Discussion
I live in south devon and I'm looking for a good car paint sprayer with all the tools to prep. and spray in my very large garage. The car is a Stingray which I've had for a very long time. All works to the engine and underneath is completed. Must be dedicated craftsman who takes a pride in his work. There is very little prep work to do.
I have had a couple of bad experiences with car body shops so I'm steering well clear on that point.
Hope there is somebody out there who can help.
mike
I have had a couple of bad experiences with car body shops so I'm steering well clear on that point.
Hope there is somebody out there who can help.
mike
I know you said you dont want to take it to a bodyshop, however I (and many of the sites other Ferrari owners) can recomend Alan at Alsa http://www.alsaautomotive.co.uk/
Thanks for your input gents. I was looking for something a bit more local to me than glamorgan. No I don't have a spray booth but the 3 car garage is only a few years old, no cobwebs, etc!
A lot of the old fashioned sprayers use panel heaters, this is the type of sprayer I'm looking for.
I bought my car off Scotts late dad, Corvette kingdom way back in 1981.
the car has no rust issues to the chassis, birdcages etc. I want to change the colour from buckskin to a blue with new front and rear bumpers. here's hoping I can get a good guy local to me.
A lot of the old fashioned sprayers use panel heaters, this is the type of sprayer I'm looking for.
I bought my car off Scotts late dad, Corvette kingdom way back in 1981.
the car has no rust issues to the chassis, birdcages etc. I want to change the colour from buckskin to a blue with new front and rear bumpers. here's hoping I can get a good guy local to me.
Is it not worth getting some recommendations for a more local (well renowned/regarded) paint guy rather than trying to find someone to come to you - I suspect that may take you a long time, and its a big risk for someone to come to yours and expect a good quality finish in an alien atmosphere.
You've obviously had some BAD experiences with some other bodyshops!?
You've obviously had some BAD experiences with some other bodyshops!?
Y'know, given the value of the car I think you'd be better off finding a body shop you can trust, even to the extent of explaining your concerns, agreeing timescales and making progress visits to set your mind at ease that it's going well. A good restoration shop won't mind that at all.
The reason I say this is because if I'm restoring a car I'll do my own paintwork, so I have an inkling of what you're undertaking. In the olden days this was easy, a small compressor, carbon filter mask, wet the floor and spray cellulose. Put on 10litres and after it was dry, compound off all the dead insects or dust that's landed and it looks brilliant.
Apologies if you're aware of the current situation for DIY spraying, but these days it's more of a problem. Firstly, the material of choice for home spraying, cellulose, is harder to get following the EU ban for automotive usage, although it is still possible.
So one alternative is a 2-pack paint which requires fresh air breathing or at the very least a chemical filter mask, and even then you have the issue of where you're venting the garage to because you're releasing a harmful vapour. Personally if I were doing the job on someone else's premises I wouldn't want to spray 2-pack and then let them wander about the garage afterwards without a mask. It is possible for DIY in your garage but far more trouble than in spray booth which has an air-fed breathing mask and dust/vapour extraction already in place.
Modern water based paints are also possible but have their own problems with extended drying and air extraction/throughflow requirements. Although as I've only read & not used these materials I'll happily be corrected on that. (in fact I'd like to hear anyone's experiences with water based on a DIY level)
Certainly your goal is possible as there's nothing that can't be done with a bit of determination, but you are asking someone for a lot of disruption. A professional will have a decent sized compressor, lamp panels, spray line & guns, etc, which he'll need to bring along and most likely leave for the duration of the job, whereas if the kit is at his workplace he will be working alternately on two or more projects at the same time while one is drying/curing. So someone with a bodyshop might not be that interested, unless it was weekend work or extremely well paid ?
A gifted amateur or retired pro would fit the bill perfectly I guess, but that's restricting your search quite a lot. I do understand your concerns as I only started myself after a poor professional job on one of my cars, but these days there are good guys out there in the restoration business. (just avoid the "you bend 'em, we mend 'em" crowd ! )
The reason I say this is because if I'm restoring a car I'll do my own paintwork, so I have an inkling of what you're undertaking. In the olden days this was easy, a small compressor, carbon filter mask, wet the floor and spray cellulose. Put on 10litres and after it was dry, compound off all the dead insects or dust that's landed and it looks brilliant.
Apologies if you're aware of the current situation for DIY spraying, but these days it's more of a problem. Firstly, the material of choice for home spraying, cellulose, is harder to get following the EU ban for automotive usage, although it is still possible.
So one alternative is a 2-pack paint which requires fresh air breathing or at the very least a chemical filter mask, and even then you have the issue of where you're venting the garage to because you're releasing a harmful vapour. Personally if I were doing the job on someone else's premises I wouldn't want to spray 2-pack and then let them wander about the garage afterwards without a mask. It is possible for DIY in your garage but far more trouble than in spray booth which has an air-fed breathing mask and dust/vapour extraction already in place.
Modern water based paints are also possible but have their own problems with extended drying and air extraction/throughflow requirements. Although as I've only read & not used these materials I'll happily be corrected on that. (in fact I'd like to hear anyone's experiences with water based on a DIY level)
Certainly your goal is possible as there's nothing that can't be done with a bit of determination, but you are asking someone for a lot of disruption. A professional will have a decent sized compressor, lamp panels, spray line & guns, etc, which he'll need to bring along and most likely leave for the duration of the job, whereas if the kit is at his workplace he will be working alternately on two or more projects at the same time while one is drying/curing. So someone with a bodyshop might not be that interested, unless it was weekend work or extremely well paid ?
A gifted amateur or retired pro would fit the bill perfectly I guess, but that's restricting your search quite a lot. I do understand your concerns as I only started myself after a poor professional job on one of my cars, but these days there are good guys out there in the restoration business. (just avoid the "you bend 'em, we mend 'em" crowd ! )
thanks gents for your advice and yes I have had 2 bad experiences with body shops. One was an old Aston and another was a jensen interceptor. Different, well respected companies, or so I was led to believe. Words can't describe the bloody mess they made and I'm sure they had young lads trying their hand at prepping and spraying. It has left me very cynical.
I understand about the points of health and safety raised.
I suppose I will have to bite the bullet in the end and the car will have to go in the bodyshop. I will this time keep my eye on what is happening.
Thanks, James
I understand about the points of health and safety raised.
I suppose I will have to bite the bullet in the end and the car will have to go in the bodyshop. I will this time keep my eye on what is happening.
Thanks, James
B2HMB is absolutely spot on regarding the situation of spraying your Corvette in your own garage, both from the position of the legalities Read EPA and COSHH Reg's) and also from the position of the finished job.
I speak from experience, having twice invested huge amounts of money in an Accident Repair facility and having previously worked for Coutaulds International and Akzo Nobel.
My own repair facility was very professional and had three ovens, a dedicated prep area, dust extraction and five very skilled painters/prep's and we operated with waterborne paints.
From what I surmise, you have been badly let down and therefore you want to control the outcome; bringing it into your own front door I would suggest is not the way, indeed is irresponsible to your potential worker and neighbours.
If you were to contact Akzo at Abingdon Oxon, ICI at Stowmarket or Standox at Basildon(??) then either of their respective Area Sales Manager's would be delighted to put you in touch with a reputable and professional facility who could undertake the job to your satisfaction - indeed I know that often (no promises!) these companies are looking for publicity to support their product and may (may..may..
) be interested in supplying the paint for a newsworthy article.
The reputable shops and painter's are out there, that's exactly how Direct Line et al get their metallic Jag's, Audi's and Merc's repaired correctly. Thinking about it you could even ask to speak to an Approved Insurance Bodyshop- the standards will be mandated for sure.
I understand your fear, but I would suggest that trying to control in your own garage is definately not the way to go.... for what it's worth..
I speak from experience, having twice invested huge amounts of money in an Accident Repair facility and having previously worked for Coutaulds International and Akzo Nobel.
My own repair facility was very professional and had three ovens, a dedicated prep area, dust extraction and five very skilled painters/prep's and we operated with waterborne paints.
From what I surmise, you have been badly let down and therefore you want to control the outcome; bringing it into your own front door I would suggest is not the way, indeed is irresponsible to your potential worker and neighbours.
If you were to contact Akzo at Abingdon Oxon, ICI at Stowmarket or Standox at Basildon(??) then either of their respective Area Sales Manager's would be delighted to put you in touch with a reputable and professional facility who could undertake the job to your satisfaction - indeed I know that often (no promises!) these companies are looking for publicity to support their product and may (may..may..
) be interested in supplying the paint for a newsworthy article.The reputable shops and painter's are out there, that's exactly how Direct Line et al get their metallic Jag's, Audi's and Merc's repaired correctly. Thinking about it you could even ask to speak to an Approved Insurance Bodyshop- the standards will be mandated for sure.
I understand your fear, but I would suggest that trying to control in your own garage is definately not the way to go.... for what it's worth..
If you have received shoddy work in the past, I HOPE that you were re-imbursed or the work put right eventually.
There are good bodyshops out there - there must be some guys on here who run them - put something in the bodywork and detailing forum and ask for some 'top drawer' recommendations!
I too have been stung before by back street spray monkeys, and I wouldnt do it again - BUT, you have to have faith in the good guys still being out there or there really is no hope!
Perhaps also put something on your regional forum and see if someone comes forward with some good recommendations.
Good luck - and Im sure we all look forward to the pictures of the gleaming results of your toils
There are good bodyshops out there - there must be some guys on here who run them - put something in the bodywork and detailing forum and ask for some 'top drawer' recommendations!
I too have been stung before by back street spray monkeys, and I wouldnt do it again - BUT, you have to have faith in the good guys still being out there or there really is no hope!
Perhaps also put something on your regional forum and see if someone comes forward with some good recommendations.
Good luck - and Im sure we all look forward to the pictures of the gleaming results of your toils
Good luck with it. I know where you are coming from. Every time my Jag goes to a bodyshop it comes back butchered a bit more, even from places which have done good work on other cars. I think they have the kid "learn" on it. They see it has a low financial value and can't be bothered to do it right. I gave up trying to find a decent place in the end.
dbdb said:
Good luck with it. I know where you are coming from. Every time my Jag goes to a bodyshop it comes back butchered a bit more, even from places which have done good work on other cars. I think they have the kid "learn" on it. They see it has a low financial value and can't be bothered to do it right. I gave up trying to find a decent place in the end.
Yet there are some very good bodyshops out there . . . . . . . of the 4 or 5 I could recomend, all of them have a decent waiting list for their restoration spot and 2 now simply refuse to deal with the general public, due to people wanting a concours job at blow over cost.Gassing Station | Classic Cars and Yesterday's Heroes | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff