Maaco v. Rustoleum - your thoughts

Hi,

So I'm considering what direction to go with Paint on my 65 ECJ5. it's a resto mod and will be fleet tan in color. Budget needs to be under $500. Maaco will shoot inside and out the the tub, fenders, grill, hood for that. Or I remember JP mag doing a rig with rustoleum.

So your thoughts: Do I run some rustoleum through my HPLV paint gun or let the guys at maaco job the job. I've considered doing it myself with a better auto paint, but I don't have a paint booth or proper breathing gear - so I was trying to stay safer (health and enviro) with something like the rustoleum (don't think it has iso's in it).

Thanks in advance for the ideas.

 

I am now a firm believer in DIY. Did this in my garage with no special gear, just a cheapie HF HVLP. I've recently learned that O'Reilleys Auto Parts sells Nason paint for cheap. I've found that the key to sucess is in sanding, not painting; I don't think MAACO is going to spend the time necessary in that respect; it's been my experience in the past that they just want to shoot paint in volume.

 

I don't think maco sands at all unless you pay extra for it. I am very seriously considering the roller paint rustoleum method someone posted. I already have the paint rollers and some paint to try it out. There was a thread on it a long while back.

http://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=2331682&page=0&fpart=1&vc=1

 

I had my 81 J-10 Stepside repainted by Maaco in 1996
I removed lights, handles, grille, etc..items that they would have masked around. I got them to mask the radiator area, etc.
I did what I could to make their job easier.
they repainted the same original factory color, Mocha Brown.
I couldn't have been any happier with the job and the final product.
I paid about $700 if I recall for the job.
They even painted and installed a new rear fiberglass fender for me.
I was very satisfied with them.
Of course, the personell make the difference.
ymmv

 

I recommend neither. Shoot it yourself some Valspar/Tractor Supply enamel and be happy. I HATE RUSTOLEUM!!! Damn stuff takes ~16 months to dry and if you so much as look at it the wrong way you end up having crinkles in it! :evil:

 

I did an experiment on a spare hood for my Diplomat with some cheap Canary yellow gloss paint,, I sanded 1/2 the hood down to 1000 grit then cleaned and sprayed a light first coat that basicly didn't cover but put paint on, I continued spraying layers till I had total coverage with no visible color from underneath then let it sit for 3 hours (fast dry paint) then 1000 grit again, shot it 2 more times then after an hour 1000 grit it then polished it and it looked like a yellow mirror

Any paint will yield great results, It's all in the prep work.

 

Someone once told me if you are having Maaco (or a similar place) paint your vehicle, do all the prep work yourself, including any masking, romove any parts you don't want painted, and then roll it in to their booth. It's true about the outcome depends heavily on the prep work. This is one area I'm pretty sure the inexpensive places skimp on as it's the most labor intensive.

 

Will Maaco even take in nekkid auto body parts? Like just the tub, fenders, hood, etc.? I'd be surprised if they did, because of the hassle in handling loose parts.

 

:iagree: I'm going to do this just to say I did.

 

It IS all in the prep work, I sanded mine with 150 grit, grabbed a good paint brush and painted away!! I used marine primer and "finish coat"!!!

Jeeps ain't pretty

Years ago I worked with an OLD hand painter at a marina who apprenticed painting wagons, then cars and when that wasn't done any more turned to painting boats. He could put down a coat of paint/varnish by hand that would make a good shooters jaw drop!!! He was 86 - 36 years ago!! A REAL craftsman!!

Dale