Painting Harleys Estimates
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Ok I am thinking of starting to take on some side work were I just do flat colors for a local bike shop.
Nothing fancy just basic single color jobs cheap to sell directly to him and then he sells to the customer I have no dealing with the customer.
Since he’s doing all the selling through his shop for basic repaints all I do is minor repairs scuff shoot and clear no cut and buff unless requested.
My delema is since I havnt done any work like this is how much should I be chargeing? I will be supplieing all labor and materials minus the color.
Seams like it should be a good little side deal for me, as long as we are both makeing some coin.
What should be the split for him? 50/50 60/40 70/30 75/25 ?????
I’d like to tell you at least 75/25 would be fair. The only problem is that there’s typically someone out there that will undercut you in a heartbeat so you sometimes need to cut them in a bit more if you want the business. If you do nice work which I imagine you do spending your spare time here on RN they should see some value in that. I don’t know exactly what’s all involved with spraying bikes but I do know the ones done here were very, very fussy. Every minor dirt nib needs removed and what not so you should keep that in mind to. I don’t know enough about how this is being costed out and who will be doing the pricing but as long as it’s worth your while any cut would be good. You may need to do a few and find out what it’s worth to you.
a tank and 2 fenders solid color I would charge $1000.00. I strip them down to bare metal and start fresh. a ding or dent I would take care of but any more body work i would charge my hourly rate. Also they would be sanded and buffed.
On smaller parts like bike tins a few dirt nibs are more noticeable than a few nibs on a car door. also bike owners are more fussy than car owners. you dont want to send the tins out with peel and dirt.
it will be more efficient if you can do multiple sets at once. you dont want to low ball your pricin too much. you can always give a discount based on the amount of work he gives you.[b]ding wrote:[/b]
[quote]a tank and 2 fenders solid color I would charge $1000.00. I strip them down to bare metal and start fresh. a ding or dent I would take care of but any more body work i would charge my hourly rate. Also they would be sanded and buffed.
On smaller parts like bike tins a few dirt nibs are more noticeable than a few nibs on a car door. also bike owners are more fussy than car owners. you dont want to send the tins out with peel and dirt.
it will be more efficient if you can do multiple sets at once. you dont want to low ball your pricin too much. you can always give a discount based on the amount of work he gives you.[/quote]x 2!
Bike owners are PICKY! Bikes can be easy money but they can also be a huge headache. Don’t let the size fool you into thinking its fast and easy. Charge accordingly. Don’t low ball your price so that when something happens(and it will) you wind up loosing money on them.
How many of you’ll have got a run on a little skinny fender,around a rivet, then burnt through trying to get it out? :whistle:
Consider doing some graphics too. It doesn’t have to be elaborate.
Simple two/three tones and kandies should a add a few more bucks.
Unlike a car, not much paint is needed.Why not get a few test sets to practice on?
Sounds like a good idea!
ding is right about on the money. for a tank and 2 fenders, one color, sanded and buffed finish i would usually charge $800 but then again thats all i do. i am set up for it and do it everyday so i really bang easy stuff like that out. just like guys who always work on cars are probably much faster than i am. if it was a candy job or something like that then it would be more. always, always, always put a sanded and buffed finish on a tank and fenders. the first one you let go without it you will be cutting your throat and you will go nowhere with this. it’ll be over before you start. as for money, using all my own materials i would charge the dealer $800 and let him tack on another $200 for himself. its very difficult, as a delaer to make much money on custom paintwork. it will probably be just enough to make it worth his while but certainly wont be enough the pay the bills. we all know flawless paintwork takes alot of time so you need to make “x” amount of $$ for what you are doing which wont leave alot of room for him to tack on a bunch of cash. if he does he will be priced out of the market. han is right also, if you plan to sell these things then solid colors wont do anything for you. you need to set your stuff apart from what the average bodyshop can do. start with some simple graphics. 2 tone some of them seperated by a stripe or something. make sure everything is pinstriped. paint a nice harley logo back on it. burry all the graphics. first thing a harley owner will do is touch the tank and see if he can feel a stripe.
I should have the wife join the site. according to her I am wrong about everything :teach
I am going over today to pick up a few old fenders and Tanks to work on for time being to hang on his walls of the store.
What started all this was an old BMW sitting in the shop I told him sell him a new paint job he said he does want it painted and asked me how much I would charge to do it. Thats when I asked you guys. He had the neibor auto paint guy quote 2500 I said heck we can make some money at that! he also said he had another quote of 4300 thats when I started wondering what am I not seeing?
This one bike in particular has a bit of damage crack her or two and has been repainted before I can tell by a spot were its scratched.
Any way its a full dressed deal wind screen fairing side covers saddle bags trunk and a little trailor I figured about 1200-1500 for all of it to him he pulls it all apart and pays for color.I agree with you guys on multiple color stuff and some graffics stuff BUT I am still new at this stuff I only have a few compleets under my belt and have never tride any fancy stuff YET I am not saying I cant do it its just intimidating right now.
I have contacted a Local sighn company who also does graffic stuff and is willing to make up graffic stencels and stuff for me wich is a plus but I have to draw the stuff out or get photos of stuff for him to make up.
I’m not by any means what you would call artistic, but I have been practicing and getting better. After seeing some of Jim’s threads I picked up an airbrush and started messing around. First couple things weren’t too hot, but it’s getting better each time. Just get some scrap metal or an old door and start practicing. Can’t learn until you try.
One thing though, we spray waterborne at work and it sucks for airbrushing! Use solvent.
I dont even want to start with water born yet
I played a little with an elcheapo airbrush I had paid 10 bucks for it my kid lost a peice for it so I threw it out looking for a better one.
I gave him some fineline tape to try but he needs more practise than I do 😛
Also looking at one of those pin strip Bugeler things looks easy :unsure:
I think the deal with the guy up the street with the stencils may be best over all and just use the airbrush to soften edges. :SI dont even know If I really want to do this any further than one job maybe two It May cut into my other work too much. :rofl But with Xmass around the courner and all a few extra bucks would be cool.
1200-1500 for a full fairing bike with a trunk, trailer and some bodywork to boot. boy you just wait!! your going to make like $5 a hour. you’ll have as much time in that as a car.
[quote]1200-1500 for a full fairing bike with a trunk, trailer and some bodywork to boot. boy you just wait!! your going to make like $5 a hour. you’ll have as much time in that as a car.[/quote]
That was a hard lesson for me… Next time, i’ll log my hours. And even that can get
depressing. If anything, I’ll stay away from crotch rockets. The fewer the pieces;
the better!I could probably make more painting a few bumpers.
[b]jim c wrote:[/b]
[quote]1200-1500 for a full fairing bike with a trunk, trailer and some bodywork to boot. boy you just wait!! your going to make like $5 a hour. you’ll have as much time in that as a car.[/quote]
whats wrong with 5$ an hr :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl thats more than ive made on most restos :blush: :blush: :blush:ha!!! yeah your probably right but did you ever notice how the collision shops say they dont make any money like the custom and resto guys and the resto and custom guys say they dont make any money like the collision shops? figure that out!!
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