My buddy wants a "20 foot paint job"

I'm also always amused at the guys who dont know how to paint always seem to know when something is "ready" for paint!
I AM that guy who doesn't have a clue. That is why I'm here consuming as much information as I can. I have found the best way to go through life is to assume I know way less than I do about a subject. That makes me look for answers to questions I didn't know I had.

Having said that, I agree that putting your name on work you are not proud of can only lead to disappointment and regret.

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Emil
 
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This is the best place I've found to learn!
I started here about a year ago and have learned a ton and am building up confidence and am starting to get some decent results.
I think the biggest surprise is how much time and work go into painting a vehicle.
I am 100+ hours into a repaint of my Suburban, about 3/4 done, and it was in good shape.
 
I AM that guy who doesn't have a clue. That is why I'm here consuming as much information as I can. I have found the best way to go through life is to assume I know way less than I do about a subject. That makes me look for answers to questions I didn't know I had.

Having said that, I agree that putting your name on work you are not proud of can only lead to disappointment and regret.

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Emil
I worked at bodyshops all through high school(mid 90's), painters helper/bodyman helper etc...Hell I worked at Maaco for 2 years prepping the cars for the $159 special! I kind of fell off from this stuff and when I ventured back into it back in 2008/09. I found SPI products in I think late 2010 and haven't looked back and out of all of the forums I have been on this is by far the best one. There is no BS on here, and a wide range of talented folks who can offer help on a most if not all of the products available even outside of SPI.
 
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!!!!

Just kidding of course,
I won't paint anything unless I can take my time and do it the way I want.
I don't do this for a living, I'm retired and do it for "fun" (if you can call it that)
It's a hobby and I enjoy it, so I'm very selective of what and who I do it for.
Unlike TV shows, I never ever have a deadline. I take my time.
 
JC, I’m right there with you. And it IS fun, though aggravation can creep in. Keep doing it right, even though cutting corners can seem appealing.
 
This is the best place I've found to learn!
I started here about a year ago and have learned a ton and am building up confidence and am starting to get some decent results.
I think the biggest surprise is how much time and work go into painting a vehicle.
I am 100+ hours into a repaint of my Suburban, about 3/4 done, and it was in good shape.
Now add up all your material expenses and then put a Labor Rate to that 100+ hours. That is when reality hits!
 
Fast forward 8 months. The solution was to let them do all the work and use my shop/tools and I offer whatever knowledge I've accumulated so far. And, of course, a strict timeline to be ready, get in and get out so as not to interrupt my own project too much.

And in the process I convinced them to use as much SPI product as possible. They are converts now and have a huge pile of SPI shipping peanuts to dispose of :p

And the cousin, Tim, is addicted to this forum now ;) I expect he will weigh in soon.

Really glad to find a way to make this work and to help some guys I care about. And we had fun today!

Here is Tim rocking the SPI epoxy:

Tim VW epoxy paint.jpg
 
So that's why you wouldn't rent me your air hood. Buddy over internet friend, now I understand.
 
Whenever I’ve been in this dilemma before, they have no idea what to use in the first place and I just tell them it’s best to let me tell them what to buy. I’ve painted so many parts for friends I’ve lost track. Late model hoods, bumpers, golf carts, horse trailer, even flew down to Tampa to paint my brother in law’s Corvette.

Right now I have a 28’ Argosy camper next to the shop that friend is prepping for paint and then it’s going to be a lot of epoxy I’m putting on there. I say that as I’m also doing a frame off on my grandpa’s farm truck for my uncle.

When I’ve done it this way I haven’t had any issues or protest and they’ve all been good experiences and nice jobs.

Any takers on how much epoxy a 28’ camper will end up consuming?
 
Tim shot everything in 2K High Build today. A little confusion on terminology when he placed the order. I think regular 2K would have been fine, but he got the High Build. No problem, just a little more sanding. And there was a lot of body work, so who knows, maybe this is better.

A little drama while shooting the 2K. I have a NEIKO 31216A 2.0mm for thick primer and polyester primer, Something went wrong and it just wasn't laying it down. Maybe it had some dried poly in it from my last shoot? So scrambled and switched to a DeVilbiss 1.8 Starting Line gun and while doing that, the mixed 2K turned to peanut butter.

Mixed another batch, reduced 10%, and shot it with the Starting line 1.8 and it went down nice.

And, Thursday I shot the wheel wells, inside the fenders, and the engine cover inside with Raptor. Came out nice.

ims Bug in 2K.jpg


Tim took it all home to get busy with blocking. Got my shop back!

We might have another round of 2K. Have to see.

After that, seal it with reduced epoxy and then base and clear. Hoping to get that done within the month of August.

Since it will be solid color we were thinking to go with Motocryl Single Stage from Chad. After thinking more, I am just more comfortable with the nuances of SPI Universal Clear, so we will go BC/CC with Wanda or Motobase and then SPI Universal clear. Tim shooting it all, of course, with me standing by offering more advice than is needed :rolleyes:
 
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