Price of a good paint job??

[SIGNGUY]

Hey all,
I know most or alot of you guys do paint yourself, I'd love to learn, but not sure I could afford the equipment and or time to do it and know how to do it right. I've had 2 machines painted "professionally" by guys who do pop machines for a living. They are beatiful paint jobs, clear coats , lettering etc. But I am just curious as to if I'm paying too much or if I'm at the current rate. I would just be curious as to what you guys charge or would think to pay to have a machine done. I dissasemble them, so they start with an empty cabinet, so looking for bead blast, maybe some minor body work, dings, etc fixed, Two Tone paint (coke red/white) hand painted embossing, lettering on sides and clearcoat. What is this going for these days?  Machines I'm reffering to are Vendo 81 or 56. Thanks, Signguy

[BrianB]

For bead blasting, bodywork base/clear paint job with multiple coats for an two-tone 56 or 81 I would expect to spend at least $1000.

Bead blasting and body work is very labor intensive and takes a fair amount of time for the job to get done right. Most of the folks here that don't do the painting themselves strip all painted items themselves and do all of the bodywork and submit either a bare cabinet or a primered cabinet to the painter for final work.

I did this with my Cavalier 55D and spent $400. keep in mind that a C-55D is much smaller than a 56 or an 81 so right there I saved money.

[SIGNGUY]

thanks Brian, I guess I got a deal last time I did this then, but of course that was 5-6 years ago, and I think i had the whole machine, stripped, bodywork done, primed, painted, clearcoated with grahics and letters painted for 750.00.  I'll have to recheck with that person who did mine to see if his price went up... hope he doesn't read this?!!! ha

[MoonDawg]

Quote (SIGNGUY @ April 12 2006,10:54)

of course that was 5-6 years ago

How many times since then has your state increased the minimum wage?  Government should back off, and rely on good old supply and demand for the labor force.  Painting is not that expensive, but wish I could take my machine components south of the border for the body work.

[Pat Pixley]

The Guy's at Vision Collision did my Vernors Machine
 the paint & body work for $300 and two large pizza's
 and a 12 pack of coke I did the bead blasting.
 They will be doing the next machine.
 Pat  '>

[BrianB]

Pat -

You can't beat that!! I love shops that will show a "little love" when you hook em' up with some cool drinks and some food.

Glen -

When I lived in San Diego, Tijuana was the place that a lot of people went to get bodywork and upholstery done. Super-cheap and they did a very nice job.

[SIGNGUY]

So basically after I ship the machine to Mexico and back for body/paint work, through in some pizzas and taco's.... I guess I could buy one restored!!! ha
We'll see,,,,, maybe I'll get brave and try to teach myself to paint?

[MoonDawg]

Quote (BrianB @ April 13 2006,4:33)

When I lived in San Diego, Tijuana was the place that a lot of people went to get bodywork and upholstery done. Super-cheap and they did a very nice job.

Got me thinking now.  I have 2 v-81 cabinets  that seem to take forever for me to do and TJ is less than 4 hours from here so the drive is no problem.
       Now, I know of cars that drive down, get painted or upholstered and return to the U.S.  But what about two old Coke machines?   What will customs allow?  Is using  services across the border allowed?
       It may just be easier to bring their bodyman to my shop  '>

[Lulu]

I'm going to venture into something new this summer.  Our junior college if offering an "Refinishing Fundamentals" course through their automotive collision repair department.  This is geared towards the "hobbist".  You bring your projects in and they work you through the techniques.  I am going to strip several machines down and get as many painted as I can during the course.

[sodaworks]

Glen,
 TJ's probably a ghost town, I think that thier all here in Ca. already. '>