[1QWIKBIRD]

Originally Posted by JohnG

here are the materials, and what they cost me, to paint my car:

QTY...PART #..............DESCRIPTION....price each...price total
1.......MMM 08578........Strip-calk, black.....$9.49.....$9.49
1.......PLA T-8.............Satin black............$5.90.....$5.90
1.......TRU 13-135........Design nipple..........$5.26.....$5.26
1.......NSN 421-20-4.....HZ-select, primer....$21.20...$21.20
2.......NSN 483-83-4.....HZ-select, primer activator...$32.25....$64.50
1.......MMM 32036........Job packed P600.....$4.10.....$4.10
1.......MMM 32022........Job packed 1200.....$6.28.....$6.28
1.......NSN 421-20-1.....HZ-select, primer....$67.25....$67.25
1.......EVC 839.............Chromalite, quart....$6.92......$6.92
4.......DUP HC-7600S4...Hyper cure clear, quart...$29.60....$118.40
1.......MAG M-0116.......Machine clnr...........$10.54....$10.54
1.......EVC 400.............Glaze putty-hz........$15.30....$15.30
1.......MUG D-12-2........Disp air filter...........$14.14....$14.14
2.......GRS 02002T........Gearson tack cloth...$0.63.....$1.26
1.......SMA 57-275........1.5 Diameter...........$7.07.....$7.07
1.......MUG SB-3...........Flexible sanding block...$14.80....$14.80
1.......MAG W-1000.......Polishing pad...........$15.21....$15.21
1.......MAG M-0216........Hitech cleaner.........$10.54....$10.54
1.......MAG M-0716........Sealer glaze............$10.54....$10.54
1.......DUP 7175S-1.......GI md temp-hz.........$34.51....$34.51
1.......DUP 7005S-4.......Chromaone activator..$37.02....$37.02
1.......DUP HC-760S4.....High temp act, red, quart...$36.56....$36.56
2.......DUP QMKM..........Dupont mix..............$68.55....$137.10

TOTAL -- $654

...yes, this assumes you have the other necessary equipment

which, of course, a body shop will have said equipment (alreay depreciated/paid for)

IMHO, the high prices for body/paintwork stem from one or more of the following:

1. they think of themselves as "artists", and want to be paid what (in their mind's fantasy) they think they're worth

2. they know you love your car, so they've got you by the balls, and know you will pay

3. Barret-Jackson

I agree with the above to a point, but all that "depreciated equipment" (guns, driers, paint mixers, booths, frame equipement), EPA regs, cost money, rent, power, wages.......good help isn't easy to find and harder to keep.

I would love to get a show quality paint job for 1500 or even 3000 but it isn't realistic. Anyone looking for quality work has more than a passing interest, so yeah they got ya. If it bothers you go to MAACO. Barret Jackson has blown everthing out of proportion, a 69 Camaro with a tree growing through the floor and roof is worth $5000 if it has a title. You can either choose to deal with it, learn to do everything yourself and hope you have the skills to do it at an acceptable level or get out of the hobby altogether. Not taking shots, it just the current state of affairs.

I think the better measure of a body shop isn't always the bottom line, but rather their ability to come in on time and on the quoted price. It you tell me 8 months to paint the car and XXXX.XX dollars and you deliver, that's all you can ask for. The shops that keep your car for two years, then tell you its gonna take 50% more than originally quoted are the ones that give the industry a bad name. Not to mention the guys who want perfection and drop the car off only to realize halfway through that they really can't afford it, so who eats it? The shop owner. You and I pay for that clown because the shop ower has got to make it up somewhere.

Its much easier to do good work with an open ended time frame and a blank check. Who can afford that?

A good body/paint guy is worth every penny. How many cars have you seen at a show that look great from 3 or 5 ft, but then you look a little closer and its flawed, something wasn't masked properly or buffed out or whatever. It ruins the whole car and the fix ain't cheap or easy. It's like the hot chick who has green, crooked ass teeth....no good.

Chris