by Samuel Hampton

Created on: February 07, 2007

Having attended college for Autobody and Paint, I have a greater appreciation for Maaco, and similar shops than most. I've heard some people claim that they're the worst shop ever to have your car painted at. I've even had a friend or two who have had their vehicles painted there and after a week the paint is chipping or dulling. There's a few things you need to understand about production shops, and this article will help you attain the information needed to drive out of a shop like Maaco with an awesome paint job!

First is cost - shops like Maaco work on a dozen or more cars a day. It's their goal to get it done and get it back out on the street fast. In this case, corners might be cut, and Quantity is put ahead of Quality, though this might not be intentional. They're able to charge such a low rate because they work on so many projects daily. The paint they use is also a factor. I once worked at a shop that used Matrix Brand painting supplies, a brand comparable to PPG Brand, at about half the price. Within the first few weeks of working there I noticed the difference in quality between the two brands. There was a huge difference in the luster and shine of the clearcoats especially. It's a risk some shops are willing to take.
Lastly - prep work. Often times this step is shotty or overlooked entirely. You can't (I should say should NOT) shoot paint over a substrate that hasn't been properly prepped. The proper procedure for a paint job over old paint is as follows: Wash the vehicle first, all substrates should first be wax and degreased; I prefer DX330 by PPG (DX103 for plastic parts), substrate should final sanded with 500-600 grit wet-sand paper, this gives the fresh paint something to bite into, and without this step the paint is likely to chip - remember to use a soft block available at your local NAPA or Car Quest to avoid lows and highs in your work. Finally the entire substrate should be wax and degreased one final time. If you're willing to take the time and put forth the elbow grease you're likely to come out with a better paint job, and some shops will even cut you a break.
Hopefully this article helped you get a better understanding of bodyshops and will help you come out with a killer paint job!

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