career in body repair/ custom paint...your views needed!!

[emmy]

I'm hopefully going to do an Auto Repair and Custom Paint Course soon and I am asking peoples opinions about this industry. I would like to specialise in vintage restoration. Either keeping to the original colours of the vehicle or to add effects to the owners preferences.

On completion, I will be trained in
Basic Accident repair - fibre glassing, panel beating
Conventional painting - including preparation
Airbrushing
Candy colours, Metal flake, Pin-striping

Is there a market for self employed paint sprayers? or is it something people prefer to do themselves?

Don't worry, I'm not asking you for money or anything!! Just your view on things. Or if you can send me details of anyone who you think may be able to help me.

I look forward to your reply

Thanks for your time
Emmy

 

[troppo]

G`day Emmy
Once you have done your course they will have taught you to crawl. You will need to serve your time in a body or restoration shop before you can walk, run then jump. From the sounds you sound like you`d rather be working on old iron than plastic fantastic crap from japan. Get to know the guys who own these old girls and ask them where they get their work done and ask those places if theres any work going, offer to work for free for a while if it might be a convincer. Generally you will have body men and paint men, some will be very good at both, many will be good at both but few will be great at both so your best bet is to try both and decide which one you want to specialise in.
Just my Two bobs worth mate.
Cheers
Troppo

 

[cumbriasteve]

I think there is a market for a 'very good' specialist paint sprayer, it's amazing what some of the younger owners are prepared to pay for custom spray work to their hot hatches, similar for a certain breed of bike owner with custom paint work and art work.

However, to obtain the amount of work to make any sort of living, you would have to be 'known' for your work and it would have to be exceptional, work to such a high standard it could be exhibited at the custom shows and bike gatherings.

If an owner has spent 5 years restoring his E type Jag he is going to be as fussy as hell who he trusts to finish the paintwork, he will probably put reputation before cost to a certain extent and you can only get a reputation by doing the work, a catch 22 situation.

Modern bodywork repair and painting is usually the result of accident damage and the insurance companies know they can play garages against each other, it has become very cut throat to obtain the work and many smaller enterprises have now closed.

Many years ago I knew a guy in a similar situation, he obtained a variety of motorbike petrol tanks and side panels, sprayed them, did some artwork and exhibited them at bike rallys, he was very very good and did get some work but never enough to live off really.

 

[stuvy]

As Steve said troppo mentioned you need to be time served not only to help you learn how to spray but all the short cuts that come from being in the industry.

Lastly the one thing il say with painting is youl need patience, not only with the paint but with the prep work if your sure you wanna do it go for it. Iv got a few mates that do it full time, one for merc benz, one does norton and triumph tanks and the other is a guy I worked with full time at a paint shop. We used to paint everything from wood to plastics and metals(powder coat and wet spray). I highly advice getting in with some one like merc or a private body shop as itl help you learn everything you need to know.
Good luck and welcome to the forum