How much for a decent paint job?

[SteveH]

So if I get a cheapie paint job now, will it cause me a lot of headaches if I want to do it right several years down the road?

Poor prep (lack of sanding, or lack of primer) and low quality paint (especially spray bombs) will cause headaches later, unless you take the paint all the way down to the metal and remove all the cheapie paint. You can spot-paint a small area, but don't hose down the whole truck with a spray bomb or spray primer.

 

[MANUCHAO]

@mochosla i got a perfect condition hood you can have... just need to pick it up, but is champagne color....

I thought of painting my rig, specially when we sit in the garage, and shoot the chit, but i love them bush (pin) stripes so much..........

At those prices (painting) line-x sound cheap and is a much better option....

 

[CenTXFJ60]

I won't bore you with the details but I can tell you from experience that a high quality paint job will cost some serious coin. I did my own job and will do it again on my next build. I actually enjoy this type of stuff and did a few single stage jobs in high school (decades ago). Not for everyone and could never begin to add the hours I put into this. Cut the hours in half and pay a professional and I'm sure it would be well north of $10k. I had close to $2k in materials alone. After doing this job I can tell you the suggestions provided around prep are absolutely critical. My suggestion (from this experience) is a good gun will save you time and paint I did the tub with a cheapo ($35) gun and it took 5 coats of color to cover the primer. then had to start wet sanding with 800 grit (horrid orange peel). Switched to a commercial grade gun and the rest of the panels were covered with 2 coats and much easier time wet sanding. Very happy with my $2k paint job and know the next one will come out better as I learned a lot during this process.

 

[upperblack]

I won't bore you with the details but I can tell you from experience that a high quality paint job will cost some serious coin. I did my own job and will do it again on my next build. I actually enjoy this type of stuff and did a few single stage jobs in high school (decades ago). Not for everyone and could never begin to add the hours I put into this. Cut the hours in half and pay a professional and I'm sure it would be well north of $10k. I had close to $2k in materials alone. After doing this job I can tell you the suggestions provided around prep are absolutely critical. My suggestion (from this experience) is a good gun will save you time and paint I did the tub with a cheapo ($35) gun and it took 5 coats of color to cover the primer. then had to start wet sanding with 800 grit (horrid orange peel). Switched to a commercial grade gun and the rest of the panels were covered with 2 coats and much easier time wet sanding. Very happy with my $2k paint job and know the next one will come out better as I learned a lot during this process. View attachment 1542244 View attachment 1542240 View attachment 1542241 View attachment 1542242 View attachment 1542243

That's looks great!!
How long was the process?

 

[CenTXFJ60]

That's looks great!!
How long was the process?

Thank you. The timing is a tough one to answer. This one took a few years due to work/family etc. if I was to focus 100% of my "hobby time" I would estimate it could have been done in 6 months or less. Also, it's a non metallic color which is why I could paint in sections.

 

[NMfjCruiser]

Buy a good hood, any color. Learn to paint by painting it.
Paint the rest as needed. It's not common here but the Britts paint cars in stages all the time.
I've seen a number of DIY jobs done outside that were very good. I've painted outside, you just have to be patient with the weather.

 

[CruiserHappy]

Going to be doing my own in my garage in the next couple months here. I went with the Harbor Freight HVLP gun with the included regulator on the gun ($29 on sale plus you can get the additional 20% so all in about $25). I will be test spraying it here in the near future on some replacement doors to see that I like the color I found, a Sherwin William Farm Implement paint. Supposed to be a much heavier duty enamel paint that is used for standard colors (no metallic). For the standard color (is closest I could find to the Rustoleum Deep Slate color) a gallon will run me about $65, and paint place said that I could spray just that or I could add a hardner/activater if I wanted to help speed up the process and be able to sand between coats.

I would be careful using a cheap harbor freight gun, I haven't had luck with those. I have a HVLP gun from Eastwood I would let you borrow if you were closer.

 

[gregnash]

I would be careful using a cheap harbor freight gun, I haven't had luck with those. I have a HVLP gun from Eastwood I would let you borrow if you were closer.

Yeah that is why I am planning to spray the primer with it first. Hopefully that will give me a better idea of what the gun is capable of. Ultimately, I am taking my time with this so that I can get a "DECENT" paint job on it. I am not going for anything close to what Jimmy did as I do not have the space or time.

Found this video to be awesome and as was stated, you really can do the job outside if you take your time and weather cooperates.

 

[cruiser enthuiser]

I won't bore you with the details but I can tell you from experience that a high quality paint job will cost some serious coin. I did my own job and will do it again on my next build. I actually enjoy this type of stuff and did a few single stage jobs in high school (decades ago). Not for everyone and could never begin to add the hours I put into this. Cut the hours in half and pay a professional and I'm sure it would be well north of $10k. I had close to $2k in materials alone. After doing this job I can tell you the suggestions provided around prep are absolutely critical. My suggestion (from this experience) is a good gun will save you time and paint I did the tub with a cheapo ($35) gun and it took 5 coats of color to cover the primer. then had to start wet sanding with 800 grit (horrid orange peel). Switched to a commercial grade gun and the rest of the panels were covered with 2 coats and much easier time wet sanding. Very happy with my $2k paint job and know the next one will come out better as I learned a lot during this process. View attachment 1542244 View attachment 1542240 View attachment 1542241 View attachment 1542242 View attachment 1542243

Looks awesome! Something so sexy about freshly painted cruiser sheet metal.

Cheers!
-Ed