Painting a car? Anyone done it? - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Crazdez · 07-09-2003, 02:58 PM

Hey all,

My friend and I have a project car we've been working on, an 88' Nissan Micra. Yeah, its an old beater hatchback, but we bought it more for learning then anything else, since neither of us have any formal training in mechanics. We bought it for 100$ Cdn, so it wasnt any skin off our backs. When we got it, it was making terrible noises from the axle and cv joint, and had a terrible oil leak, but we've fixed all that with 30 bucks spent at the auto wrecker. So now the car is running fine, but of course it still looks like ass, it being an 88 Micra. So we're considering giving it an intense paintjob and selling to to the local high school crowd for more then we payed for it. My friend is a graphic designer, so we figure we could probably make it look pretty cool

But we're wondering... How much of an investment is it to paint a car?? The equipment is worth it, since we'd probably want to paint future cars, but how much does the paint, sandpaper, primers, degreasers etc cost? And how difficult is it?

Any input would be helpful, thanks

Dougie · 07-09-2003, 03:51 PM

for a pro job? LOTS. my uncles a painter...and trust me its LOOOOTS.

Ashton · 07-09-2003, 03:56 PM

It isn't easy, if you have a air compresser you can get a sprayer pretty cheap...... primer and paint is kinda expensive.
knowning how to do it is the trick, you can work your ass off and come out with a mess....

My advice would be to take it to one of those $199.95 paint shops and get it done there.... then you and your friend can air brush some nice graphic's over the base coat, shoot the whole car with clearcoat and have a nice paint job will a hell of a lot less work.

RMarquis · 07-09-2003, 07:55 PM

Hey man,

I've painted several cars, the cost is a bit much just to do one car. Here are a few things to look into, there are 2 types of paint jobs...single stage which is pretty much a really high gloss spray paint, then there is 2 stage where you lay a base coat and then a clear coat. The 2 stage is what will give you a factory finish. If you go single stage you can get away with a cheap gun, but on two stage you need to get a hvlp (high volume low pressure) to get a decent finish. On the compressor you need to get one that has a 5hp motor to keep up with the gun. I can go on forever on paint but if you are serious then i can give you more info. You are probably looking at almost a G to get you own paint job on that car...unless you are a good shopper. Paint cost can be anywhere from $100 to $400, depends on color, type, and brand.

badflsh · 07-09-2003, 10:07 PM

I think when I painted my car the materials cost me something like $600 or $700. That was with 2 step paint. The price will vary depending on who makes the paint you use and what color you choose. For example the price of my paint was double or triple if I went with another manufacturer. The difference was the more expensive paint had more touch up options for that color, so if you get in a wreck five years down the road and need to paint a new fender you have more choices so you can account for things like fading that have taken place with the rest of the car. The guys at the paint shop can probably give you a lot of good info but remember, it is all in the prep work. It is tempting to hurry the prep so you can get to the actual painting but if you do you will be sorry.

Crazdez · 07-09-2003, 10:08 PM

Awesome,

Thanks for the replies guys.. Its sounds like its too pricey to try on this beater, but I'll definately keep it in mind, as I'd like to try painting other projects in the future.

laxative · 07-10-2003, 01:12 AM

yep, avoid "john deer yellow". it's a fuckload brighter than you think.

Rippley · 07-10-2003, 03:32 AM

I've been trying for the last 15 minutes to find an article I read on how to do a "rattlecan"-paintjob on your car. Apparently all it takes is a clean car, som mediumgrit sandpaper, and some cans 'o' spraypaint. Cheap, easy way to do it, and it gets your car painted, if not pretty...

RMarquis · 07-10-2003, 12:52 PM

Bones, can you hook up any deals? I'm in need of a new airbrush and some custom color not sure if I'm going to use Createx AutoAir or House of Color, let me know.

"i still use my BINKS #7 gun. sure the overspray is terrible on them, but i guarantee i can get a nicer finish with that gun that a lot of guys with an hvlp."

you the man!!

merkerguitars · 07-10-2003, 09:52 PM

House of kolor is nice shit...only worth using on vehicle that is worth it.

I've painted bikes before and generally to do a big tank and two fenders it costs me around $80 to do it. I use urethane paint and epoxy primer with no clear coat. The paint is called ppg omni. My bike looks like it had a clear coat on it. This fall i'm gonna repaint my brothers car (it has the typical 80's gm paint peeling) The hardest part about painting is it's a lot of bitch work,ie...sanding...body filler.......straightening. For all my small dents or if I want a nice professional job I take it to a body shop. but if it's my motorcycle or a nice running..but bad paint job car I just do myself.

RMarquis · 07-11-2003, 07:06 AM

Bones have you talked to anyone that has used the AutoAir stuff,
can you put a urethane clear on it? I shot H of C for a few years doing helmets, loved it but i was wanting to use the AutoAir for my solid colors, then H of C for my flakes, pearls and candies.

tfin · 07-11-2003, 05:46 PM

Hey Bones, thanks for the words of wisdom. I am trying to get my lowrider ready for painting. You preaty much covered the bases.

shakran · 07-11-2003, 08:01 PM

say Bones, just a ROUGH estimate, how much do you think I'm looking at to have a body shop sand off 3 small spots of rust (one the size of a pencil eraser, two about 2" long by .5" wide - both surface rust, and you don't have to take anything off to get at them) and touch it up/buff it out? I wouldn't think it would cost too much, right?

RMarquis · 07-11-2003, 08:19 PM

I couldn't find a site on it...i didn't look to deep. I wonder how it would fade being a water-based paint. I guess it's like Createx but the AutoAir has some pearl and chameleon colors.

shakran- it's more work then you think, bones would probably give you a better idea on the cost. Depending on the color and how new the car is you might have to blend the panels so the repair color matches the rest of the car...then again bones will tell you more then i know.

Thx bones for your input.

shakran · 07-12-2003, 03:56 AM

yeah, it probably is. I could do it myself with touchup paint and a buffer, but home rust repair NEVER lasts so I'd rather get it done by a pro. I have a bad feeling now that it's gonna make a serious dent in the wallet

nate_dawg · 07-12-2003, 01:15 PM

bones
you use lacquer primer under urethanes?
you're kidding, right?

nate_dawg · 07-14-2003, 10:30 PM

I'm not saying you can't do it, but why would you?
wont hold up NEARLY as well as an epoxy or urethane primer
what's the point?

mazdarx · 07-15-2003, 05:10 PM

My car is already in primer, i was thinking about rattlecanning it, but i wasn't sure if doing that would create more work when or if i decide to get a real paintjob.

07-09-2003, 02:58 PM	#1 (permalink)
Crazdez Upright	Painting a car? Anyone done it? Hey all, My friend and I have a project car we've been working on, an 88' Nissan Micra. Yeah, its an old beater hatchback, but we bought it more for learning then anything else, since neither of us have any formal training in mechanics. We bought it for 100$ Cdn, so it wasnt any skin off our backs. When we got it, it was making terrible noises from the axle and cv joint, and had a terrible oil leak, but we've fixed all that with 30 bucks spent at the auto wrecker. So now the car is running fine, but of course it still looks like ass, it being an 88 Micra. So we're considering giving it an intense paintjob and selling to to the local high school crowd for more then we payed for it. My friend is a graphic designer, so we figure we could probably make it look pretty cool But we're wondering... How much of an investment is it to paint a car?? The equipment is worth it, since we'd probably want to paint future cars, but how much does the paint, sandpaper, primers, degreasers etc cost? And how difficult is it? Any input would be helpful, thanks

07-10-2003, 03:32 AM	#8 (permalink)
Rippley Insane	I've been trying for the last 15 minutes to find an article I read on how to do a "rattlecan"-paintjob on your car. Apparently all it takes is a clean car, som mediumgrit sandpaper, and some cans 'o' spraypaint. Cheap, easy way to do it, and it gets your car painted, if not pretty... __________________ roadrazer - 300kgs, 300hp = pure fun.

07-10-2003, 09:52 PM	#10 (permalink)
merkerguitars Buffering......... Location: Wisconsin...	House of kolor is nice shit...only worth using on vehicle that is worth it. I've painted bikes before and generally to do a big tank and two fenders it costs me around $80 to do it. I use urethane paint and epoxy primer with no clear coat. The paint is called ppg omni. My bike looks like it had a clear coat on it. This fall i'm gonna repaint my brothers car (it has the typical 80's gm paint peeling) The hardest part about painting is it's a lot of bitch work,ie...sanding...body filler.......straightening. For all my small dents or if I want a nice professional job I take it to a body shop. but if it's my motorcycle or a nice running..but bad paint job car I just do myself. __________________ Donate now! Ask me How! Please use the search function it is your friend. Look at my mustang please feel free to comment! http://www.tfproject.org/tfp/showthread.php?t=26985

07-11-2003, 07:06 AM	#11 (permalink)
RMarquis Upright	Bones have you talked to anyone that has used the AutoAir stuff, can you put a urethane clear on it? I shot H of C for a few years doing helmets, loved it but i was wanting to use the AutoAir for my solid colors, then H of C for my flakes, pearls and candies. Last edited by RMarquis; 07-11-2003 at 09:07 AM..

07-11-2003, 05:46 PM	#12 (permalink)
tfin Insane Location: At the Casino	Hey Bones, thanks for the words of wisdom. I am trying to get my lowrider ready for painting. You preaty much covered the bases. __________________ Did I mention that I can't spell or type? Oh yeah, check out my car www.cardomain.com/member_pages/view_page.pl?page_id=275916

07-09-2003, 03:51 PM	#2 (permalink)
Dougie Tilted	for a pro job? LOTS. my uncles a painter...and trust me its LOOOOTS.

07-09-2003, 03:56 PM	#3 (permalink)
Ashton PORNHOUND Location: California	It isn't easy, if you have a air compresser you can get a sprayer pretty cheap...... primer and paint is kinda expensive. knowning how to do it is the trick, you can work your ass off and come out with a mess.... My advice would be to take it to one of those $199.95 paint shops and get it done there.... then you and your friend can air brush some nice graphic's over the base coat, shoot the whole car with clearcoat and have a nice paint job will a hell of a lot less work.

07-09-2003, 07:55 PM	#4 (permalink)
RMarquis Upright	Hey man, I've painted several cars, the cost is a bit much just to do one car. Here are a few things to look into, there are 2 types of paint jobs...single stage which is pretty much a really high gloss spray paint, then there is 2 stage where you lay a base coat and then a clear coat. The 2 stage is what will give you a factory finish. If you go single stage you can get away with a cheap gun, but on two stage you need to get a hvlp (high volume low pressure) to get a decent finish. On the compressor you need to get one that has a 5hp motor to keep up with the gun. I can go on forever on paint but if you are serious then i can give you more info. You are probably looking at almost a G to get you own paint job on that car...unless you are a good shopper. Paint cost can be anywhere from $100 to $400, depends on color, type, and brand.

07-09-2003, 10:07 PM	#5 (permalink)
badflsh Tilted Location: Oregon	I think when I painted my car the materials cost me something like $600 or $700. That was with 2 step paint. The price will vary depending on who makes the paint you use and what color you choose. For example the price of my paint was double or triple if I went with another manufacturer. The difference was the more expensive paint had more touch up options for that color, so if you get in a wreck five years down the road and need to paint a new fender you have more choices so you can account for things like fading that have taken place with the rest of the car. The guys at the paint shop can probably give you a lot of good info but remember, it is all in the prep work. It is tempting to hurry the prep so you can get to the actual painting but if you do you will be sorry.

07-09-2003, 10:08 PM	#6 (permalink)
Crazdez Upright	Awesome, Thanks for the replies guys.. Its sounds like its too pricey to try on this beater, but I'll definately keep it in mind, as I'd like to try painting other projects in the future.

07-10-2003, 01:12 AM	#7 (permalink)
laxative Loser Location: the bathroom	yep, avoid "john deer yellow". it's a fuckload brighter than you think.

07-10-2003, 12:52 PM	#9 (permalink)
RMarquis Upright	Bones, can you hook up any deals? I'm in need of a new airbrush and some custom color not sure if I'm going to use Createx AutoAir or House of Color, let me know. "i still use my BINKS #7 gun. sure the overspray is terrible on them, but i guarantee i can get a nicer finish with that gun that a lot of guys with an hvlp." you the man!!

07-11-2003, 08:01 PM	#13 (permalink)
shakran Tone.	say Bones, just a ROUGH estimate, how much do you think I'm looking at to have a body shop sand off 3 small spots of rust (one the size of a pencil eraser, two about 2" long by .5" wide - both surface rust, and you don't have to take anything off to get at them) and touch it up/buff it out? I wouldn't think it would cost too much, right?

07-11-2003, 08:19 PM	#14 (permalink)
RMarquis Upright	I couldn't find a site on it...i didn't look to deep. I wonder how it would fade being a water-based paint. I guess it's like Createx but the AutoAir has some pearl and chameleon colors. shakran- it's more work then you think, bones would probably give you a better idea on the cost. Depending on the color and how new the car is you might have to blend the panels so the repair color matches the rest of the car...then again bones will tell you more then i know. Thx bones for your input.

07-12-2003, 03:56 AM	#15 (permalink)
shakran Tone.	yeah, it probably is. I could do it myself with touchup paint and a buffer, but home rust repair NEVER lasts so I'd rather get it done by a pro. I have a bad feeling now that it's gonna make a serious dent in the wallet

07-12-2003, 01:15 PM	#16 (permalink)
nate_dawg Crazy	bones you use lacquer primer under urethanes? you're kidding, right?

07-14-2003, 10:30 PM	#17 (permalink)
nate_dawg Crazy	I'm not saying you can't do it, but why would you? wont hold up NEARLY as well as an epoxy or urethane primer what's the point?

07-15-2003, 05:10 PM	#18 (permalink)
mazdarx Upright	My car is already in primer, i was thinking about rattlecanning it, but i wasn't sure if doing that would create more work when or if i decide to get a real paintjob.