Paint Thread from Vintage Owner Talk

Painting is a skill and there is NO REASON that you cannot do your own painting. The final outcome is based upon the prep work, and a base/clear system is the way to go. Deep scratches and gouges are buffed the same way (as a single stage paint), and if touch up needs to be done, then you featheredge and prep the surface, shoot your color and then shoot clear, and when cured, finesse until you match the gloss of surrounding surface.

I agree with txoil, painting is all about "the prep". It's also "the prep" (as in labor time) is why it costs so much to do a nice paint job. It's going to cost you around $600 to $800 "in materials" to do a first rate base coat clear coat two tone paint job on a small trailer at todays costs. Using water borne automotive paints for the color coats under the clear coat is also a good option.

You will most likely need to find a painter to paint your trailer, because most of us live in dense metro areas that restrict spray painting in anything except a "permitted" spray booth. The most important thing I can think of is finding a painter that actually "wants to do a vintage trailer". You will get a much better result if the painter is "into vintage" and "wants" to do a nice job. The going rate for labor in my area is in the $100/foot range (total length). The hardest part might be finding a painter with access to a large enough spray booth. I know of one painter that gets nice results, but sprays in a barn (not legally).

Holy Cow! I am in the wrong business! Larry, the materials to paint Tallulah Belle cost me $316.00 for paint and about $50 for tape, masking paper, wash thinner. That is a gallon of white urethane sealer, a gallon of urethane clear (Low VOC) a quart of clear hardener, a gallon of the white mixed ready to spray and a half gallon of the aqua mixed ready to spray. Where I live does not require insane treehugger regulations, so I was able to paint in my yard. There is NO FREAKING REASON that a quality paint job should cost 2K for a canned ham. I'm truly sorry for those of you who live in the People's Glorious Socialist Republic of Kaliforniastan.
When you are ready to paint your trailers, bring them to Louisiana and I'll give you a tutorial, and Swamp Witch will fix you some amazing etoufee' or crab au gratin!

You know I've been to your neck of the woods before and just loved everything but the weather. LOL... I was stationed in Biloxi when hurricane Camille came through. Boy was that fun. But I still love the people and the culture of the south. I was able to visit Louzianna, Georgia, Alabama and Florida while I was in Mississippi. Oh and I even got to visit Kentucky. Now that was a hoot for sure. I would love to come visit. I have friends in FLA I need to visit anyhow. I just may take you up on your offer..... Should make for great video!

If you think our paint costs a lot here, you should see what chrome costs! And now I think we are at just about 10% sales tax to boot. I better not get all political here. Suffice it to say that I can not afford to pay my painter anymore so I'm going to learn. He has a makes shift "booth" and that's all.