prep is 90% of a good paint job if you prep it yourself and just need a guy to shoot the paint, I would check out the guy who would be shooting it. see what he quality he produces. maybe even slip him some extra cash to spend a little extra time on it ....just a thought

Amazing how these threads from years past keep showing up. LOL

Aaron

I was thinking the same thing. Not much new going on here I see.

There is a lot of expert advice here....

I just gotta say something about this ,ether or question.First of all NEITHER is a good answer.That said why cant you just bring an econo paint shop your own paint?I've run two of these type shops and never had a problem painting someones car with their own paint.Since your concidering an el cheapo paint shop I must assume cost is a factor.So I recomend nason single stage for solid colors @ 100.00 a gal. and nason ful-base @100.00 a gal for metalics with SPI clear 100.00 a gal. They have the booth and the experiance,the painters are very good ,they paint around ten cars a day and nobody can paint that much and not be good.their weekness is prep (sanding and masking),because of the volume they have to produce.OK, so go in and introduce yourself to the help and show them your car and when it comes around they may give it special attention especialy if you give them a tip ,say 20.00 ea.then you can get a pretty good paint job for under 500.00 that will last six yrs,EZ This is what I do for my trade ins that arnt worth that much,I cant paint them myself nor do I want to for that kind of money

You are a brave soul to speak such heresy, you may be banned for life to have offered up such an intelligent option.

I painted and prepared my own hot rod, made a booth in a garage and all that ...


My conclusion for the next build ............. do all but the paint, I agree a guy that squirts on paint for a living, Maco types will be good enough for most hotrodders .

They will lay it on thick and then find a pro that can read the paint and buff it, you will be a thousand times happier . They can do wonders with paint, there is a level of repair that can be accomplished that would surprise some folks .

OK,but I still left one thing out.If you prep your own car,can you do it properly? It takes many cars to get the hang of it,just knowing what grit sandpaper is not enough,the sanders are top notch too but they only have twenty minutes to sand a car.do this ,when you go in have your tel # already wrote down(so the boss dont see you )give the most experianced sander the number and tell him you want him to prep your car at your house,I garuntee he'll be there for that extra cash,those econo shops treat the help like crap,there all the same(make us rich & screw you till you die)so make their greed work FOR you and remember this they'll do anything to get your car in the shop,they go to classes to work on their poker face.Pull your cash out like your going to pay then put it back in your pocket watch how they are willing to deal they want your car TODAY!!!!I should be paid or hung for telling these secrets but greed is greed they deserve what they get.dont pay more than 300.00.,100.sanding25.00 to masker 50.00 to the painter 125.00 to maaco for their cheepest job then whatever you pay for your paint.If you want good advice on that ,I'll tell you a few secrets on buying paint that the paint shops will put a hit out on me if they find out I told you but like I said I hate greedy SOBS and they deserve what they get

I did this several years ago with a couple of different cars, first was a 70 GS Stage 1, the second was a 72 Nova SS, I bought my paint, did the prep my self and paid Maaco to shoot them for me. They were done last thing on Friday and left in the booth overnight. Had excellent results on both.

Well there you go guys.See it does pay to be a nice guy and treat people right,thats all anybody wants anyways,RESPECT

Maybe he couldn't afford a respirator...

I'd never go to Maaco. Like these guys said about booths being rented, or maybe you know someone could let you use theirs. Schools may have a spray booth too. If not make your own with the super elastic bubble plastic for added fun. I'll be looking for the visqueen soon enough. By the time I'm ready to paint it ought to be about 90+ in the garage. Can't wait.


Wasn't there a song called 'diggin up posts'

personaly I wanted to do my own paint.I did my first job on a tr-7 when I was 16 .some people are just like me ,they have to do it themselves.EVERYTHING.So seeing this quality in others,I will rent my booth and my knowalage to the right people,its very affordable,its worth the extra effort on my part to help others along,I remember when I started out and the help I got so I have to believe theres other shop owners out there that feel the same way,mabee theres one in your neighborhood,but theres a lot of problems in a makeshift booth including neighbors and EPA and fumes getting in the house,be careful and concider the kids and neighbors.....dates are unimportant , the information contained inside an old resurected post is what its all about,deez. good luck with the paint job,if you need anything just ask..... Mike O.

I hear about people renting paint booths. I have tried to find something and have had no luck.

Does anyone know of a paint booth that can be renting in San Diego, CA?

You should try one of the smaller shops or one with a few hot rods but small, if no luck in the big city you can always rent a storage shed seal it up with roofing felt (tar paper),my preferance or plastic sheathing ,tar paper can be painted white and staples easily and duct tapes nicely

Deadbodyman, is Don's (Inman?) tattoo parlor (1981) still in Augusta. Last I was down there at Ft Gordo 81ish I remember it used to get soo friggin hot we didn't have to do schitt. I'd roll down to your place but you'd have to drink all the beer. LOL