Date: Wed, 11 Oct 2006 22:39:06 -0400
Reply-To: Greg Potts <greg@POTTSFAMILY.CA>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Greg Potts <greg@POTTSFAMILY.CA>
Subject: Re: Painting
In-Reply-To: <c803c1a70610111209g56f323fey4fef89fe04024bab@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; delsp=yes; format=flowed
Hi Jeff,
I took my 73 westy to a local Maaco 5.5 years ago. I was expecting
that for $400 I would get two years out of it. Today I am still quite
pleased with the finish they applied, though some rust that was
unknown to me then has recently started to bubble up. This is not
unusual in Ontario, and probably would have happened regardless of
who painted it.
Be aware that Maaco and Earl Schreib are both in business to make
money painting cars. They attract customers with low prices, and the
more cars they can paint, the more $$ they take home. They are
usually pretty good at painting, but not very attentive to prep work.
They offer varying grades of paint... I chose the mid-grade for a
price of $379. (Low-ball was $299, deluxe was $499).
The secret to a good paint-job is in the prepping. But Maaco et al do
as little prep as possible before they paint, because time prepping
is time not spent painting. And painting is where their $$$ comes
from. If *YOU* prep the vehicle before you take it in you will get a
much better result:
Tips:
- Remove the trim, door-seals and door-handles. They will merely tape
them off, and the end results will look like it.
- Remove the windows and seals.
- Remove the bumpers, headlights, tail-lights and lenses. Remove the
bulbs, and tape off the reflectors. if it's removalble, take it off.
- If you're applying primer, ask ahead of time what primers are
compatible with their paint system.
- If the vehicle has to be towed to the paint-shop, so be it.
Here's my bus prepped and waiting in the Maaco lot:
http://www.pottsfamily.ca/westfakia/creation/pictures/agf00002_12.html
This will add about 4 hours labour to the job, but the end result
will be well worth it.
Happy Trails,
Greg Potts
1973/74/75/77/79 Westfakia "Bob the Tomato"
www.pottsfamily.ca/westfakia
www.busesofthecorn.com
On 11-Oct-06, at 3:09 PM, Jeff Lincoln wrote:
> This is just a simple opinion question - I'm sure to get a response :)
>
> If cost is a major option - what are the lists thoughts on having a
> bus
> painted at an Earl Sceib or similar mass painting shop. I tend to
> be very
> apprehensive of their claims. However, what is really the
> difference between
> what they will do for $750 or what a small independent shop will do
> for
> thousands?
>
> I'm not trying to be cheap but $$$$ are always an issue at this
> point in
> life.If a $750 paint job is going to last me many years it may be
> worth it -
> then again I would want it to be of at least good quality and
> workmanship. I
> know it is sort of a dumb question because what I am really asking
> about is
> quality but your opinions will help as I have no bench mark or
> experience
> with any of this.
>
> I'm also once again getting ahead of myself as it will be quite a
> while
> before I am ready to make any decisions on this.
>
> --
> Thanks,
>
> Jeff
> 90' Carat (It's Blue, It's Beautiful, It needs a lot of work)
> 86' (Soon to be donating organs to the 90')
> 85' GL (sidelined but to be resurrected in the near future)
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