter. Is it worth it?
- Thread starter serjik911
- Start date
dhutton01
Backyard Hack
That’s the last job I would want. I did a fair bit of business traveling before I retired and grew to absolutely hate it. Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, China, Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, India, UK, Finland, Sweden,Germany, Canada blah blah blah….
Don
You are so right about business travel. I did some when I was younger, saw a number of US cities, yet never really saw any of them. The best thing about it was that it introduced me to new cities, many of which I've come back to visit as a tourist.
My brother was a venture capitalist in the 90's and early 2000's, and spent 15 years in airports. He got wealthy, but paid an extremely high price for it.
He has no regrets, but I decided long ago that that was not the life for me.
Whitesnake
Newbie
Eh, all this career talk. I’m smack in the middle of a stage where I’m debating switching it up. Or at least need a new business plan. Shop owner, one man show, mechanical and body, sell used cars, etc. it used to be enjoyable. I’d chase the high of getting that great deal on a car or a high paying job coming in. But absolutely everything in this business has changed dramatically in the past 20 years I’ve been doing it. And all for the bad. Everyone has their hand in your pocket, no good help, profits are smaller and smaller, more regulations etc. I’m at that point like Barry said, I kinda hate it. But I’m stuck at the moment. But I agree with Barry. There’s been a couple times where the shop was turned into a hobby and I went to work doing something else. The minute I hit that point of dreading going to work and being miserable due to toxic environments I didnt last much longer. I need to free my brain a bit and get the weight of the shoulders. I may go mow grass lol.
RosharonRooster
Promoted Users
I enjoy mowing grass. It's one of my favorite things to do
Dutchman
Member
It's hard to find that dream job, life keeps changing. I went to auto tech in high school then joined the Navy. I was in aviation and stayed till they said it was time to go. Many memories and great times, rich no, but pension yes. I'm on my second career being a SPI jobber. I get to sell a great product, talk to shops and techs about classic cars, motorcycles and hotrods throughout the week. Don't be a jobber if rejection hurts. Best part is when you introduce a product, and the painter finally gets the result, and their face shows the satisfaction.
I'm like AAE now, my boss is demanding, critical, setting extremely high standards and expectations.
I'm like AAE now, my boss is demanding, critical, setting extremely high standards and expectations.
Whitesnake
Newbie
Me as well! It’s my “me” time. And fairly brainless. People will even pay me to do it! Lol
Whitesnake
Newbie
I actually thought about getting a mixing bank and selling paint and supplies. My area could really use something different. It’s dominated by ppg and the prices are outrageous. I actually love talking about the industry, giving people tips, etc just getting a little burnt out doing it to pay the bills. Esp when I’m the owner, it’s up to me to keep the $ coming in and stay ahead. No punching a clock here. Even when I’m laying in bed at night I’m thinking about what needs to be done, etc. I’d like to do it as a hobby again and move in a somewhat different direction.
This guy is one of my favorite examples.
He retired from the Navy and started selling spi from a van up north for years.
One day said he was going to sell his business and move by daughter to a southern state, and he did.
Maybe he was retired for about a year and called to see if he could start a business
In his new area.
Of course, he and his wife do an excellent job for SPI, and I wish I had a 100 more like them.
Confidential info I should not reveal, but his wife runs the show.
Dean Jenkins
Promoted Users
Well, I confess, Barry's post piqued my interest. And we talked for a hour.
Bottom line: It's not a "side hustle."
You have to be all in.
Van is the last item on the checklist.
I was in Information Technology with the Federal Govt. I highly recommend it as a career. I was fortunate enough to move from my first love (automotive work) to IT at a young age. It was tough and I had to commute 60 miles one way for 30+ years but I loved it because there are so many challenges and a sense of accomplishment solving problems. After 32 years, I'd had enough and I retired as soon as I qualified. I immediately moved into my new career doing classic car Restoration in July 2015. I had planned for it and setup my shop prior to retirement. I've been busy ever since and have about 10 projects waiting for me. I'm a one man shop. I have worked so hard for so little money doing restoration, but I love it when all the hard work is appreciated by a happy customer. After doing IT work, I still recommend going that route for a career if you're interested in it because it offers very similar challenges that provide satisfaction when you succeed and it's a lot safer and easier physically.
Vanillagorilla
Professional amatuer
Do what you like. If you enjoy bodywork, stay where you are a few years and gain experience, then once you have the experience, get a job at a better shop with better pay. Learn all you can and the pay will come later. I always enjoyed working with cars until I got a job doing it everyday. It wasnt fun anymore and the environment was demanding and stressful. I currently work for the state. Been here 5 years and 8 months ago got into the equipment shop for the transportation department. I no longer work with the public, and have a stress free environment and im learning new skills everyday. Have great health insurance and pension. When i started here 5 years ago i kinda had to start at the bottom with low pay but ive now moved up with good pay and room for growth. I could probably make more money somewhere else but the great work schedule and no stress, far outweighs the pay. And now I enjoy tinkering on cars as a hobby/side hustle.
I started this as a hobby and have now been working in High end restoration shops for 4 years im at a point now where im managing a restoration body shop and doing all the work from bare metal up to final cut and polish. you can make good and great money doing this depending on your skill level and quality of your work. but things ive noticed dosent matter where you go they will always complain about how much materials cost and its never fast enough. so take that with a grain of salt. and you wont have any benefits. alot of guys tell you what you want to hear to get you to come work there have seen it at every shop ive worked at. this trade is very rough on your body im almost 30 and feel like im 50 lol manual sanding all day gets hard on your hands. looking at exit plans to have a "normal" job that has good benifits and pay and build hot rods as a "hobby" and on the side where i can get the quality i want with no one complaining. just my outlook on it.
'68 Coronet R/T
Oldtimer
Does that include materials?