The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop How to pick a painter?

Is there a trick to finding an auto body guy that is good and can meet dead lines? Or do they all seem to dance to their own tunes? Whats your experience? I guess I should have found one that was hungry. I'm bummed out, been waiting two months for prep and prime and we had an agreed date prior to starting work. It's not that he's not working he's plenty busy he just jumps around a lot knocking out other jobs and they keep rolling in. A Titans players car came in the other day and my truck is sitting there waiting to be finished. I know I don't have those deep pockets or season tickets but my cash is green! Bad thing is he's very good and highly recommended plus he's close as well. Is this the norm of what to expect? Sorry to vent but had plans (part of our vacation) to attend the NATS in Louisville. What has everyone else experienced?

That's typical of every body man or body shop I've ever known-I'm doing mine myself.

Though there's always an exception, what you are encountering is very typical. Once the painter has spent your money, new money that suddenly comes through the door becomes very attractive whether it is to pay for overdue rent,payroll,etc.

you might consider posting in the paint and body section also.

Ive been asking my body guy alot lately about painting my motorcycle, He finally called me up, and basically begged me to bring my tins in to be repainted.

He said he was so slow, and needed some work. He said 3 days, maybe 4 MAX and I would have them back in paint.

After some thought, I tore the motorcycle down, brought him all the pieces and patiently waited.

Its now been 3 weeks, and he has sanded the parts down. He says hopefully next saturday they will be painted, and the following monday tuesday he will do the finishing touches. Im not holding my breath


So, apparently all body guys are like that.

Find a car club, go to one of their cruise nights, find a paint job you like and ask the guy who owns the car, who painted your vehicle? I have done this. I Asked 6 people, and 4 out of 6 named the same guy. So now that I have seen his work, I know he does good work I only hope he Isn't to busy to do mine.
After all my hard work I didn't want to send good money after bad.
Just a suggestion. Hope this helps.

After hearing those kins of stories, I'm glad I did it myself. The time was right where I thought and only me and that miller bug to blame for the imperfections.

'Tain't so around here (about being typical). If you paid any money up front you made a fundamental mistake. If their money is hanging on getting the job done it gets done in a timely fashion. I agree with the idea of asking folks with finished cars who they used and if they are happy with the work. A fresh paint job can look good only to show poor prep when the paint cures and shrinks.

I must have gotten the "one in a few". I checked out several paint jobs "David" had done and then called him up. He came to MY shop, 10 minutes earlier than he said, looked at my pile of rust and bolts (the panel) and took about 45 minutes surveying the work. This is in November. Gave me an estimate and I told him I'd think about it. Called him on week later and we agreed on the money and what was to be done. He told me he was finishing up a car and to bring the panel to his shop the first of December. I had went to his shop once to look around and see pictures of some of his restorations. I took the panel there first of December and he told me to come back around the first week in Febuary and it'd be ready. Of course I went there MANY times during the work and on one ocassion ask if I needed to re-imburse him for any supplies ect. He said to me "no, just wait until you pick it up". around the first of Feburary he told me to come pick it up!!
"David" had done 3 more cars of my friends and the same senario happens everytime. Once he told a friend "I have two ahead of you and will call you when I can get yours". Sure enough, he called and told my friend to bring it on over. Three weeks later the guy went back and picked up the car. (It was not in bad shape)
He is honest, straight forward and easy to deal with. Gosh, I wish they were all like David.....he is NOT a "professional" painter but is darn good at metal work and paints a TOP OF THE LINE daily driver and was $4000 better than two other paint shops.....saved the other guys around $3000. Two years later they still look great and he is still painting!

Thought a GOOD story needed telling here. All body shop/painters guys are not bad.

Well I guess live and learn, I haven't paid him in advance but instead gave him a deposit. Everyone I talked to spoke highly of his work I guess I didn't ask the right questions concerning time frames. I just hope I get it now in time for the Frog Follies in Evansville, IN.

Alvin, I may have to bring it to S.C. then. I like prompt returns.

Then you gave him money in advance, wrong move. Body shops are like roofers, if they want money in advance run far, run fast.

Thanks for the encouraging story Alvin...I wish I was close by to take advantage of that.

Gman46 you are not THAT far away!! magfarm51 probably is!

The guy is quite young by "our" standards but he enjoys what he does. A few weeks ago when I was over there he had done and amazing job on his 61 chev. wagon including setting a big engine in it out of a Escalade I think it was. Dealing with David was probably the least painful thing of all I've done on the panel.

David is the "younger guy". Right after this pic was taken and my panel finished he painted a 50 Ferd for the guy standing next to him. The Ferd was painted Black and looked fantastic inside and out.

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r19/LutherParris/52Panel/PanelBodypics029.jpg

Alright Tiny I stand corrected I did give him some green like ten Benjamins! I did get my front fenders, running boards, tailgate, door panels, header panel, fender extensions, lower valance and the aprons for the running boards oh and the headlight buckets back. If I could get the cab, bed, hood and rear fenders I'd be in business. I have decided that I won't go by or call till the 12th if it's not ready I'm bringing it home. One way or the other I'll make the Evansville trip on the 26th finished or not.

Alvin, your only about 6 hrs away, BTW the panel looks great nice job on documenting the build, I enjoyed your album. All you guys with 2,3 or more trucks and I can't even get one finished.

Probably a good plan. I should clarify. Paying some money before the job is totally complete is OK as long as certain milestones are met. $X paid upon completion of stage one, $X more upon completion of stage two etc.. The total amount is never paid until the project is totally complete to your satisfaction. They are a lot easier to deal with if you still hold the purse strings.

There's no way I would have paid him in full. I thought by giving him some cash it would entice him to get it done as agreed so he could get the rest. I should have learned how to do bodywork.