Painting yourself is it worth it?

[vwbill]

Hey is it possible to do the paint work yourself and is it worth the cost and quality and not having a paint bay? I would like to do the paint on the car but I'd have to do it in panels or sections to hide my technique Is it best to take the hood off or leave it on? Thanks bill

[CoolTomK]

I'd say that if your only going to do this one car and have no intensions of painting anything else, then it would probably be best to do the bodywork yourself and have a pro paint it for you. I decided to paint the car myself, and the cost of equipment is getting up there, even though I allready had a compressor! The paint gun, fresh air mask(I'm renting it), paint, sanding equipment etc... can add up very quickly. I opted to paint it myself because I wanted to learn it myself, and so if I ever get any dents or dings, I can fix them myself without having to pay large shop costs. As for the hood question, I'd say that if you were painting any mettalics, it would probably be best to leave the hood on, but if your not, then the hood can easily come off, and make it easier to paint the inside of it, just be careful not to scratch anything when you put the panels back on.

[vwbill]

Hey thanks for the reply! How did you prep the car? Did you use standard gray primer over the entire car or use primer filler? What gives you the best finish? Can you paint over the old paint and just sand?
Looks like a lot of prep work to get to the finish coat!
I need to find a good paint shop, lol! Thx bill

[CoolTomK]

When I mean prep I mean straightening out any dents with a dolly, then apply filler and sand, which is the most labor intensive part. I would let the autoshop apply primer. The best finish would be a Base coat/clear coat system, really any of the majer brands are good(PPG, Dupont, HOK). As for painting over old paint, you have to take any areas that require filler down to bare metal so it will bond. I personally would take the whole car down to bare metal if it has a 30+ year old paintjob, but if the paint looks good, you can just scuff it up with a scotch brite pad.

[raygreenwood]

I painted myself once.....it was not worth it ...sorry couldn't resist. I have never done it. From the people I have met who have, its a satisfying experience...if you get results acceptable to yourself. In the long run though...on a type 4...since gaskets and parts are so scarce and restoring these things so expensive, you rarely have the money to do it twice. I recommend prepping it...with consultations with your paint shop of choice, then letting them do the proffessional stuff. I say consultations...because if you putty it up, instead of dinging it out, or ding it out badly....or layer on tons of primer, you make their job harder and get less for your money. Ray

[vwbill]

I painted myself once.....it was not worth it ...sorry couldn't resist. I have never done it. From the people I have met who have, its a satisfying experience...if you get results acceptable to yourself. In the long run though...on a type 4...since gaskets and parts are so scarce and restoring these things so expensive, you rarely have the money to do it twice. I recommend prepping it...with consultations with your paint shop of choice, then letting them do the proffessional stuff. I say consultations...because if you putty it up, instead of dinging it out, or ding it out badly....or layer on tons of primer, you make their job harder and get less for your money. Ray

I know that one when you make a bigger mess out of the body work and spend hours and get po'd with the quality! I dont think I can paint a car African Red To show quality but I might be able to get it better then before daily driver? It's just so much sandin and grindin! And wiping! LOL And paint fumes! Thx Bill

[Guest]

Hey is it possible to do the paint work yourself and is it worth the cost and quality and not having a paint bay? I would like to do the paint on the car but I'd have to do it in panels or sections to hide my technique Is it best to take the hood off or leave it on? Thanks bill

depends on what you want in the end, how tight your budget is, and how much of a craftsman you are. I had a 914 once that was DEFENITELY going to the junkyard (after I stripped it). I had about 1 year left to drive it, so i lightly sanded it, bondo-fixxed some of the most offensive places, and painted it with Rustoleum (with a brush). It looked really great, if you are okay with C- quality.

If you are looking to win car shows, or if you get off on seeing your reflection in the car, you may want to pay a pro. Somewhere between these two, there are a myriad of options.

My favorite, was when I found spray cans of HAMMERITE (the industrial-grade glass-flake paint) at Big Lots for $1 each. At the same time, I had a 1976 Bus that the previous owner had a massive engine fire in (melted the fan housing, and battery, if that gives you any idea). I was rebuilding same.

Anywho, I primered that fried-out Kombi with Krylon, sanded, then set up a "paint booth" in my garage (plastic walls/floor/ exhaust fans, multiple lights, etc.) went through 40 cans of HAMMERITE, and had the COOLEST VW bus ever. It was Mint-green glass flake below the windows, and cream/white glass-flake above.

Total cost for body-prep/painting: $150. Got the van for free in 1990, eventually sold it for $2000 in 1994.

Today, it isn't worth the hassle, or the brain cells. Work, make $$, and pay someone to do it right.