Primarily Petroliana Shop Talk Forums Shop Talk Petroliana Forums General Petroliana Discussion Help finding someone to paint near Tampa, Florida

Hello everyone. Does anybody know anyone that they can recommend to paint and perform some minor body work on my Gilbarco gas pump? I live just outside of Tampa, Florida. I've spoken to a couple of body shops in the area and I'm not comfortable with the answers they are giving me.

Thanks
Marvin

What kind of damage are you talking? What answers are they giving you? Pictures of the damage would be helpful too. If you are going to a regular collision oriented body shop more than likely they don't want to do it.

One panel had a crease at the bottom that looks like it had been repaired. The others have the usual rust pitting and some small dents. All are intact. You are correct, it appears that the body shops that I have been to do not want to do this for me. I will take some pictures and post them shortly.

Thanks Marvin

Here you go!

Thanks

Marvin

It would probably help if you had them sandblasted "before" you went to someone for repair and paint. Seeing the panels, as you are showing them, most shops will not want to bother. They are more used to auto repair and can estimate more closely. If they were clean of paint, then the estimater can see exactly what is needed and might be more inclined to do the work? Paul www.severngaspumps.com

The body business has become very difficult to make a profit due to the high cost of materials. The price that a shop would have to charge to turn a profit on those panels would probably just make you mad. That's why they are just turning you away. I know from experience. At least once a week someone comes in with a "small" project and gets mad at me because of the price I quote to do it. Don't give up someone will take them eventually. Just remember you get what you pay for.

As mentioned by other people, if you prep your parts you will save big, dipping or media blasting. This way the parts can be seen with no surprises, just make sure to speak with the blaster ahead of time and let him know to turn down the pressure not to warp the panel. I can't afford to take the parts in without getting them ready and that means either new, blasting, dipping,and then filling with bondo if needed and you sand as much as you can. They will help you in this manner if you just ask.
Another option is to ask if someone does side work and then go from there. Different parts of the country labor rates are extreme. My pumps here are a minimum 2500-3000 to get painted, wet sanded and buffed to our specks. That is with us doing alot of the work.
Hope this helps.

Check with your local auto paint store. They may know someone that will do the job on the side. Also if you have a community college that has auto body repair, check with them, they may take them or have a student that might be able to help you out. Richard

Thanks, for all of the ideas. I'm taking the panels to be sandblasted in a few days. Hopefully I can find someone to paint them for me. I'll keep looking.

Marvin