doing your own body work
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Senior User
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 327
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From: Saskatchewan
doing your own body work
I am pondering over the Idea of doing my own body and paint work on my 70' F100, My question is this, are all of you who did your own satisfied with it or do you wish you went to a pro. I aint lookin for a show truck, just something to take out and be happy with.
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,495
Likes: 2
From: Northwest Fl
doing your own body work
Joe,
If you have a limited skills and the bodywork is major, I would recommend a pro. Another consideration is, do you have or can borrow the equipment? Spray guns, air compressors, sanders etc…are expensive, especially if you buy good quality equipment. You can still do it yourself, you just want save much money and it will possibly cost you more than what the pro would charge.
On the other hand, if you do your homework and have a desire to learn, plenty of time and enough space, you can do a good job. Find a good supplier willing to work with you and let them help you with your paints, primers etc. Don’t mix and match, as some systems are not compatible with other. If possible, stay away from the metallic paints and candies as a lot of pros have trouble with them.
Health concerns are another issue you need to be aware of. Most modern paints and primers are potentially lethal and as you can imagine, there are plenty of opinions on that subject. There are pressurized breathing systems, which tend to be the preferred way to go if you care about your health and there is of course the cartridge respirator which a lot of us have used even though they don't provide adequate protection. Your health, your choice, read the warnings and decide that issue for yourself.
Sorry for the long winded reply.
If you have a limited skills and the bodywork is major, I would recommend a pro. Another consideration is, do you have or can borrow the equipment? Spray guns, air compressors, sanders etc…are expensive, especially if you buy good quality equipment. You can still do it yourself, you just want save much money and it will possibly cost you more than what the pro would charge.
On the other hand, if you do your homework and have a desire to learn, plenty of time and enough space, you can do a good job. Find a good supplier willing to work with you and let them help you with your paints, primers etc. Don’t mix and match, as some systems are not compatible with other. If possible, stay away from the metallic paints and candies as a lot of pros have trouble with them.
Health concerns are another issue you need to be aware of. Most modern paints and primers are potentially lethal and as you can imagine, there are plenty of opinions on that subject. There are pressurized breathing systems, which tend to be the preferred way to go if you care about your health and there is of course the cartridge respirator which a lot of us have used even though they don't provide adequate protection. Your health, your choice, read the warnings and decide that issue for yourself.
Sorry for the long winded reply.
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Senior User
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 327
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From: Saskatchewan
doing your own body work
Huntsman
I have lots of time because I don't acutally need to be using this truck for at least year,
All I would need to buy as far as tools go would be a spraygun,a air sander, and buy or borrow a welder,
The only parts that need work are the cab corners and bed side corners, I don't think it is that big of a job.
1970 Ford f100 custom
I have lots of time because I don't acutally need to be using this truck for at least year,
All I would need to buy as far as tools go would be a spraygun,a air sander, and buy or borrow a welder,
The only parts that need work are the cab corners and bed side corners, I don't think it is that big of a job.
1970 Ford f100 custom
Admom
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 9,414
Likes: 201
From: Silver Springs
doing your own body work
Heck Joe - if I can do it, you can. All it takes is alot of patience, time and the willingness to re-do it if you mess up the first time.
I'd never done bodywork until we got our '41 and to make it "Our" project rather than just my Hubby's, I'm doing everything cosmetic. There's a post a little further down giving a couple sites, books and a video on how to if you're really that interested in doing this project yourself.
As Huntsman mentioned, do some research on how-to. Once you have the basics down, you can ask anything specific here and you'll get all the help you need.
Good luck.
I'd never done bodywork until we got our '41 and to make it "Our" project rather than just my Hubby's, I'm doing everything cosmetic. There's a post a little further down giving a couple sites, books and a video on how to if you're really that interested in doing this project yourself.
As Huntsman mentioned, do some research on how-to. Once you have the basics down, you can ask anything specific here and you'll get all the help you need.
Good luck.
Senior User
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 301
Likes: 1
From: East Texas
doing your own body work
now a days the cost of materals is outrages!
The automotive paint supply houses are making the average Joe
buy larger quantities then needed for a paint job.
There is a lot more to paint and body work then meets the eye!
you will be alot happier and it will cost less and look a whole lot better to have a body shop do the job.
Good luck whatever you decide
over and out
gseeders
The automotive paint supply houses are making the average Joe
buy larger quantities then needed for a paint job.
There is a lot more to paint and body work then meets the eye!
you will be alot happier and it will cost less and look a whole lot better to have a body shop do the job.
Good luck whatever you decide
over and out
gseeders
Admom
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 9,414
Likes: 201
From: Silver Springs
doing your own body work
Originally posted by gseeders
There is a lot more to paint and body work then meets the eye!
you will be alot happier and it will cost less and look a whole lot better to have a body shop do the job.
Good luck whatever you decide
over and out
gseeders
There is a lot more to paint and body work then meets the eye!
you will be alot happier and it will cost less and look a whole lot better to have a body shop do the job.
Good luck whatever you decide
over and out
gseeders
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Senior User
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 301
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From: East Texas
doing your own body work
Originally posted by carlene
I have to disagree with you on that one. I find a lot of pride in doing it myself.
I have to disagree with you on that one. I find a lot of pride in doing it myself.
Do you really expect the average Joe to combine years of on the job training into one job that requires welding, body work and a complete paint job?
Enought said," the idea is a waste of money!", Pride has nothing to do with it!! experience does!!
over and out
gseeders
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Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 2,557
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From: Texas
doing your own body work
Well Gseeders, I guess you have the 3-4 grand it takes to get it done in a few months by a body shop that's too busy with the lexus' and hondas and only work on your truck after hours or when the quickie fixes are done for the day.
Personally, I never painted with anything other than a can and had decent results for what was expected. I never formed, welded, sanded, smoothed or worked sheetmetal until I decided it would be too expensive to let the shops do it on my truck. Sure, it took me a couple of months to get the floor pans welded in, a couple of days to repair a cab corner, and a few hours to make lower cowl patches, but I didn't know I could do it until I tried. As far as expense goes, if I mess up something, I have to replace only the materials , if the shop messes up, they not only charge you the $$ for the parts but add in the extra labor as well.
As Carlene pointed out, there's no better satisfaction in this hobby than doing a good job with your own two hands and having others admire your handy work. That's one of the main reasons I posted the Patch Panel/Rust repair thread. I wanted to see what others could critique about my work and also pass on to those who know nothing about the process what I learned.
So how about you? Are you doing all of your own work or paying a shop to make it look good?
Personally, I never painted with anything other than a can and had decent results for what was expected. I never formed, welded, sanded, smoothed or worked sheetmetal until I decided it would be too expensive to let the shops do it on my truck. Sure, it took me a couple of months to get the floor pans welded in, a couple of days to repair a cab corner, and a few hours to make lower cowl patches, but I didn't know I could do it until I tried. As far as expense goes, if I mess up something, I have to replace only the materials , if the shop messes up, they not only charge you the $$ for the parts but add in the extra labor as well.
As Carlene pointed out, there's no better satisfaction in this hobby than doing a good job with your own two hands and having others admire your handy work. That's one of the main reasons I posted the Patch Panel/Rust repair thread. I wanted to see what others could critique about my work and also pass on to those who know nothing about the process what I learned.
So how about you? Are you doing all of your own work or paying a shop to make it look good?
Last edited by Rosati; Jan 29, 2003 at 02:26 PM.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,019
Likes: 2
From: Georgetown, Ky
doing your own body work
Doin bodywork yourself is very rewarding. It can also be very frustrating if you dont have the right tools, or know which is the right tool for the job (i.e. a Shrinking hamer or a pick hamer).
My thought would be find a local shop, and voulenteer to help them whenever you get free time. I wouldnt advise this at a large shop, but a smaller one with only a few employee's would more than likley be glad to have the help in exchange for teaching you. That is how I got my start =)
Just a thought.
Btw anything with a catalyst in it, is really harmfull. Most base/clear paint systems today, the base coats anyway, do not have a catalyst. I still wouldnt recomend that you spray w/o a respirator (around 20 bucks) but.. no serious harm will come to ya if you do.
My thought would be find a local shop, and voulenteer to help them whenever you get free time. I wouldnt advise this at a large shop, but a smaller one with only a few employee's would more than likley be glad to have the help in exchange for teaching you. That is how I got my start =)
Just a thought.
Btw anything with a catalyst in it, is really harmfull. Most base/clear paint systems today, the base coats anyway, do not have a catalyst. I still wouldnt recomend that you spray w/o a respirator (around 20 bucks) but.. no serious harm will come to ya if you do.
Senior User
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 301
Likes: 1
From: East Texas
doing your own body work
Originally posted by krosati
Well Gseeders, I guess you have the 3-4 grand it takes to get it done in a few months by a body shop that's too busy with the lexus' and hondas and only work on your truck after hours or when the quickie fixes are done for the day.
To think that a shop is going to only work on old trucks or cars
after hours is nieve. None of the shops that I have worked in did this practice. The only time that a scenario of this nature took place is for the customer sake. (Thay didn't have all the money at one time so thay paid a little at a time). Money is green!!! doesn't matter if its a 70 model pickup ar a 80 thousand corvette.
personally, I never painted with anything other than a can and had decent results for what was expected. I never formed, welded, sanded, smoothed or worked sheetmetal until I decided it would be too expensive to let the shops do it on my truck. Sure, it took me a couple of months to get the floor pans welded in, a couple of days to repair a cab corner, and a few hours to make lower cowl patches, but I didn't know I could do it until I tried. As far as expense goes, if I mess up something, I have to replace only the materials ,
if the shop messes up, they not only charge you the $$ for the parts but add in the extra labor as well.
Never have I seen a shop charge for what a employee has mess up. Shop always covered this expense. (always) Now there is times that something was miss on the estimate, the additional parts and labor is charged back to the customer. (what do you expect?)
As Carlene pointed out, there's no better satisfaction in this hobby than doing a good job with your own two hands and having others admire your handy work.
agree 100% ( one should know how much to put on his plate tho.)
That's one of the main reasons I posted the Patch Panel/Rust repair thread. I wanted to see what others could critique about my work and also pass on to those who know nothing about the process what I learned.
So how about you? Are you doing all of your own work or paying a shop to make it look good?
Well Gseeders, I guess you have the 3-4 grand it takes to get it done in a few months by a body shop that's too busy with the lexus' and hondas and only work on your truck after hours or when the quickie fixes are done for the day.
To think that a shop is going to only work on old trucks or cars
after hours is nieve. None of the shops that I have worked in did this practice. The only time that a scenario of this nature took place is for the customer sake. (Thay didn't have all the money at one time so thay paid a little at a time). Money is green!!! doesn't matter if its a 70 model pickup ar a 80 thousand corvette.
personally, I never painted with anything other than a can and had decent results for what was expected. I never formed, welded, sanded, smoothed or worked sheetmetal until I decided it would be too expensive to let the shops do it on my truck. Sure, it took me a couple of months to get the floor pans welded in, a couple of days to repair a cab corner, and a few hours to make lower cowl patches, but I didn't know I could do it until I tried. As far as expense goes, if I mess up something, I have to replace only the materials ,
if the shop messes up, they not only charge you the $$ for the parts but add in the extra labor as well.
Never have I seen a shop charge for what a employee has mess up. Shop always covered this expense. (always) Now there is times that something was miss on the estimate, the additional parts and labor is charged back to the customer. (what do you expect?)
As Carlene pointed out, there's no better satisfaction in this hobby than doing a good job with your own two hands and having others admire your handy work.
agree 100% ( one should know how much to put on his plate tho.)
That's one of the main reasons I posted the Patch Panel/Rust repair thread. I wanted to see what others could critique about my work and also pass on to those who know nothing about the process what I learned.
So how about you? Are you doing all of your own work or paying a shop to make it look good?
Backed by 20 years of on the job training and still learning!!
Yes, I do my own body work. I have all the tools, equipment, and most importantly I have the experience. I surely wasn't qualitify to handly a complete autobody restoration when I first got started in this trade.
If you haven't checked out paint supply lately , do so!
cheepest paint system out there will run at least $500. for materals.( if you know what your doing).
That would be quit a hit in the billfold when your paint is dripping on the floor or matalic slides or when you spray the first coat and you have fish eye's show up and you have no fish eye eliminator because you don't even know what a fish eye is! (I could go on and on, but I am not!)
I'am for helping all! Sorry you can't see that!
over and out
gseeders
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,019
Likes: 2
From: Georgetown, Ky
doing your own body work
You know Gseeders... Ive been painting for 7 years now, and... ive had a total of THREE fisheyes... What the heck is Fisheye eliminator? Let that first coat dry and keep spraying.. it'll fill in MOST of the time. If you prep the part right.. you wont have that problem to begin with.
I can buy at MY cost a Gallon of paint..and reducer for less than a hundred bucks. My clear costs around 100 a gallon. I fail to see the 500 bucks you mentioned/ Yeah if you use Sikkens. DuPont, Sherwin Williams, Acme, Omni, PPG, Nason (by Dupont) are all very good products. Nason is less than half the cost of dupont... comes from the same pigment..
Your metalic wont slide if you dont spray it so Wet. And you color wont run off to the floor either.
I'm back quiet.
I can buy at MY cost a Gallon of paint..and reducer for less than a hundred bucks. My clear costs around 100 a gallon. I fail to see the 500 bucks you mentioned/ Yeah if you use Sikkens. DuPont, Sherwin Williams, Acme, Omni, PPG, Nason (by Dupont) are all very good products. Nason is less than half the cost of dupont... comes from the same pigment..
Your metalic wont slide if you dont spray it so Wet. And you color wont run off to the floor either.
I'm back quiet.
Senior User
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 301
Likes: 1
From: East Texas
doing your own body work
Originally posted by 4starcstms
You know Gseeders... Ive been painting for 7 years now, and... ive had a total of THREE fisheyes... What the heck is Fisheye eliminator? Let that first coat dry and keep spraying.. it'll fill in MOST of the time. If you prep the part right.. you wont have that problem to begin with.
It fills in most of the time. What happens when it don't?
please don't answer that I don't even care!
I can buy at MY cost a Gallon of paint..and reducer for less than a hundred bucks. My clear costs around 100 a gallon.
I guess thats where I went wrong. I didn't realize that a gallon of paint and a gallon of clear was all that is needed in painting a truck. Primers,thinners,reducers,hardners, fillers,sand paper,tack rags,ect.,ect. and ect. are all free and I have been paying for it!wow!
I fail to see the 500 bucks you mentioned/ Yeah if you use Sikkens. DuPont, Sherwin Williams, Acme, Omni, PPG, Nason (by Dupont) are all very good products. Nason is less than half the cost of dupont... comes from the same pigment..
Your metalic wont slide if you dont spray it so Wet. And you color wont run off to the floor either.
I'm back quiet.
You know Gseeders... Ive been painting for 7 years now, and... ive had a total of THREE fisheyes... What the heck is Fisheye eliminator? Let that first coat dry and keep spraying.. it'll fill in MOST of the time. If you prep the part right.. you wont have that problem to begin with.
It fills in most of the time. What happens when it don't?
please don't answer that I don't even care!
I can buy at MY cost a Gallon of paint..and reducer for less than a hundred bucks. My clear costs around 100 a gallon.
I guess thats where I went wrong. I didn't realize that a gallon of paint and a gallon of clear was all that is needed in painting a truck. Primers,thinners,reducers,hardners, fillers,sand paper,tack rags,ect.,ect. and ect. are all free and I have been paying for it!wow!
I fail to see the 500 bucks you mentioned/ Yeah if you use Sikkens. DuPont, Sherwin Williams, Acme, Omni, PPG, Nason (by Dupont) are all very good products. Nason is less than half the cost of dupont... comes from the same pigment..
Your metalic wont slide if you dont spray it so Wet. And you color wont run off to the floor either.
I'm back quiet.
it's part of learning. if if if if if !!!
a fellow ask a question and I have the right to give the best advise possible from my background. As you all have a right to you own opinion. Anyone certainly has the right to invest their time and money as they see fit.
have you even followed the thread?
I'am done with this !!
Last edited by gseeders; Jan 29, 2003 at 10:25 PM.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,019
Likes: 2
From: Georgetown, Ky
doing your own body work
Nope I can't read one letter. My intent isnot to upset anybody however.... it is part of learning.. but at no time should that color coat be wet...rather be dry than tooo wet. Heck anybody want to see pictures of a first coat? I'll post em if you want to see.
Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 2,557
Likes: 2
From: Texas
doing your own body work
Quote:"9 mo of college in autobody repair. ( This was full 9 mo. 8 hrs. a day, 5 days a week, shop training. not book work eather)
Backed by 20 years of on the job training and still learning!!
Yes, I do my own body work. I have all the tools, equipment, and most importantly I have the experience. I surely wasn't qualitify to handly a complete autobody restoration when I first got started in this trade.
I'am for helping all! Sorry you can't see that!
over and out
gseeders"
Now we know what your opinion was based on, I wasn't aware that you were giving your professional opinion. My opinion was based on my personal experience and I figured Joe Fix It was asking what we think about his doing his own body work. I am trying to convey to him that he could be the next expert body man but he wont know it unless he tries.
I value your opinion. Thanks.
Backed by 20 years of on the job training and still learning!!
Yes, I do my own body work. I have all the tools, equipment, and most importantly I have the experience. I surely wasn't qualitify to handly a complete autobody restoration when I first got started in this trade.
I'am for helping all! Sorry you can't see that!
over and out
gseeders"
Now we know what your opinion was based on, I wasn't aware that you were giving your professional opinion. My opinion was based on my personal experience and I figured Joe Fix It was asking what we think about his doing his own body work. I am trying to convey to him that he could be the next expert body man but he wont know it unless he tries.
I value your opinion. Thanks.