Kendal Jackson wrote:
From: Kendal Jackson <jacksoti@...>
I was just wondering how many of you out there have painted your own
vehicles. I am seriously considering it but am unclear if it is worth it. I
mean, does it cost you more in the long run? Is the frustration of mistakes
enough to just pay someone to do it no matter what the cost?
I would really appreciate hearing your success/horror stories before I think
too far down this path.
Also, what are some good resources for learning how to do it properly?
Kendal Jackson
--It might look like I'm doing nothing, but at the cellular level I'm
really quite busy--
Reed gives some excellent advice. I'll add that I'm painting my
M38A1 now, its sort of an ongoing thing. The reasons I went this
way were...
- "Some assembly required" on my project. Lots of little bits and
pieces, all supposed to be olive drab. The only way I could figure
to get all of these pieces painted (without doing it myself) would be
to take it all in a giant pile to a paint shop, get them painted, and
work out some type of storage system where I can keep them safe from
harm until I'm ready for that part. I can just imagine the look on
a painter's face if I'd brought in all of these separate
pieces and parts loaded in the back of my pickup... body tub, fenders,
every small plate and screw piled high in boxes... Just like a cartoon
his eyeballs would turn into dollar signs. Doing it myself I can do
a little at a time, and not have to store and worry about messing up
a part that got painted a month ago that I haven't gotten around to
putting on yet.
- Reassembly gotchas causing scratches & gouges. Considering the
number of thumbs I have this is inevitable, but I can also go back
and fix them myself.
- Attention to detail. I can also see those dollar signs racking up
when I tell the paint guy to "be extra careful when you paint the
bezels of the gauges, and don't get any paint on this bit of rubber
or that bit of glass" etc, etc.
- Military paint is cheap. $30 per gallon. In effect I can buy 3-5
gallons of this stuff for the price of one gallon of "normal" paint.
- Intended use. I intend to take this thing into the bush and I'm
not going to baby it. Being able to use a matching color rattle can
to make the latest scratch or scrape less noticeable or less prone to
rust really appeals to my cheesier nature. (The military colors come
in matching rattle cans, the Gilespe brand has a very good match with
the color that comes by the gallon.)
Like Reed says, don't expect professional results. But I'd also
add that this isn't brain surgery we're talking about and if I
can do it anyone can. My results are not professional but only
you, I, and the professional painters know that (don't tell anyone
on the WillysTech list, they think my last name is Schieb!).
Joe Dailycommuter can't tell a difference.
If you plan to paint more than one vehicle one time or simply
WANT to do it yourself go for it. If its just a one shot thing
and/or you want to be able to use your glassy smooth finish as a
mirror for shaving then have a professional do it.
--
"Never pound on the threaded ****
end of *anything*!" ** **
** mailto:hollowel@... **
Merl ****
