Quality inexpensive paint job in East TN?

[Guest 70below]

Does anyone here know or recommend a place near the the Knoxville are that does a good job with automotive paint for a reasonable price? I don't want a paint job full of runs and bubbles, but I don't expect win a national car show either. Something akin to an OEM paint job without too much orange peel. Thanks.

[Magiccarpetrides]

From my personal experience(of which I have quite a lot) a cheap quality paint job is a mythical unicorn. If you want your car to look good you will have to pay...out of all the paint shops I have tried (probably at least 10+) the only one I will ever take my personal car too is Bradleys Body Shop in Maryville. He is honest, efficient, and charges a fair price. His number is (865)984-4863 Ask for Bobby Bradley and tell him Vincent Condry sent you. Otherwise if maybe all you are looking for is a "15 Footer" Call Maco(sp?) in Knoxville. My friend just had his gf's civic done by them...cost about $700 and looks about like a $700 paint job.

[I_Like_Pie]

Actually the painting process is the inexpensive part...the prep is what costs the money. If you are handy then you may consider doing most of the prep yourself and having someone spray it for you. I did this on my truck...removed dents, filled, sanded, and prepped the body and had one of those $200 jobs done. It worked just fine for me.

If it is a newer car the benefits of a fancy paint job will pay off if you try to sell. It will be worth it. However it is financially inept to spend more than $500 painting a car worth less than $2000.

Painting a car is NOT a complicated process at all. Growing up with a friend who owned a paint shop took a lot of the mystery out of the process.

The money...it is all in the prep work. Heck...if you prep it correctly you can use a roll brush and a can of rustoleum and get decent results.

[strickj]

Actually the painting process is the inexpensive part...the prep is what costs the money. If you are handy then you may consider doing most of the prep yourself and having someone spray it for you. I did this on my truck...removed dents, filled, sanded, and prepped the body and had one of those $200 jobs done. It worked just fine for me.

If it is a newer car the benefits of a fancy paint job will pay off if you try to sell. It will be worth it. However it is financially inept to spend more than $500 painting a car worth less than $2000.

Painting a car is NOT a complicated process at all. Growing up with a friend who owned a paint shop took a lot of the mystery out of the process.

The money...it is all in the prep work. Heck...if you prep it correctly you can use a roll brush and a can of rustoleum and get decent results.

Yup!

You can take a two dollar spray can and get good results! Ask me how I know:p

But that does take allot of elbow grease to get it to that point!

[Magiccarpetrides]

Yeah but most people dont have the skills/time to pull that off and most homemade results end up full of trash, bumps, runs, and the like....YMMV

[I_Like_Pie]

Yeah but most people dont have the skills/time to pull that off and most homemade results end up full of trash, bumps, runs, and the like....YMMV

Agreed...it is a LOT of work to do it really well.

I have a car now that I am seriously considering just rolling with bed liner...Judging by the avatar your automotive standards are much more refined than mine

[Magiccarpetrides]

Agreed...it is a LOT of work to do it really well.

I have a car now that I am seriously considering just rolling with bed liner...Judging by the avatar your automotive standards are much more refined than mine

You could say im a lil picky with the Supra....now on the other hand my 1998 lexus with 150k that I drive daily has had a key mark down the passenger's side since I bought it...shes a hailstorm away from getting a new paint job

Krylon gray is pretty trendy these days...gives it that stealth tuner look

[Mike.357]

There is a place a little past Halls on Maynardville Pike called Malibu. I have had work done there a couple of times and they are outstanding. The paint looked really good. Insurance was buying but any reputable paint shop pulls their prices from the same software as anyone else.

I knew of a guy years ago that brush painted his pickup truck every year. This was probably in the early 70's and the truck was a early 60's Chevy. You never knew what color he would use. I think he bought whatever the hardware store had on sale. No rust at all on it. And actually from about 20 feet away it always looked really nice.

[Guest 70below]

Well, I have not problem doing the majority of the prep work myself, I'm no stranger to it, and have done some easy cheap paint jobs years ago that probably amounted to a $500-700 paint job. I don't have any equipment or a place to do it any longer however so I'm not opposed to paying for a quality paint job, I just want the best price I can get, and I can't afford to pay for $3000 paint job right now. When I say "cheap" I don't mean I want to pay $300 (well I want to, but I know its not gonna happen for something I'd want to be seen in) I want an affordable, decent job. I used to know a couple of guys that were professionals that did side jobs for really good prices, but I've lost touch of them, and thought someone might know someone that does the same, or if not, a shop they used and had a decent result. I wouldn't mind finding someone willing to barter a bit too, I have a 4" pneumatic water pump that is in great shape, price new is about $3-4K

[Magiccarpetrides]

Yeah Malibu is good too...they are about the same price as Bradleys...maybe slightly higher. I feel ya on the $3,000 paint job. Next time it storms real bad and their is a report of hail just stand on a 7ft ladder and chuck ice cubes at your car...VOILA! $500 deductible later...new paint job! ;-D

[Guest 70below]

Well, this paint job isn't for my daily driver, just a little project Nova I picked up. Otherwise, I'd be chuckin' the ice cubes!

[Guest 70below]

By the way, thank you guys for the suggestions, I'll try to give Malibu and Bradley's a try as soon as the car is a little more ready to head to a paint booth. Just out of curiosity, I know you guys aren't sales reps for either of those establishments, but what would be your guess as to the price for a decent paint job with either? $2000? More? Less? I understand its just your guess. Thanks again.

[Magiccarpetrides]

If you want show quality $4500+ if you want a nice "normal" paint job I would guesstimate $2500 if the body is in good shape.

[Mike.357]

clueless on paint cost

[molonlabetn]

Krylon baby.