Need Reassurance on Pro Paint Quote

[harrychurch]

So I've decided I want my baby painted. And no, I can't paint it myself.

So I do the next best thing. My friend (who has a 'show car') hooks me up with his paint guy. Having never had a bike professionally painted, I had no idea what kind of price range to be thinking about.

It sounds like a lot of work. For my part, I'm removing the tank and the two fenders from my '99 Shadow Spirit 1100, and that's what's getting painted.

For his part, he's sanding/striping the factory paint and decals down to the bone, pulling and filling one small(ish) dent in the gas tank, then I'm getting two coats of a custom metallic pearlescent paint color, and three coats of clear. One color, no designs, but he said if I can get some vinyl decals that I want on the bike he'll add those before he shoots the clear for no extra charge.

His first quote was $800 using 'top of the line show paint.' After I stopped coughing and spluttering, I told him I couldn't do $800. We agreed on $500 for 'factory quality' paint that's not crap but not 'top of the line.'

My question to anyone who has experience with professional paint is this: Does this sound like a fair price, or should I keep shopping around? On the one hand, the $500 is /worth it/ to me, because it's my baby. On the other hand, I'm going to have to save for a month and a half to get that $500, so if it's not a great price, I might have to expand my search area for paint and body guys.

[joe in calif]

Paint is very expensive, that sounds like a good price to me. A quart of paint is about $200. Go to colorite.com and check it out. Not only will he need paint but also clear coat.

[Bow&Aero]

I did my own tins with a 2 color scheme (one being a candy red) and 8 coats of clear ( mainly because i mixed the whole qt and just kept spaying until I was out) and it cost me close to $400 in materials. Sounds fair to me.

[harrychurch]

Okay, thanks guys. My gut was telling me the price was a good one, but my brain just kept screaming 'FIIIIIIVE HUUUUUNDRED DOLLLLLARS!!!!' - I knew I should go with my gut, it's WAY bigger than my brain and gets used a lot more.

[Bowie-]

I used to do it professionally, for a restoration shop. The cost is mostly in the labor. Takes time to prep, mask, and then sand/buff. That's where the quality lies and that's what they don't do at the cheap places. If you are taking the tank and fenders to them, then it's a small job for them. Very little masking since you're going 1color. They don't need to strip it bare, save for the area around the dent. Sanding all the way down is unnecessary labor in this situation, IMO. Also, either you or they forgot to include the primer steps. That said, if they are doing clean work, $800 isn't bad, especially if they cut and buff that clear coat for a smooth finish. "Show paint" is not necessary on your bike and honestly, it's not much of a difference unless you're looking down the side of a car that has immaculate body work. $500 is a great price. We were more expensive than that. Hell, I might charge 500 to do it out of my garage. Go with the $500 job unless that implies them slopping through it. When you get the parts back, check for dust in the paint, heavy orangepeel/runs, and sloppy edges. Insist that any of those things are corrected.

[1996shadow]

The cost of paint work depends largely on where you are and what kind of paint is being used. I know of someplaces where they use only PPG paint and charge premium prices. I also know places that use Sherwin Williams and charge premium prices. Then again, the color can make a bog difference in the price. I painted a car a couple of years ago that the paint cost more for a quart than I paid for a gallon for the car before that, just because of the color.

With all that said, I would probably charge about $500 for the same work, depending on how much the color cost.

[CrazyDave]

Back in the nineties I had a guy shoot an 883 with Chrome Illusion ( $$$ for that paint ) He charges $500 and I bought the paint supplies.. I hear it is tricky to shoot and I was taking a chance seeing the primary reason he wanted the job was a chance to work with the material, the end result was satisfactory to both of us..$ 500 is a good price.

[maninblack]

don't paint if its out of your budget . you
Said you decided ? and it not needed?


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