Guys, Macco, Miricle, and these other "McPaint" shops are
NOT like a McDonalds, there is no real consistancy in quality.
While McDonalds has lived by the consistancy in it's product from resturant to resturant, these "chain" paint shops are not the same.
They most all independantly owned by "investors" NOT body and paint people. The body and paint guy opens "Bob's body shop" (his name) they do not spend the money (they probably don't even have) to buy a franchise.
That being said, you are not dealing with the same people as you would in a "real" body shop.
This may be good, this may be bad, depending on what shop you visit.
These shops are as different as you and me. I have personally had very few "good" experiances with them. I have on the other hand had very bad ones. I was lied to, given HORABLE work and told that is as good as it gets, the works.
But I also have seen where they give an "ok" and for sure, your moneys worth. So, what you get at your neighborhood "McPaint" shop is anyones guess.
The Duplicolor paint is actually pretty good quality. That is IF it is an Acrylic Enamel as I believe that particular "Duplicolor" product is. Now, I am going from memory when I repped a Sherwin Williams label so if I am wrong forgive me. But I do know one thing, Duplicolor is not "owned" by Krylon, they both are in fact owned by Sherwin Williams. The Duplicolor name, as well as Krylon, Western, Martin-Senour, and others are all "labels" of Sherwin Williams. They are usually the exact same product with just a different "label" on the can. The difference is how they distibute it. Martin Senour for instance is sold though NAPA stores only. But you will also see Duplicolor at NAPA stores, but ONLY in rattle cans. Where, the Martin Senour label is available there on all paint products like 2K primers and paints to do professional work.
The clear coat is not the deciding factor if your paint will hold up to gas or not. The deciding factor is whether the paint or clear is "2K". "2K" means that it had a hardener added to the paint, primer or clear. This hardener makes the product "cure", not just "dry". It cures when molocules link up and create a different product on the surface of the vehicle. When you have a "2K" product, you have a product that is "Insoluable" and gas, or other solvents will not hurt it (different products will have varying degrees of insoluablity, if that was a word
). If it is not "2K" it then it is not "Cured" and is basically the same product you poured out of the can, and is soluable just like it was when you poured it out of the can, it has not "changed into" this insoluable layer like a 2K.
Yes, you can paint a truck at home with good success.
No, not all "McPaint" shops will paint your truck apart, but some will.
No, not all "McPaint" shops will give you a quality job.
I guess you have gotten by now, as far as I am concerned, there are a LOT of variables here.
I would research all the shops in your area, "McPaint" shops as well as "real" shops and get to know some differences. Some "real" shops won't give you as good as the bad work at the "McPaint" shops but your odds are much better at the real shops.
Dennis, your in Dallas, there are many other sources for your paint. If you post the brand names of the paint available I may be able to give you the sealers and paints to get your job done. For instance, if you are simply going to sand and paint your truck like a "McPaint" shop would do, there are "Primer sealers" that you could use that are non-sanding and would really help with the hold up of the paint. There are paints that are just a few dollars more that are much better than the 30 dollar a gallon stuff, etc. You have many more options than you are seeing right now.
