Respray costs and thoughts

Hey,

So I might have a bit of cash available soon, so thought I would use it to finally try and finish my defender body wise.

I was just wondering if any of you knowledgeable fellows know approx how much it would cost for a full respray in metallic paint?

I would probably remove everything myself and do some body prep on it to try and bring costs down.

Ta

I would say budget at least £2k for a good paint job, cheaper ain't often better when it comes to painting. The key to a good paint job is the preparation, the more of that you do the cheaper the paint job will work out.

puddlejumper said:

I would say budget at least £2k for a good paint job, cheaper ain't often better when it comes to painting. The key to a good paint job is the preparation, the more of that you do the cheaper the paint job will work out.

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Ok, thanks. As it is ali, do I need to take it back to bare metal? It will also have new wings and doors, I guess provide them to the paint shop unattached?

It all depends on what the bodywork is like. My advice would be find someone to paint and get their advice on how far you need to go with the prep. You shouldn't need to go all the way back to bare metal but you do need it to be flat & that rakes lots of time and hard work.

puddlejumper said:

It all depends on what the bodywork is like. My advice would be find someone to paint and get their advice on how far you need to go with the prep. You shouldn't need to go all the way back to bare metal but you do need it to be flat & that rakes lots of time and hard work.

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Yeah, I'm not sure who to take it to yet. I don't think anyone round me would want to do a land rover. Other than a couple of outie dents in the side panels it is actually reasonably straight for a defender. I just need to decide whether to try and straighten the bonnet or buy a new one

Ive just got a couple of quotes in -

First is a bulkhead. The job has been hot dipped, i did the t-wash last night, and it will go for painting on thursday.
Ive been quoted £150 for primer, a bit of smoothing filler / seam filler as required, and a 2k top, without clear coat.

2nd is a 110 csw roof. Existing paint is fine, i just want it white. Job will go to them stripped of windows etc, but with no work done on the existing finish.
Quoted £175 (which surprised me, as its an easier job, to my eye, than the bulkhead). Again, white, 2k, no clear coat.

White is probably cheaper, as its a finish that they will have knocking about, rather than have to buy in especially.

Took me a while of calling, emailing photos, etc. to get someone to quote. When i found somewhere, i drove the bulkhead over, so as they could eyeball it, to make 100% certain they were happy with their quote.

I done mine myself outside 2 years ago with my own compressor must agree prep is key. And if you scratch it offroading then you can fix yourself.

danny6801 said:

View attachment 109238 I done mine myself outside 2 years ago with my own compressor must agree prep is key. And if you scratch it offroading then you can fix yourself.

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What type of paint did you use?

julianf said:

What type of paint did you use?

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2k was really easy. The hard work is the prep. I bought the paint off eBay.

My concern with 2k is that i live in an area where i could not ensure no living thing (people, people's pets) would breath the fumes.

Otherwise, id be much more keen...

I wouldn't think it was that bad I done mine in a gazebo and nobody complained or died.

danny6801 said:

I wouldn't think it was that bad I done mine in a gazebo and nobody complained or died.

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2k certainly isn't good for you Danny, not that you're concerned now but google isocyanates if you are interested.
But I agree, I haven't died yet either..

aaronmorris said:

2k certainly isn't good for you Danny, not that you're concerned now but google isocyanates if you are interested.
But I agree, I haven't died yet either..

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Yeah I know its not good for you. I bought the best mask I could buy and it was great especially just for a 1 off job.

Try and get another small compressor( if yours is too small ) and invest in an air fed mask. Also make sure the 2nd compressor is well away from the paint fumes.

Paid 1.5K for mine. All panels off the Landy, primer, stonechip under wheel arches, 2K topcoat. Did a lot of flattening down myself and they did the rest. It's early days I suppose, but I'm very happy with it. Not 2016 showroom, but for the money I can't complain at all. Plus, the guy and the others working at the paint shop seemed genuinely interested in the project. Insisted I went back with the Landy once it was built even if I took a year or two! I did and they were out taking pictures of it, which made me think they were pleased with their work.

danny6801 said:

I wouldn't think it was that bad I done mine in a gazebo and nobody complained or died.

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From what I've read, you can't smell the bit that kills you...

...so noone would ever complain, would they?

I'm also not sure that any mask filters them.

I could be wrong on both counts, but they do give me the fear more than half the other stuff that is supposed to be bad for you.

Use another paint to suit your conditions and health.

julianf said:

From what I've read, you can't smell the bit that kills you...

...so noone would ever complain, would they?

I'm also not sure that any mask filters them.

I could be wrong on both counts, but they do give me the fear more than half the other stuff that is supposed to be bad for you.

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I'm sure you can get 2k rated masks nowadays, but are only rated to a certain number of hours.
Not looked into it that much so don't know how expensive they are, but still, they have to be cheaper than an air fed unit and no second compressor to run, so ideal for us doing the painting ourselves.

But I do agree about doing it yourself James, If you have to time/space to do so. (you have access to a farm/barn if I remember right?)
I have done a few in my shed/gazeebo with half reasonable results.
And as said, the hard work is in the prep, I would cry if I scratched my £1500-2000 paint job, well I would if I had done it myself and it had only cost a few hundred quid
But at least you can then patch it in yourself if the worst did happen, or worst case scenario the whole lot.
It is something I would consider, you have tried before but in a damp shed and it didn't come out as it should? I half remember you doing some painting, I wouldn't let it put you off though, get the prep sorted and then go for it when the weather gets better

aaronmorris said:

But I do agree about doing it yourself James, If you have to time/space to do so. (you have access to a farm/barn if I remember right?)
I have done a few in my shed/gazeebo with half reasonable results.
And as said, the hard work is in the prep, I would cry if I scratched my £1500-2000 paint job, well I would if I had done it myself and it had only cost a few hundred quid
But at least you can then patch it in yourself if the worst did happen, or worst case scenario the whole lot.
It is something I would consider, you have tried before but in a damp shed and it didn't come out as it should? I half remember you doing some painting, I wouldn't let it put you off though, get the prep sorted and then go for it when the weather gets better

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Yep, I have considered doing it myself, but I was a little disappointed last time. You are right, it was done in a damp shed, but I don't really have anywhere else, especially in the winter. Even yesterday I finished some patching up, removed the masking tape, and it pulled off a load of paint! The roof is mostly primer now.

Plus it is still in the back of my mind to sell it at some point, so I want it to be as near to perfect as you can get with a defender.