maaco paint job.
 

Any one used maaco for paint job on there ride.Thinking of trying them.

Re: maaco paint job.
 

Keep in mind the "Paint" today is not the same as what it was just a few years ago.
Thank you EPA.
Also paint can be guaranteed for five years, but the body work only one year.
Bruce

Re: maaco paint job.
 

You really do get what you pay for. Nothing has changed in that respect. Quality work takes time and expensive finish products. Quick production work saves time but has been proven not to hold up as well as methodical techniques that preserve the metal better and under harsher conditions. Quick production shops cut every corner they can and generally use the least expensive filling and finishing products that they can get. There are some quality paint suppliers and there are some that aren't so good.

Re: maaco paint job.
 

I used Maaco year ago on my 1950 F-2. I had it all ready for them. It was a quick flip for a customer so the $400 charge was a good price and the job they did was just fine.

The customer did not want to spend the money on an expensive paint job..

Re: maaco paint job.
 

Just watched undercover boss last night & it was about Macco. Seems they have a new CEO & he is building up the business with better quality work & not taking short cuts. Cannot vouch for the paint tho. Looked good on the tube. I would be tempted to try them for a driver.

Re: maaco paint job.
 

Materials for a quality paint job can cost $400 not counting the labor. If you want a Maaco paint job to be half good, you have to do a lot of the work yourself. Remove as much chrome and trim as you can and sand the old paint good with 320 grit sand paper and wash the car down good with dishwashing soap to remove the grit and old wax. Usually Maaco painters are fairly good. Who else gets to paint 5 or 6 cars a day?

Re: maaco paint job.
 

Funny - the president of MAACO was on Undercover Boss just last night.

Mine came with a black "done in the barn" job. It's very thick paint from the 60's or 70's and it buffed up pretty well for driver.

I know a guy who did a '50 shoebox in white through MAACO and it looked OK.

Point being I guess that it depends on what you want in the end. Get it done and use it - or - take it apart, prep it, run out of money, get the money, prep it again, paint it, run out of money, get the money, assemble a really nice car, worry about it.

I suppose it would make a difference if someone here can help you choose a paint and you can spec that paint for the job.

Re: maaco paint job.
 

My '60s car has a Maaco job from the late 80's going strong. Color was not matched real well and shows at door sills etc. and has some runs but at a glance it's actually really pretty cause it's a bright, light blue. We give it a scrub with comet every spring and add new wax and hand buff. Excellent for the grocery getter that folks love to hit with their Beemer doors in the parking lot. Not sure I'd go there for black though... Chris

Re: maaco paint job.
 

Each Maaco will be different, and next month it may change, the local Maaco here has a good paint sprayer, but bad tapers this month

Re: maaco paint job.
 

Maaco painted Old Henry over 7 years ago. I was very satisfied then and still am after 7 years. I've been back twice for collision repairs and still satisfied. They did the body work too. I'm happy.

Re: maaco paint job.
 

The quality at MAACO varies tremendously because they are a franchise. When I needed my truck painted I went over to look at the cars coming out of their shop here, and was astounded. One DD-type car they'd just painted for $600 had been masked by a blind man, if at all. Orange peel, fisheyes, you name it. I would be surprised if they'd even washed the car first. Their more expensive packages weren't much better. But since then another MAACO opened across town, and the work coming out of that shop looks really good for the price. It all depends on the guy holding the gun, and that can vary month-to-month.

As mentioned, at the low end you aren't going to get good materials from anyone.

Re: maaco paint job.
 

As some of the other posters have said, seems to me it depends on what you're doing with the car.

Mine is completely disassembled and I wanted both sides of everything painted. Didn't want to take pieces in one at a time to have that done.

I'm not a body guy, and want to drive my PU. What I did ain't perfect, but looks ok.

I know the paint is good quality, the prep is good, both inside and outside of all parts are painted, and I am not ashamed to take it out.

Years ago, I painted VW bugs and drove them everywhere. Would not be proud of them now. Newer paints seem to me to be easier, shinier, cleaner that the old ones. If doing it yourself, buy a good gun. Follow directions. Use right hardner/activator. Set up good light. USE SAFE equipment and REPIRATORS.

If your Macco has decent paint applicators, I would consider a couple of coats youself, then final coat applied by an "expert".

Gordon

Re: maaco paint job.
 

It really pays to know the shop owner and manager. Watch the work come and go. Do what you can for prep and let it be known you'll pay for what's needed, but have no interest in short cuts. As far as just relying on a Name walking in and dropping off your keys, there will be disappointments.

Re: maaco paint job.
 

Maaco is just another franchise shop with the ... "get them in, get them out quick... make money" type attitude. Paint jobs will vary from one shop to another. Best thing to do is talk to people who have work done at that particular shop. If half the people were not satisfied ... your gambling.... We have a Maaco locally here. Can sum up their work in one word.... HORRIBLE ....
Stanley. .............

Re: maaco paint job.
 

Know someone who had a '41 pickup painted by them, was amazed how well it came out.

Re: maaco paint job.
 

Does any Barn Members remember the Earl Shieb any car any color $19.95? Some of his jobs were not realy that bad for the price. LOL

Re: maaco paint job.
 

I generally have a big distrust for most car painters.. Body repairmen generally also fit the same mold.
I can honestly say that I can count the good paint jobs I have had done in the past sixty plus years on a couple of fingers..
My '36 was repainted in 1961 for $60. material and labor by the local Studebaker garage.. No metal work, and I took off all of the trim, bumpers, etc.
The local Maaco shop has done some very good paint jobs for several of my neighbors and friends. I know several guys that work on old cars, they generally have cars that they are "flipping" painted by Maaco..

Re: maaco paint job.
 

Re: maaco paint job.
 

My dad had his '53 Olds painted by them for about that in '59. He put a fifth of bourbon under the front seat when he took it in, it was widely known that would get some extra attention by the prep boys. He parked the car at work in Gary IN near the steel mills, and no paint job would last more than a couple years anyway, so The Earl was just the ticket.

Re: maaco paint job.
 

I've had good luck with them for a "driver" '40 fdoor. If you do a good job of prep, you're ok.

Re: maaco paint job.
 

We did some work for one of the 3 major automotive paint suppliers a few years ago. I asked one of the engineers about Maaco paint vs. paint you buy at an auto body supply.....he said very few things were common.... the maaco paint was designed to a price point and had very little UV stabilizers in it. It is specifically designed to be easily sprayed and to look shiney when you pick up your car. That's it.....nothing else. However, if you keep your car in a garage and it doesnt get exposed to a lot of UV (like sitting in the parking lot at work), you probably can get a decent service life.... just like several posters have said. Red and silver would go really fast. IF they are painting a car for $400, the paint has to cost perhaps $35 and the 1/2 sheet of sandpaper $1. Some masking paper and tape probably add $14 so they have $50 in materials and maybe twice that in labor. A fast taper can do a car in probably less than an hour. Scuff the paint takes another 1/2 hour or so. Shooting it maybe 3/4 hour including cleanup. Untaping and detailing adds another 30 minutes for a labor total of maybe 2.75 hours. Around here, they may pay their gun operator $20, rest of them, $15. Without overhead, the labor should cost $45-50 total so they have $100 in the paint job.....give them the benefit of the doubt and say $150 in material and labor. Overhead adds 100%, leaving a profit of $100 per car.

Re: maaco paint job.
 

As posted, depends on what you want, and the guys in the shop. I have one friend in my local EFV8 group that has had 2 cars done by them, with excellent results. He did the prep, both cars. Both cars have won numerous awards at shows, and his 40 Merc even got a Dearborn. No problems with the paint.
Another friend recently had an IH truck done by them. They did EVERYTHING, total disassembly, all glass out, strip to bare metal, and put it all back together. Months. It came out beautiful, and it also has already won an award. So... it depends.

Re: maaco paint job.
 

I managed a Maaco in the late 1980's.

We did a lot of production work for the sandlot "buy here - pay here" used car dealers.
We also did a bunch of insurance collision work.
A fair amount of hobbyist re-paints.

You are better off if you don't need any body work at all. Also, remove as much trim, lights, bumpers, etc as possible, even if it means you have to trailer the car there. One smart guy with a Corvette had done all his own disassembly and sanding. He made cardboard templates to block off the taillights and door handle holes from the inside to minimize overspray. Came out very nice.

Ask the shop manager for a tour. Tell him you want to meet the sander, the masker, the painter, and the detailer. Let each one know what car you have and tip them $20 as a "thank you for working on my car, its kind of special to me". That extra $80 will probably double the quality of the finished job.

If you want to bring your own paint you can. Most Maaco's use a lesser quality product line from a high volume paint producer, like Nason or Western which I think used to be a step down from Sherwin Williams top of the line stuff.

If you plan to take the car to Cruise Nights let the manager know you will be showing off the shop's work. It will be their chance to showcase their work. Might not get you a better price, but you don't go to Maaco for price, you are trying to get them to pay more attention to your car rather than run it through the assembly line as fast as they can.

That Undercover Boss was typical CEO, he didn't want to hear what is really going on, he wanted a Pollyanna view of his company saying 'we are high quality' and 'we don't cut corners'. One could argue that painting a car without stripping it is the biggest 'cutting corners' of the whole process.

Re: maaco paint job.
 

I have painted quite a few cars and at today's prices, $400 wouldn't cover the primers (catalyzed primer sealer, catalyzed primer surface) and sandpaper let alone the topcoat.

I understand why car flippers and used car people use Maaco for profit margin reasons. I think they just quickly sand or scuff pad the existing paint, shoot some sealer on and then the color.

Re: maaco paint job.
 

Yes.
Its called "scuff and shoot"

Wash the car
Scuff the paint with scotchbrite or sandpaper
Blow it off
Mask it
Roll into booth
Paint with pressure pot, custom mixed color on site
Roll into oven and Bake it
Unmask, blow out interior, do the windows, send it down the road

Re: maaco paint job.
 

One of the best paint jobs I did on an old 66 ford winter beater was with floor and deck enamel, brick red, about 40yr's ago, I think it about 20 bucks a gallon. I figure if you can walk on it, it ought to be good enough for a beater. you ain't going to believe how nice it came out. OK don't believe if you don't want to. LOL Walt

Re: maaco paint job.
 

A lot of floor and deck coatings are polyurethane or acrylic urethane. I still remember when you could by a gallon of the best stuff for less than 100 bucks. Now days its closer to 500 bucks.

Re: maaco paint job.
 

Sherwin Williams Implement paint. Single stage ,tough, shiny & easy to use ,best of all very reasonable.
My wheels are painted with & they custom made it.

Re: maaco paint job.
 

You can prep the car...pull te fenders, etc, request them to fill the dings and such in the metal...they will..you can ask (and get) primer base, then topcoat, or request base coat clear coat,,,yes, maybe more than your 400 dollar paint job, might run you 1500 (did for me last year) but dang, no way I can spray paint like those guys who do it daily.

Just ask ahead, tell them what you want...the Manager?...I guess, will tell you what's possible and what you can expect, plus, they have the guarantee...if not no the write up, then you are out, but if written into the estimate...you're in good shape.

Took my Camaro back 3 times to get it "as stated", an no way I could have done it myself that way.

Re: maaco paint job.
 

I remember Earl Shieb....sand your chrome and paint your windows.. lol!
My son painted his Ranger red with Summit single stage paint for well under 400 bucks and had the satisfaction of doing it him self at 18 yrs old. And Pa (me) watched and smiled from ear to ear watching him learn.
Do it yourself! Randy

Re: maaco paint job.
 

Interesting .....for a driver .....what do you all mean by a " good prep " ?
Thanks and happy New Year !

Re: maaco paint job.
 

Do as much as you can on your own to prepare the car for painting.
Lots of info out there when you look for it.
Basics:
Wash the car
Take off whatever chrome, handles, lights, bumpers, emblems that you can. They hide dirt and are difficult to mask.
Wipe the entire surface to be painted with a grease and wax remover.
Sand the entire surface to be painted, and wash the car again.

Re: maaco paint job.
 

A very salient point that should be made here is that the buyer must not fool themselves into any position other than they get what they generally pay for. Expectation and deliverable must match! Expecting high quality and paying for the $19.95 Earl Shieb is the buyers problem.

I'm with Rand - try it yourself, but beware of the toxic compounds in the paints and protect yourself.

Re: maaco paint job.
 

My first repaint of my 40 was done by Earl Shieb in the early 60's in black baked enamel in Malden Ma for $29.95 and lasted into the early 80's.

Re: maaco paint job.
 

I put Earl's 19.95, any car, any color, on a 49 Ford, in 1955. The car and the paint job matched perfectly. That's one car that I don't long to have back. Actually, I think the paint job was too good for the car.

Re: maaco paint job.
 

Don't know about now, but the Maaco in OKC at one time always had street rods and antiques in their shop for all types of work.

Re: maaco paint job.
 

I used production shops a lot for daily drivers or "profit cars" but I always did the prep and body work.
They always came out better than I could spray but look the cover over carefully on the lower panels where it is harder to spray.
Select the best grade of paint they offer but don't expect to get a warranty if you do any body work. Ask them to mix up an extra pint or quart of paint for your touch up if needed.

Re: maaco paint job.
 

Excellent point.

Painting cost is going to boil down to 3 things.
(Labor) Cost of body work.
(Labor) Cost of painting prep work (masking, disassembly, etc)
Cost of materials and (labor) application (often not painting door jambs, etc).

Obviously a cheap shop has to skimp on labor so will usually not have top quality results. If you do your own body work and prep right you can save the labor.

There are very good and low cost implement and industrial paints available, however they are usually designed for durability and may not have the shine of higher end paints and have a LIMITED number of colors available (Green + Yellow = John + Deere)

Re: maaco paint job.
 

Not a maaco reply, but I went to our local high school vo teck body shop with a 46 merc coupe about 7 years ago. I did a lot of the prep work myself. removed all the trim, bumbers ect. The took a coule of months to complete it in a midnight blue 2 stage with good quality paint. cost was for materials only. About 400 bucks. I was happy with the results. And the kids were happy to work on an "old hot rod"

Re: maaco paint job.
 

Years ago there was a company call Earl Schribe, (not sure of the spelling),"I can paint any car any color for $69.99 was his radio commercial. One of the guys did all the prep, removed all the chrome, lights, and everything he could do himself, on his '55 Chevy. All Schribe did was paint, and nobody believed him that thats who painted the car. It came out great.