First, I must warn you that I'm a newbie to the site (just joined) and restoring my own vehicle ('89 Prelude acquired Dec 2009). You don't necessarily have to go easy on me, just know that, although I'm a sponge for learning thing about and what to do with my car, I'm not as knowledgable as most of yall are. Now on to my issue...

My car was painted on Friday, Apr 15....yes, 7 days ago. The guy had it for two weeks, promising that duration would ensure a top-quality paint job (no orange peel, perfect wet-sanding, etc., etc., etc.). I get the car back, excited as hell how great she looks, and after shooting the **** for an hour, drive home. Since then, while showing her off to a variety of ppl, none of which are my Prelude group yet due to location, and I'm finding all sorts of issues. Crap in the paint/clear coat, deep scratches from sanding or scraping, def. orange peel, etc.

My question is, am I crazy for expecting a near-perfect paint job? I mean, shouldn't the guy have double-checked the entire surface area to ensure no crap was in the paint/clear coat, all scratches and marks covered, and/or no orange peel????

 

-how much did it cost
-what was the agreed work to be done
-can you give us some pic's on the paint problems ?
-a minor amount texture is normal, a completely flat finish needs more clear coats wich is more money and alot more cut and buff time.

 

I would also like to know

 

x2

Ive learned after a few times, never trust anyone unfortunately

Had you seen any of his previous work before you sent your car and CASH to him?

 

Cost: $1,650

Agreed work: replace/repair front right fender, bondo any dents (mostly door dings & minor hail damage), paint

Pics: forthcoming, life turned crazy the weekend of Easter

Basically, after hanging out with my fellow Prelude pals last weekend, I'm realizing most of the issues I have with the paint job are normal except for the crap in the clear coat. Apparently, the scratches in the back bumper could possibly be cracks in the bumper. However, the scrapes along both sides of the car are where the guy possibly scraped the car while removing the original pinstriping. But still, shouldn't that have been buffed out or something? idk

 

Tho it not a ton of money for custom paint job. Sand scratches and dirt nibs should always get took care of. I would never put my name on a job like that even if i did the job for free. I would point out some of the stuff to him. Cause if you wanted a job like that you could of went to Maaco and paid a third of what you did.

 

Now see, those were my thoughts exactly. I could have easily gone to Maaco, but this guy came highly recommended by a friend whose husband got his Torino painted by the same guy.

There will come a time that I talk to this guy, get the scratches 'fixed'.....then get it wet sanded and several more layers of clear applied.

 

You wont need more clear if he did it correctly. You need to have it color sanded,compounded, and polished...

 

exactly. you shouldn't need to clear coat

 

1650 isnt much for a paint job depending on what you were getting. Is it the same color or a color change? Are you using the term of bondo any dents? Or was that his term to you. There is no such thing as normal problems with a paint job unless your a hack. Pin stripes should have used a eraser wheel to take off not a razor or whatever was used. Scrapes in the bumpers should have been filled. From the sounds of it you wanted a some what custom paint job. Well me as a painter I wouldnt agreed for 1650 unless you were a good friend and I was helping you out or bartering. But at the sametime in my shop you get what you pay for. I hope the guy stands up to his work and fixes whats wrong with it.

 

Is is the same color.

I can't remember if he said bondo or not. It had dings on the left side where the previous owner bumped their lawnmower into it while it was parked for two years until they decided what to do with it. He also said it had hail damage; I have no clue as the paint was so oxidized, nor did I scrutinize over the body past the dings on the left.

So he said he put three layers of clear. What would be considered a standard amount of clear? ...and would the need ever arise to add more? (aside from body work due to a wreck or whatnot)

 

Well i would love to see what this 1600$ paint job lookS like so we can give u opinions