My buddy wants a "20 foot paint job"

Dean Jenkins

Dean Jenkins

Promoted Users
Maybe this is more of a "Dear Abby" post than a paint forum topic, but I'll bet some of you have come up against similar things.

My buddy and his cousin are doing a budget restoration of a late 60's Beetle.
They have it "ready for paint." (I'm a little skeptical of that)
I've been showing him what I've been learning and doing in my shop . . .

He said, "wow, that is awesome, maybe you could paint the bug for us . . ."

I said, "it will be at least $1500 in materials and if I'm going to do it, we are going to do it really well, a really nice paint job."

He said, "we just want it all one color and to look good at 20 feet."

I said, "Maaco will do that for you, cheaper than we can buy the materials for. You should check that out."

He was pretty disappointed, think he really wanted me to do it for him.

I'm happy to spend the time and effort for a friend, and will gladly put in the time/effort to do it "right," but he doesn't want to spend the money, and:

A) It really will cost more in materials for me (Us) to do it. I refuse to use crappy materials . . . and even with crappy materials, Maaco will do it for about $600, I don't think we can buy even the most low end stuff for that.

B) I have no interest in doing a "20 foot paint job." I will have to look at it for years to come and he will say "Dean painted it for me . . ." Maybe pride, but no "20 foot paint job" will ever leave my shop. Just not how I roll, or why I do this.

What do you think? Had similar dilemmas? What did you do?
 
MAACO all the way. Been my experience that you'll work WAY too hard and you will possibly lose a friend over it. And not make any money for your troubles. Folks that say I only want some paint on it and want it done cheap, nearly always really expect something close to near perfection. May sound crazy but when I was younger and had my first go at working for myself this happened to me several times. I'm too stupid and want to believe in others for it to only happen once to me.:oops: They pointed out every imperfection and ran me down to others. Some of them were my "friends". All because I did what they wanted me to do. Never again. When their crappy bodywork starts to let go and blister the paint you will be blamed. Your buddy may be different, but how do you know? You have a Career and are succesfull, the last thing you need to do is start doing econo paint jobs on the side. Trust me on that.
 
Last edited:
I have had this dilemma more times than I can count. It usually starts with "I can help" and "Ill buy beer and we can knock it out"

I tend to just ignore them and then I say ok, you're at 2500 just for the materials alone, they tend to look elsewhere.

Last job I did for a friend was like 5 years ago. I epoxy primed a car black, not paint, PRIMER!!. I did it after the guy got hosed by some other dirtbag and you know what, he complained that the panels didnt match! ITS FUCKIN PRIMER!!!! It was bare metal, I helped you!
 
I've even had guys get upset when I wouldn't let them use my shop(my garage) to do their projects...."Man I'm not asking you to do it, just let me borrow the shop for a bit".......ya fuck off...

This thread is going to turn into a therapy session for some!!
 
Also, I don't want anyone to think I am above helping friends out. I have bent over backwards for people over the years and I just got tired of being burned and unappreciated that the whole idea of doing work for some people is just unattractive to me.
 
orangejuiced86 said:
Also, I don't want anyone to think I am above helping friends out. I have bent over backwards for people over the years and I just got tired of being burned and unappreciated that the whole idea of doing work for some people is just unattractive to me.
Click to expand...
Pretty sure nobody on the planet thinks you're acting like you don't want to help friends out. Seems to be it's the other way around and some of these folks want to take advantage of you. I have plenty of friends and we do stuff for each other, but it's always very much appreciated and NEVER expected. Also, not one of them would expect to come in and use my shop/garage space and vise-versa!
 
Mr Jenkins here is what you do. Tell them sure, you will help them...bring the car at 7am Saturday and tell them be ready to work. 10hrs. They are buying lunch. And beer after the work is done. We gonna do that for the next 6 Saturdays. Oh and wear old clothes and be ready to work. ..2 more Saturdays after it's done...to cut and buff...more beer. When it's done ask em what they think about painting cars...
 
RosharonRooster said:
Mr Jenkins here is what you do. Tell them sure, you will help them...bring the car at 7am Saturday and tell them be ready to work. 10hrs. They are buying lunch. And beer after the work is done. We gonna do that for the next 6 Saturdays. Oh and wear old clothes and be ready to work. ..2 more Saturdays after it's done...to cut and buff...more beer. When it's done ask em what they think about painting cars...
Click to expand...
I was thinking on the same lines, except he gets a week (it is supposed to be ready to paint) I coach him, set up the gun, give him a test panel to practice on, then he shoots it himself. Win - win, I helped, his name is on it.
 
I tell anyone wanting a cheap paint job that I can do it for $150.00.
I can buy a gallon of pre-packaged colors of Kirker urethane with activator for less then that
and paint the whole car, pull it in and I'll spray everything, windows, tires, everything.
I'll even roll up the windows for free beforehand.
It cost more if I wash it first, more if I sand it, more if any bodywork,
and more if I mask it first, everything else costs more and adds to the cost.
But for $150.00 I'll paint it all!!!!
 
jcclark said:
I tell anyone wanting a cheap paint job that I can do it for $150.00.
I can buy a gallon of pre-packaged colors of Kirker urethane with activator for less then that
and paint the whole car, pull it in and I'll spray everything, windows, tires, everything.
I'll even roll up the windows for free beforehand.
It cost more if I wash it first, more if I sand it, more if any bodywork,
and more if I mask it first, everything else costs more and adds to the cost.
But for $150.00 I'll paint it all!!!!
Click to expand...
Ha, ha. In today's society you might find yourself starting a fad and being swamped with work.
 
It's funny the more I see this thread the more irritated I get. If your buddy wont consider maaco after he preps the car then he really doesnt want a "20 footer" He's just trying to make you feel comfortable enough to take on the job and see it through.

Anyone that is that far into the project and has priced out materials knows the cost or at least has a good idea.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top