Thread: Paint a '30's car

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THIS IS NOT A COMPLAINT THREAD -- JUST A STATEMENT OF FRUSTRATION
I had no clue that there were so many separate pieces to paint on a full fendered '31 Model A roadster until it came time to prime this beast. There are by rough count, 26+ pieces that are in need of individual attention. Since very few are straight, flat or easy to hold, individual items need painting frames. This for a pro body shop might not present a problem, but in my 2 car garage, though it is a larger '70s vintage, it fills it up and leaves little room to maneuver. A partial listing of these indiviual parts:

Body - stripped
Hood - 4 pieces
Doors - 2
Door hinges - 4
Dash
Trunk lid
Fenders - 4
Splash shields - 2
Running boards - 2
'32 Grille shell
'32 Gas tank
Frame horn covers - 2
Body belt(holds back of cowl cover down)
Cowl cover
Steering column

Makes me almost wish for something simple - say a Mustang or Camaro.

These are some of my frames - glad I have a couple of woodworking tools:

Ooooh, you built some fancy paint racks. Much better than my 2 x 4 strung across two ladders. Nice job.

Don

Originally Posted by Itoldyouso

Ooooh, you built some fancy paint racks. Much better than my 2 x 4 strung across two ladders. Nice job.

Don

Don,
Thanks.
I just didn't want to show the strings or chains from the rafters for the gas tank and steering column, the nails in a board for my hinges, etc. I just needed to show off my "craftsmanship ".

What you did is what I did for my bucket years ago

Been there, done that, bought the T-shirt----

Originally Posted by DennyW

If it's a nice day, I can go outside in the single lane drive way. If not, I'm very limited to the already full single car garage.

I do hit the outside rear, by the deck though for small things. I use the horseys, and quick clamps, and very the height of the wood for holders.

You have some nice painting stands made there Dave.

Almost an obscene picture - but then if I didn't have a diviated mind....

What? You're not painting the fender welt to match?

Now you know why it costs a lot to paint these. I usually do three batches, so I don't have too much overspray landing on everything, and causing orange peel.

Originally Posted by Bob Parmenter

What? You're not painting the fender welt to match?

The jury is still out as to whether I'm using welt or not - even tho I have some. I'll still use the inner part for squeek reduction but not sure about the welt itself.

As far as painting these cars and the price, I still think the prices I got, $15K complete was too high and $6-8K just to shoot paint, cut and buff was ludicrous.

Denny---I painted all the stuff in my neighbours back yard garage paint-booth. The peice at the back of the garage that is painted yellow is not part of the wall, actually it is a loose peice of wall board leaning up against the wall. I didn't repaint the walls white, as my neighbour had 2 other cars to paint after I was finished painting mine. ---I did however buy him a 66 ounce bottle of Canadian Club rye as a "thank you".

Originally Posted by brianrupnow

Denny---I painted all the stuff in my neighbours back yard garage paint-booth. The peice at the back of the garage that is painted yellow is not part of the wall, actually it is a loose peice of wall board leaning up against the wall. I didn't repaint the walls white, as my neighbour had 2 other cars to paint after I was finished painting mine. ---I did however buy him a 66 ounce bottle of Canadian Club rye as a "thank you".

I'd have let you paint in my garage for only a liter of John Jameson or 6-6 packs of Guinness

Originally Posted by Irelands child

The jury is still out as to whether I'm using welt or not - even tho I have some. I'll still use the inner part for squeek reduction but not sure about the welt itself.

As far as painting these cars and the price, I still think the prices I got, $15K complete was too high and $6-8K just to shoot paint, cut and buff was ludicrous.

If the parts fit together well, and there aren't any nasty gaps, the welting would not be necessary, other than maybe the "squeek" issue.

As far as cost, there are always cheaper alternatives. It's just that those will always have compromises. It really comes down to what fits the budget?.... and how good of a job do you want?

No question Jay that any of us who are doing our own painting end up with a real appreciation of what you pro's do and why the costs are what we consider to be high. It is not only costly for the materials involved, but the hours and hours it takes to get things prepped and painted are extensive as well.

It is also very dirty work. Dust everywhere (including our lungs, I'm sure). There is also the matter of having the "eye" for it. When I prepped my Jeep truck for paint I felt I was done. My buddy who is a bodyman came over and said "you aren't going to stop there, are you?" We then spent another week priming, filling, and DA-ing the body to get it straight enough to paint, and I thought I was done.

Don

but I can get them to ask who painted that ? [/QUOTE]



Yep, me too, but usually it goes more like " eeeewwww, WHO the H*** painted THAT?"

Don

Originally Posted by Itoldyouso

No question Jay that any of us who are doing our own painting end up with a real appreciation of what you pro's do and why the costs are what we consider to be high. It is not only costly for the materials involved, but the hours and hours it takes to get things prepped and painted are extensive as well.

It is also very dirty work. Dust everywhere (including our lungs, I'm sure). There is also the matter of having the "eye" for it. When I prepped my Jeep truck for paint I felt I was done. My buddy who is a bodyman came over and said "you aren't going to stop there, are you?" We then spent another week priming, filling, and DA-ing the body to get it straight enough to paint, and I thought I was done.

Don

Don, Painting my own stuff is how I got started, since I didn't want to pay good money for a job I wasn't happy with.....and then my friends started encouraging my involvment by loaning or buying me equipment to do theirs, and offering to help! How could I say no?

You do have to be obsessive, anal retentive,....oh yeah!,....and masochistic, to do this for a living. But if you love beautiful customs, you consider yourself lucky to do something you love for a living! I gave up my own cars, because I get to do an endless string of great projects, that I could never afford to finance myself. :-)

For those who think we are getting rich, I would be curious to see how cheap they are willing to work. This $#!T takes serious hours, equipment, expensive materials, the willingness to work hard for a living, and once in a while you get to repaint one on your own nickle! I guarantee my work for as long as you own it, and as you guys know, things don't always go as planned, no matter how long you "practice". :-) I don't even want to talk about my retirement plan. It is to throw a couple bucks at the lottery every week. LOL!

On the other hand, I know how hard dollars are to earn, so I always respect the amount of money it takes to do it right. If the owner doesn't want to spend that much, that is his choice to make, and I certainly respect that.

Originally Posted by DennyW

I think I have one good paint job left in me.

I start each week saying that! :-)~

Truth is, I am losing my love for endless sanding. I have the chance to do a show quality black job on a really cool '66 Chevelle, (with a 632 inch Big block) but I will probably pass on it.....unless I get really hungry, or they threaten to turn the utilities off! :-(