Job – painting cars
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Hey guys, I was at a local mustang shop today that has about 30 cars out in the yard at any given time that this guy restores for his customers. I got to talking to him about how much he charges for a complete paint job and he told me that he gets $10,000 for a complete. That includes striping the paint, interior, chrome, glass, etc… His guys do all the body work from welding in patch panels , rust repair, and dents as long as the rust is at a minimal, otherwise, the price goes up. He said his guys guide coat it two or three times and sends it out to an out side source for painting, cut and rub. He gives them $1,500. Do you think that’s a good price? He pays for all the paint materials. He said that I could get some jobs if I wanted.
If I do one a week, that’s $6000 per month. I would like to get more like $1,800 to $2,000. But dont think I can if he has someone else doing it for less. The painter he is using right now is his main guy and when he cant keep up with the demand then he has to source out the other cars to a second painter that he doesn’t like much. (Quality)
What do you guys think about the deal? Good price or need more money?
What he told me was that when the painter come by to get the car, he will look it over and if there is any issues with the body work his guys will fix it before it leaves the yard. After it leaves the place, its all on the painter.
Wet sand it and fix any fine details the first day.
Paint and clear the second day.
Cut the next day or the day after and polish it.
return the car the next day.
:whistle:So you have to do the final wet sand of the primer,mask and paint.cut and buff for $1500? I don’t think that is a good price at all maybe for him but not for you.I guess it depends on how bad you want to do it,you could just try one job for him and see how it goes.I would definitely look at a finished car to see what his standards are and if it seems fair for the price he is willing to pay.If you use our shop rate of $65@hr x the 3days you think it will take you it works out to $1560.Now keep in mind that doing a cut and buff on a “showcar” in 8 hrs is unrealistic,you can easily spend 40hrs.If it was me I would not do it for that price,you could be working for fee,just my 2 cents.
Did he mention the form 1099 that his accountant will send you next january? What about the rust blister that comes out six months later, do you retouch that for free? Consider these things along with what jayson said.
we recieved the cobra sorta in primer and then finished/fine tuned the body work , and worked all the body gaps. reprimed blocked it twice and then painted it with stripes and cut and buffed for $6000 and that was almost alittle low :unsure:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=123581&id=565177326&l=55dec6be55
dang stone, thats a good job on the cobra and you did all that for 6000? :blink:
I don’t think 1500 is nearly enough, it should be closer to double that, and definitely make it clear that YOUR warranty doesn’t cover rust, thats the body shops baby. Because if it does rust again in 6 months its because something got left behind and painted over.. it all sounds like a muddy situation
Lots of good points made.
$1500 is low. Too low…Still, it just might be a good opportunity to show
your stuff. And the cut/buff shouldn’t be taken lightly, Jayson is correct,
40 hours or so for a show polish job is about right. And that is another
art entirely. Take this step dead seriously.If you can, take the chance. After thinking it through, of course. You stand
to gain a lot in experience which can/should translate into more $$ in the
future.Stone, how many hours in the Cobra??
I figured it at 50+ hours ….just under sixty ….. but to tell the truth the cut and buff was some what of a throw in :whistle: Kinda wanted to insure I do their next one and a local performance shop. It was good advertising …. gotta factor certain non job related factors in some times. :pcorn: WHAT ARE YOU GETTING OUT OF IT …. was great experience for my workers also. next one will be a breeze and I’ll ask for more B)
you get paid for what it should take not how long it take …. and the factor for that caculation comes after you’ve done it 3 times ….. “how long would it take you the fourth time. 😉 :pcorn:
Sixty hours, six g’s, that aint bad!!
Seems like the cut/buff is always underestimated. Learned my lesson(s)…
Now, it’ll be factored in.The Cut and Buff Kills Profits
To do it right any way[quote]The Cut and Buff Kills Profits [/quote]
Actually, it can be profitable at least for restoration/custom jobs.
For collision? Nah…Thanks for the replies guys. As for the cut and buff… I have done it many times and I feel very comfortable doing it. He is looking for smooth and a good shine. One good thing about this place is they use mostly factory colors back from the 60’s. So solids and a few metallics but no custom candies or high end color changing crap.
I looked at the cars he had sitting in his yard that the other painter has done and I feel like I could easily do better.
pnlbtr4life, I was thinking the same thing. But he said that I wouldn’t be doing any of the body work, just prep and paint. So, if any of the rust were to come back why would it be on me? I would have him sign something that states that some how just to protect me.
nobody was questioning your skills,its just a matter of getting paid the right amount,I don’t think the price is fair.This old chevelle was supposedly ready for paint and came to me in primer,it was not even close and the bill was $4200 not including materials,and this was just a side job.Don’t be afraid to charge what you are worth.If you want to do one to test the water and maybe charge more on the next one.Good luck 😉
[IMG]http://i580.photobucket.com/albums/ss241/jaysonm1969/V-rodschevellerandom009.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i580.photobucket.com/albums/ss241/jaysonm1969/V-rodschevellerandom007.jpg[/IMG]Thanks guys. I will talk to him about a little more money and maybe do one to see how things go. 😉
after thinking about it , a cut and buff cost at least $1500 :whistle: :huh:
we did 2 factory black solstices … buff and swirl removed for over $600 each … didn’t make much on them :blush:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=61338&id=565177326&l=543be975c5 :unsure:
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