Paint Question

[Baby John]

Anyone know anything about paint? I'm planning on buying my paint and taking it to my body shop with me. Keeps me from having such a large expense at one time. I figure we can save up a few hundred bucks and buy the paint, and then save up a few hundred more and drop it off for paint on the cab. Then assemble the interior, then save up a few hundred more and take the bed and other body parts...

Just don't know what to ask for when I go to the paint store.

We're painting a Stepside GMC, and we'll be going with two tone black and red. I want base coat clear coat. Truck's already been primed and sanded and is basically ready for paint.

How much should I get?

Are there any special types of paint I should ask for?

Specific shades of black?

Hardener?

All I know is I want it really shiny and I'm thinking the base coat clear coat process would be the shiniest, and might also be easier to buff out scratches and blemishes.

[cdowns]

these are pretty much what you should ask the body shop// IF THEY WOULD WORK ON YOUR TRUCK under those conditions

[piecesparts]

Things to think about. If you buy the paint, you may be paying over the counter price for it. The paint shop does not pay that. Many shops have their own paint mixing capabilities and do not buy at the local parts supplier. They can save you money in this area. You should spend time with them and get a relationship going.

There are many different suppliers of paint. Along with the different brands are the problems of applying each type of paint. The body shop has a brand that they use, because they know how it is layed on and what they have to deal with to get it on right. This is another reason for using them to pick their paint. Paint is also reactive to what type or color of sealer or primer that you use. Check to see what is recommended and what tint effect you will want---This applies to your red color more than the black.

There are different shades of black---believe it or not, some have metallic in it and others do not. do you want a pure black, then look at paint mixes for what you want. Red is worse on shades and keep in mind red is a hard color to keep from fading as it is used in the sun. I like the looks of a red vehicle, but would NOT paint one red if I was going to own it for a long time. It is hard to match if you get damaged later.

In my mind the basecoat/clearcoat way is the best and even a novice painter can make it look right. Most of those paints are used with hardner, so look for that to be part of the cost.

Below is an example of what I put on my truck. It is a basecoat.clearcoat black with House of Color flames laid on top of it. The shine is in the finish work when you are done.

[Mr_Mac]

Frank is spot on in his advice that the very best thing you can do is to develop a good relationship with your painter! I got to know the guy who painted my ’66 Mustang by first calling him up and asking if he had time right after work to discuss painting options. I also offered to bring along a six pack of his favorite brew (in this case it happened to be Mt. Dew as he was still recovering) to help ease the though of staying late at work.

We met in his shop and started to discuss different paint options, what he liked best, what he did best and what he hated to do. We talked about me doing the prep work versus him and he told me he never felt good about offering any kind of lengthy warranty if it wasn’t him. Sure, that meant more money from me to him, but when the paint started to bubble due to a bad feather fill job he fixed it without any questions.

Simple fact is friends usually do a better job for friends than they do for strangers. Get to know your guy and find out what he can do for you better than you can do for yourself. You won’t be sorry.

Mac

[hugger6933]

I have a body shop and have had it since 1987. I would say you MUST talk to your guys just to see what up. I would not paint a truck with stuff bought without my input. Find out what paint systems he[or she] ueses and see if it is ok to buy that before the job starts. I get as do all body shops a graet price break on paint and other materials. You might not be saving as much as you think. For instace you may not need but a little of something [hardner or activator, etc,] and you will have to buy more than is needed. Where as the shop would already have that on hand and just use it. BUT I am sure that there are shops that if you need a small amount of something your gonna pay for it anyway and the rest goes to to the good of the shop. Just talk with them is all. Jim

[Baby John]

Good advice fellas.

Where I'm sitting now: The body and bed, and hood and fenders were all removed and taken to a local body shop for repair and priming. All that's done and I've set the cab back on the frame. I need to buy some body mounts and get the cab mounted to the frame and then I was planning on having just the cab painted solid black, inside and out so that I could install the interior stuff and the glass. Then I was going to take the bed and other stuff for painting solid black. Then I was going to reassemble everything and take it one more time to have the red sprayed on with it fully assembled.