Hey,
I am looking at possibly painting a cessna and was wondering if anyone new of a paint shop that would do a decent job at a good rate. I don't need anything fancy, just white. Does anyone know of someone who does it on the side? I dony think a booth is req'd, economics takes priority in this case.
I am located in southern alberta, but would like to hear about any places between s ont and alberta.
thks.
Good deals on paint shops?
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Jungle Jim
- Rank 6
- Posts: 436
- Joined: Wed May 26, 2004 6:29 pm
Re: Good deals on paint shops?
When it comes to paint jobs you get what you pay for!!
Yes it is possible to get a cheap job but usually the control surfaces are not balanced as per the applicable manuals, engines compartments are have lots of overspray, screws are painted almost permanently locked in place, control surfaces are not removed for the paint job, hinge pins are next to impossible to remove and service, windows have overspray, prep work not done properly, etc. Discount paint jobs virtually always look like they were discount jobs.
As for doing it yourself, I have painted quite a few cars and thought my first homebuilt woud be a piece of cake. I quickly realized that I had never painted the bottom of a car. The plane turned out ok but given the choice I wouldn't do it again.
Jim
Yes it is possible to get a cheap job but usually the control surfaces are not balanced as per the applicable manuals, engines compartments are have lots of overspray, screws are painted almost permanently locked in place, control surfaces are not removed for the paint job, hinge pins are next to impossible to remove and service, windows have overspray, prep work not done properly, etc. Discount paint jobs virtually always look like they were discount jobs.
As for doing it yourself, I have painted quite a few cars and thought my first homebuilt woud be a piece of cake. I quickly realized that I had never painted the bottom of a car. The plane turned out ok but given the choice I wouldn't do it again.
Jim
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Ballsssssss
- Rank 4
- Posts: 280
- Joined: Thu Aug 30, 2007 8:05 pm
- Location: All the @#$! over
Re: Good deals on paint shops?
If you can't or won't spend the money to have things done proper on something that flies around in the sky maybe you should sell your plane and buy a cheap car....when it breaks down all you have to do is pull over and call a tow truck.... not pull the 'chute.
TT: don't care PIC: still don't care MPIC: really really don't care TURBINE: get a life.
Life's never fair, get a helmet.
Life's never fair, get a helmet.
Re: Good deals on paint shops?
The gentlemen above are right.
There is no sense going the cheap route on a complete paint job. The machine needs to be stripped, cleaned and prepped using acids, disassembly is required and that immediately involves a maintenance release. Talk to your AME about it.
Aesthetics aside, airplanes will fly with bald spots in the paint. You do need to keep the aircraft clean and be more careful about corrosion. Touch-ups might be an avenue. Save-up for a good paint job and spend the money right when you are ready. Be aware also that aircraft refinishing shops are few and far apart in many areas. It is a low profit, high workload, high risk business.
Painting is 80% preparation 20% application.
Good luck,
Antoine
There is no sense going the cheap route on a complete paint job. The machine needs to be stripped, cleaned and prepped using acids, disassembly is required and that immediately involves a maintenance release. Talk to your AME about it.
Aesthetics aside, airplanes will fly with bald spots in the paint. You do need to keep the aircraft clean and be more careful about corrosion. Touch-ups might be an avenue. Save-up for a good paint job and spend the money right when you are ready. Be aware also that aircraft refinishing shops are few and far apart in many areas. It is a low profit, high workload, high risk business.
Painting is 80% preparation 20% application.
Good luck,
Antoine
Re: Good deals on paint shops?
Take a look in Mena Arkansas, not sure why so many paint shops there but they seem to be decent price, also many operators in Canada frequent this location for paint jobs.
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SeptRepair
- Rank 8
- Posts: 889
- Joined: Sun Feb 03, 2008 1:41 pm
- Location: Wet Coast.
Re: Good deals on paint shops?
Perhaps Arkansas has lower enviromental standards and their overhead of dealing with the by product of paint stripping is non existant?
How can you tell which one is the pilot when you walk into a bar?....Don't worry he will come up and tell you.
Re: Good deals on paint shops?
http://www.aigaviation.com/aviationsalv ... aano=N726T
They are also good at destroying planes too! It is much easier getting a nice paint job without all of those pesky rivets!
They are also good at destroying planes too! It is much easier getting a nice paint job without all of those pesky rivets!
Re: Good deals on paint shops?
that looks like Little Rock, not Mena. Also I think their labour cost are low.
Re: Good deals on paint shops?
I do agree with waiting until the budget fits a proper paint job. However I thought I would share with you some places I know about.
1. Clynes Aircraft Refinishing - Red Deer Alberta - They do a decent job but don't know anything about the legal aspect. Planes are allowed to go through there and leave without flight controls being balanced. A couple of planes I saw go through there didn't take long to have paint peeling away.
2. Sky Harbour Aircraft Refinishing - Goderich Ontario - They do a good job but I don't think they are cheap. They do know the legal aspect and they have an AMO as well. So that means they balance flight controls, they also do a good job prepping...which is really important. There is a women on here who works there, Meecka might wanna ask her some details.
3. Goderich Aircraft - Centrailia Ontario - Heard they do good work, no idea on the cost.
There is another one in Alberta who I think is a little better then Clynes, but the name escapes me.
Hope that helps.
~FOX~
1. Clynes Aircraft Refinishing - Red Deer Alberta - They do a decent job but don't know anything about the legal aspect. Planes are allowed to go through there and leave without flight controls being balanced. A couple of planes I saw go through there didn't take long to have paint peeling away.
2. Sky Harbour Aircraft Refinishing - Goderich Ontario - They do a good job but I don't think they are cheap. They do know the legal aspect and they have an AMO as well. So that means they balance flight controls, they also do a good job prepping...which is really important. There is a women on here who works there, Meecka might wanna ask her some details.
3. Goderich Aircraft - Centrailia Ontario - Heard they do good work, no idea on the cost.
There is another one in Alberta who I think is a little better then Clynes, but the name escapes me.
Hope that helps.
~FOX~
Hang Time Is The Best Time!
Re: Good deals on paint shops?
Thanks for al the replies.
The more research I do into aircraft painting the more I see hour labour intensive it is. Four to six weeks seems to be the norm.
Vintage air in wetaskawin seems to be a good choice too, I may go that route. I think the ol' girl will go one more year and then I'll get it done right
Like a previous poster said I'll just watch for any signs of corrosion.
cheers,
The more research I do into aircraft painting the more I see hour labour intensive it is. Four to six weeks seems to be the norm.
Vintage air in wetaskawin seems to be a good choice too, I may go that route. I think the ol' girl will go one more year and then I'll get it done right
Like a previous poster said I'll just watch for any signs of corrosion.cheers,
