Yeah, he wants it to be close to show quality... which I can do. So there is no way a shop would charge 1500 for it. And even if, why did he go to a damn forum site to post he wanted someone to paint his car. He would have gone straight to the shop. I think 1k plus materials is fair. I've seen a 1500 paint job from around here. Not pretty, though the kid loved it. To each his own I suppose. Not to mention I need to do a color change on it. 1k and materials is what I'm telling him. 500 up front. 500 after job completion and satisfaction... and I'm writing up a damn contract. Let me get screwed on this.

 

It depends on how detailed you want to get. Changing the color can be difficult in itself with the time to cut in the door jambs, trunk, etc. If you are going to take the glass out, take the chrome off and strip out the interior that's a different story.

I was quoted 5-6k to paint my car with a show quality paint job and that's with them taking the glass out and stripping off the chrome to paint it a different color, and the body on my car shows no rust or real damage.

I think you're right to charge a fee plus the materials if you are not sure. At least you'll know what you will make off your time and the cost of the materials will be covered.

 

it was at a shop.

 

Wow, you are going too cheap. He wants a metallic with a color change. Is this a 2 stage or 3 stage paint? Do you have to color sand it, also? Scuffing and masking alone is a big PITA. Do you have to remove all the emblems? If you are doing it for $1,000 plus materials, make sure the materials includes all the sanding, paper, tape and other non-paint materials, they add up quick! If you are going for $1,000, I would make him sand, mask, disassemble, reassemble, and color sand. That $1,000 is your fee for your expertise with the gun.

 

Ok, just to let you all know. I went to look at this car. And I'll post the pictures probably sunday. HE is tearing it all down on sunday, everything, and I do mean everything is coming off this car. Interior, glass, engine, emblems... everything. It does have some rust showing through and there are some chips in the paint down to the metal. It's almost all straight except for one small dent I saw on the driver door. This will be like cake work. We kind of talked about the price and he said the lowest he was quoted was 3600 so I'm now thinking 2k is better plus he buys the materials. Only thing I'm not looking forward to is he asked for it to be wet sanded after... ROYAL PITA. Hopefully once I get in that booth my old natural habits come back, I used to lay it damn near smooth as glass. Real cool guy though, he said I'm more than welcome to use his fully stocked garage and work on it anytime and said as long as it's done by may when he moves lol... But it's going to be one hell of a car. I'm excited to get back into it. Also had another kid tonight offer to pay me to help guide him in a 70 Charger that needs alot of help since he doesn't really know what he's doing.