PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum - View Single Post - Who dares do their own body repair and paint.

rs899 · #9 08-02-2004, 06:40 PM

"1.Todays paints if used wrong can kill you. "

True , but so can water if used improperly

"2. Most states require you have a professional paint booth to paint in."

I have no way of verifying such a statement. Probably true that there are many local ordinances that would frown on such activities. I live in the sticks and I can't imagine how anyone could stop me from shooting the occasional car

"3. Most amateur jobs are just that amateur."

True, but I think the readers of this forum are a cut or two above "amateur" in interest and with a bit of practice, lots of patience and knowledge can produce much better than amateur ( ie rattlecan)results

"I think its best to leave it to the pros."

Your money- your call.

I've repainted my wife's car in red (GM #81) which approximates Signalrot. I went that way because I found pre-mixed (Kirker) urthane paint for $80/gal with hardener. The result is very good but it took me countless hours of spraying and respraying (wrong color selected, poor conditions led to thin coats and burn through on color sanding). Lots of lessons learned.

Will I do it again? Heck yes- I have my Spitfire and Ford pickup to do next- this year. Another Mercedes? not if I can help it because there just too much trim to take off/mask.

But if you pay someone to do this they'll just have to spend much of the same amount of time on prep work. May be best to do the grunt work and have a pro shoot the car if you can find one to work this deal.