Got a re-painting and re-chroming quote

[jnapp18]

So i just got a quote to re-paint and re-chrome my WE-6 wet cooler. He is also going to have the stainless steel cleaned up and polished. He quoted $500 dollars and i feel like it is a fair price. What do you all think?

[Vendo_110]

Hell Yes!! I would jump all over that.  My V56 is costing $250 just for the chrome!  I vote you do it.. 

[Kilroy]

I'm paying 600 for a Seeburg G chrome alone  I'm not getting a warm fuzzy for 500 for paint, chrome, and oh i'll polish
If  it's  on the up and  up  I'd jump all over it.   
Get it a detailed list of what's being done,. I can get a can of Krylon Chrome  spray paint at the local Ace Hardware for 6.99 - trust me it doesn't look like it came from a plater's

[loman4ec]

I would be weary of a quote that low. When I break down my cost for materials for painting a machine in PPG DBC I figure the cost for base coat, clear coat, hardener, etching/filler primer, sanding primer, thinner, reducer and other supplies is over $400 and that is at my dealer cost. So that means they must be cutting costs somewhere. Yes buying in quantity is much cheaper and this price is a small quantity calculation but still. So they must be using cheap paint and doing little to no prep. Also your chest has a lot of lettering to be done. My sign painter would charge at least $250 to hand letter all four sides of your WE-6 and that would be cheap.

You may have found a great deal and found someone that just doesn't figure how much work will go into your cooler but I would be very weary for that price. If someone were to come to me and ask for a price to paint your machine and do it right I would charge no less than $2,000 and that would be on the cheap side. Your machine has a lot of embossing and hand painting all of that embossing is not cheap and is not easy. Also is there any chrome on your WE-6? I didn't think there was any chrome on the WE-6 just the stainless opener trim?

I am curious to hear what everyone else's view on this is.

[memorylane]

At that price thats what you will get, a $500 job. Stay clear. $1200 to $1500 on paint and body work, $250 on hand lettering and thats when you take the machine apart. Add $175.00 if you sandblast. I know someone who paints for $500 to $600 but I don't use him!

[jnapp18]

Yeah. I met with the guy today and he seemed honest.. we'll see tho. And also i talked to the guy at Antique Vending a week or soo back and he said the handles were chrome and the metal top piece was chrome.... Pics below..

[jnapp18]

He has shown me quite a bit of his work and it all looks great! I don't think this will be a half-a$$ job.

[loman4ec]

Thats great! The parts you posted pics are from a 6 case master not a WE-6. Is he hand lettering it for that amount or just painting the red? The hand lettering is the most expensive and the time that goes into prep Is one of the hardest things. Is he sand blasting it. With as much embossing that is on your machine it will need to be blasted. I just cant imagine how he could possibly do a good job for that price. Materials alone would cost more than what you are paying. Will tis machine go inside or out?

[Pat Pixley]

 Well remember what they say you get what you pay for

   I am getting a quote ready to restore a tricycle from the 1950's  the handle bars and the bar around
 the front fender to have these chromed is costing $250 and this is for a tricycle . the paint is going to
cost $ 350 and that is for a lot of red and a little white .

    Just watch for runs , drips and waves ok.

   And good luck

[jnapp18]

We are still talking about the lettering because he has a worker that does pin striping but i told him it has to be near perfect if not perfect so if he thinks it will be a challenge i told him i will find somebody else... One question.. he said if they don't do the lettering he will paint the whole thing red then clear coat.. is it okay to hand paint the lettering after clear coating.. Probably a stupid question.. im 17 haha.. actually one more question.. what is this embossing tape ive heard about that you put over the embossed letters. then sand.. then paint.. how does it come out using this method???

[Creighton]

$500 is a great price. Handles/hinges and bezal are chrome. Lid is stainless steel. The 4 sides, top and undersides of the lids all have embossing. Will be pricey for someone to handpaint all of that. Problem is, at the end of the day WE-6's are only worth $300 tops.
Thats why I have just left mine as is. Would like to see pictures if yours does get a full restore.
Thanks!
Creighton
 

[jnapp18]

300 restored???.. mybe 300 unrestored.. i paid 200$

[MoonDawg]

        Creighton is right on. Westinghouse chests are VERY common, non coin operated, time consuming to restore($$$) and take up too much floor space to be desireable for home units.
        Even if you get this cheap restoration done, you will still be $700 into it. No way for you to come out of it ahead, at least not in this decade. You can take the advice from the guys in this post or you can learn the hard way like the people trying to sell these restored machines on e-bay or Craigslist. It's an expensive learning experience. 
        On the same subject, your 39 and 81 are nice original machines. They will maintain a much better value left as is, or with a high quality paint job, but will be worth less with a cheap restoration.

[Vendo_110]

I understand why some of the people are telling you to be wary but I still say if the guy can show you current work, or pics of previous work, and you like it then go for it.

Just like you may not get the money you are putting into it because times are tough and the market is down, people need work and business in general is down.  Your painter may be feeling the economic pinch and may be giving you a legit good deal.

Either way, let us see some after pics!  Good luck on it! 

[Kilroy]

Well said !

Not everyone is in out to buy  a machine to flip. If you like it, want it resdone, and cqan afford it,  then do it. In the grand scheme of life, it's your call.
Check his work, I'd hate for you to be taken. 

[jnapp18]

Exactly.. I'm not looking to flip it at a all. just a nice piece i can have with me forever!

[Eric]

On my NK cooler I traced the letters, scanned the tracings then had vinyl letters cut out... shot the cooler a off white first, put the vinyl
masking letters on, shot the whole thing red, then peeled the vinyl off and was left with SWEET, PERFECT white lettering , the only way to do it!

[SIGNGUY]

I think Rod at Funtronics sells the precut vinyl for that cooler, paint on the white first, after dry /cure put on the decal, paint red, after dry, pull the decal off then clear to get rid of the lip that is left behind.
I've seen Rods results , looks awesome.