The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop What is reasonable time for cut and buff?

http://imgur.com/MLkIHk9

My paint job looks pretty darn good coming right out of the booth. I'm getting close to taking delivery of the 'finished" truck and I'm bleeding $$$$ quite severely. The restoration shop (paint dept) is telling me that to cut and buff to "show" quality is another $2500-3000, which equates to around 30 hours. My question is: Is this a reasonable amount of time to get this done? There appear to be much less expensive options around the area.

Seems like a reasonable time to hand cut and buff for a 'show' quality job. Thats a lot of hilly curvy real estate to plow flat. (By hand)...

Since you are happy with the paint, I would go with them. Having done this myself I know you can burn through the paint and have to redo. I'd rather them have that responsibility. What the heck, it's only $paper.

Dennis

Thanks guys. That makes sense.

Depends on color and what you're after as an end result. A Barrett Jackson finish is worth it, a local driver show n shine definitely not.

Hoods and fender tops are looked at the most so maybe a "topside" cut is worth it? I have a Harley and it's cut polished on tank and top or fenders only... just a thought.

It's real easy to spend someone else's money but I'm not like that.

My 1954 Suburban took 24 total man-hours to cut-and-buff by 3 people (in one 8 hour day), 1 day after painting with PPG DCC 2-part, single-stage Urethane.

I was told you should/could do it by hand within 48 hrs. After that - a power buff would be needed - by a pro.

The price you quote is reasonable, but I agree with FootStomper.

This sounds expensive to me. I have a difficult time spending that much on a paint job in the first place. As for buffing I have a problem spending that much when materials to do the job are less than $100. I guess that is why I do most of my own paint work.maybe I am just cheap.

Materials cost us a lot less than $100, but it took us 8 hrs x 3 people.
We did it before the Urethane became rock hard.

It's the labor time that costs the $$$ if you have a pro do it.

If the paint has cured/totally-hardened, I'd have a pro do it, or leave it like it is. The original paint job was not buffed/polished.

Mine is costing me $1500 for them to fix a few spots, reclear coat since first painter screwed it up, and make it show quality. This included them taking fenders back off and reassembly.

Chris

Just out of curiosity, I understand what buffed/polished is, what is cutting?

Cut = wet sanding with 1000-2000 grit sandpaper to knock down orange peel.
Buff = machine polishing with progressively finer compounds and pads.

I did my own cut and buff; it was really scary taking sandpaper to my gloss black paint, yet surprisingly easy (even though paint had cured for 6 months). If you error on the side of caution (ie always start with finer paper and less aggressive compound, and keep away from edges so you don't sand through) it's a time-consuming but rewarding task that will make a world of difference in your paint job. The benefit to having your painter do it is, of course, if he screws up the repaint is on him.

Labor rate here is 43.00 a hr. Compared to a garage that's cheap,but that is all our local body shops can get from insurance company's , 24 hrs times 43 is $1032. Plus tax and materials. This sounds like a lot to me,but reality is they have to make a living ,and keep the doors open. Then I have to ask myself ,would I do it for ,what it cost? Sometimes I will and sometimes not.

$43/hr for professional body work?
Sounds like a good deal to me?

Yes, I have 2 friends with local body shops. They both say the same thing about what they can charge insurance. 1 is what is considered a pro shop in the body shop world. He has several employees that work for him. He has been saying for years that rates need increased. It's not right that a garage can charge $60 - $80 hr for machanic work,but a body shop can't. I guess just to much competition here.

$72/hr around here.

At the risk of derailing the thread... body shops in all regions complain about the labour rate. Some get the new higher negotiated rates only to find out the insurance companies start writing off vehicles so no repairs are done by any shop. Or, they can't use OEM panels and have to work with misfitting aftermarket ones that end up costing them more time and work to complete the job.

One needs to careful what they wish for...

Paint work is not cheap anymore. Cut and buff time depends on the paint. Ask the people that supplied the paint they should know. Some if you don't get it in the window you will never buff it.Also go the extra step down to 3000 grit and it makes it so much easier to buff. Wet sand with a little dish soap in water helps.Use the correct pads for the compound you are using and I usually do three steps to get final buff. 3M and a company called Presta make a kit. A good variable buffer and a good touch. Tape high spots also do them by hand. Very easy to burn paint. Hope this helps.

So the days of the MAACO $199 any car any color paint job are gone!? Uh oh, better get MAACO.

Seems common in the body biz.............They quote low hourly rate and then double the hours .......so it comes out in the wash.