Wet sanding buffing

[Kirtthecarguy]

I am going to wet sand a original 1964 Shelby cobra if wet sanded and buffed cars for 35 yrs but don't know what to charge help

[mrmustang]

Originally Posted by Kirtthecarguy

I am going to wet sand a original 1964 Shelby cobra if wet sanded and buffed cars for 35 yrs but don't know what to charge help

Do you know it's an original Cobra and not a kit car or continuation series car?

What is the CSX chassis number?

Has the car ever been repainted?

Do you know if it's a lacquer, acrylic lacquer, acrylic enamel, or perhaps something else?


Working on an antique paint job is unlike working on a modern day paint job. You can't just say "wet sand and buff", as you may not be able to use even a 3,000 grit wet/dry automotive sandpaper on certain paints without damaging the finish". Same goes for buffing the same. Perhaps instead you'll want to use a different grit buffing compound long before you use a polishing compound. Then again, and quite honestly, if you can't place a value, in regards to a simple estimate on doing the work, perhaps you are not the right guy to do the job in the first place.


Bill S.

[twobjshelbys]

I don't understand an original owner getting someone to wet sand that has to come here and make his first post asking how much to charge. Something doesn't sit right...

But to give you some idea of the difficulty the car has no flat surfaces or straight lines.

[Paintwerks]

I sure hope that you have valid professional liability insurance coverage!!

[Kirtthecarguy]

The car has been painted from a famous body shop out of California, no it's not a kit car and the only reason I'm asking about price to wet sand and buff is because the most expensive car I've buffed was a Lamborghini Diablo and I charged $350 but I know this car is insured for over a million dollars.

[Tim7139]

Not for nothing, but if it were me I would give serious consideration toward a machine polish with a mid-agressive compound at most. Assuming it is at least 30-40 year old paint, you have a far better risk/reward with a far lower chance of harming something that will be unlikely to be fixable.
I have seen and been involved in reclaiming old finish that I'd have never guessed could be brought back. A decent orbital can work wonders and all you have to do is a small test panel to see where it can go.

[Kirtthecarguy]

I have the proper liability coverage that's not the question

[mrmustang]

Originally Posted by Kirtthecarguy

The car has been painted from a famous body shop out of California, no it's not a kit car and the only reason I'm asking about price to wet sand and buff is because the most expensive car I've buffed was a Lamborghini Diablo and I charged $350 but I know this car is insured for over a million dollars.

I'll ask again "what is the CSX chassis number on the drivers footbox data tag"

This will allow me to know when the car was repainted, in which case we can narrow down the media used, and how to suggest in your case how to handle the paint rejuvenation.


Without that, it's kind of like asking "what color blue is the sky"

[DanEC]

Well, I know it took me about 2 months to finish wet sanding and buffing out my paint job (self painter) but I wasn't working very hard at it and fortunately I wasn't having to pay myself. Seems to me that assuming the paint is pretty well applied and doesn't need much more than to start with 2000 paper, your talking about 2 to 3 or 3 to 4 days most likely from start to finish. That should be enough time to do top to bottom and intricate surfaces and details. Depending on what you charge for an hourly rate that should figure up pretty easily.

Since you didn't paint the car I assume you are telling the owner you are going to do the best professional job you can but since you didn't paint the car and don't know how much paint is applied, it would be unreasonable for you to accept responsibility for burn throughs due to thin paint. If he doesn't like that, he should take it back to the shop that painted it.

[Bernica]

Originally Posted by DanEC

Since you didn't paint the car I assume you are telling the owner you are going to do the best professional job you can but since you didn't paint the car and don't know how much paint is applied, it would be unreasonable for you to accept responsibility for burn throughs due to thin paint. If he doesn't like that, he should take it back to the shop that painted it.

If you are really going to take this on, I would heed the advice above and get some kind of disclaimer agreement. Then I would just do it on a "time and materials" basis. Just quote your hourly rate and it will take what it takes.
Good luck!

[twobjshelbys]

Did you do this project? Pictures of before and after would be swell.

[ct clint]

Most painters just cry when you want something cut and polished. The last truck I had done was in the 3 grand ball park but after doing it I don't think it was out of line. Now that being said it has a lot of repercussions if something goes wrong. For 350$I wouldn't get involved but I am just a beat up old tech