Would it be better to paint the whole car when its all together or separate? I am doing a complete color change so the jams will be done also. And which way will yield better results.

 

I'm also wondering the same thing

 

I would guess do the car as a whole to ensure you get consistent coverage. You don't want Some panels being different shades.

 

bump

 

i'll agree with low91rex...

do the car all at once
never ever paint panels seperately and expect your car to match. that is unless, you're painting them in the booth all at once... even then, i think it could be sketchy

 

yea apart might look better cause all the little nooks and cranny's would be painted as well, but i only suggest that if you know ull have a consistant color tone thru out the car, so just do it all on the car i guess. lol

 

i think it would be ideal to paint the "miniature parts" seperately from the car. like the mirrors or the spoiler. things that require you to get in the little bends and cracks

 

I would do it all seperatly. Just make sure that you paint it all at the same time, in the same booth. To insure it all matches perfectly.

 

I had a similar question...my thread might help you out some.

https://honda-tech.com/forums/paint-body-84/painting-car-jambs-order-operations-2603314/

 

If you plan on doing the door jams, i'd take the doors off just so you can get in all the small areas, then put the doors back on and paint everything together while on the car. I took everything off my car when I painted it just so I ws sure to get everything painted so that it looked like it came from the factory.

 

i'd do it as a whole and tape off the outside and do the inside later if you know what i mean, but i would try to keep it consistent.

 

the best idea is to put a base coat with all panels seperate, the fenders off, bumper hood, door, and trunk. (now this definately applies to someone who is changing colors dractically, green to black, blue to red, or if you dont want to open your door jams and see tiny rememberances of when your car was a beater...lmao.) you may want to reapply primer because you will see the places the you forgot to hit while priming your car as a whole. after primer sets, paint a base coat, after a base coat is established you can reassemble the entire car except for the doors, i leave my trunk and hood off for outstanding detail, but thats me, i take the needed hours, and i mean hours, to make sure my taping is perfect. taping can save you many hour, as well as the wrok you put into preping. just what ive learned from 1, only took 1 shitty paint job. i dont settle for, "man, it looks good to me" **** your eyes, because cameras tell all, take pictures of your car with a good camera, and you see alot that lighting and your pupils adjusting will miss. just my 2 cents. but to answer the question, painting the car as a whole is the only way, you cant get it even without the panels all put together, but without clear, and the fact that you havent applied 8 or more coats, WITHOUT LETTING THEM DRY, you can always apply paint to these layers and finish the job. best idea someone ever gave me, go get a junker fender, door or trunk, and test your painting ability on this, even a flat peice of sheet metal, if you cant paint on flat sheet metal, you need to get the yellow pages or a buddy with talent....knowledge cannot surpass technique and talent...just get a painter

 

anyone know the average price for color change?

 

if you are using a color with a pearl you want to make sure the parts are at least somewhat the same orientation that they will be on the car ..

 

what's your budget and what do you expect? It can range $500 for a shitty job to $4000+ for near-perfection. Now, when I say shitty job, that's my opinion; but I'm also hard to please and it might be 'fine' for people who are constantly broke and have no concept of saving for something and doing it right the first time. Last four estimates I've gotten for my car, brought in completely stripped and glass pulled, were between $2500 and $7000 (and this is for a pretty straight and true body only needing basic blocking).