|
Q - How much does custom painting cost? The cost varies with the design and item(s) to be painted, but to generalize, a full face helmet will average around the $400 mark, 3 piece motorcycle bodywork (tank and both fenders) start at around $800 for a basic candy re-colour (these prices do not include the actual helmet or bodywork, this is supplied by you). Factors such as design detail and paints used may influence this cost in either direction, as will any damage to parts that may need to be fixed prior to paint work. Some specialty paints for example can cost upwards of $80 per ounce. Larger or more complex items would be quoted on a per project basis. Q - How long does it take? Typical turn around varies from a couple of weeks for a helmet, to several for larger projects, this is dependent on the layout process as well and if any specialty products need to be ordered or applied, like metalizing (chroming) for instance. Q - Can you paint anything? Pretty much anything that paint will adhere to can be painted. Some plastic items get 'eaten' by the types of paints I use, so they cannot be sprayed, but if you're not sure, give me a shout, we can discuss and/or do an integrity test to confirm. Items constructed from fiber glass, carbon fiber, metal or the like will have no trouble with the products I use. Q - My buddy got a helmet done for $250, why are you charging $400 +? I love answering this type of question. This really comes back to old adage 'you get what you pay for'. If you get a quote for custom painting at a good price, that's great, but don't be afraid to ask some questions like: "do you use automotive quality paints?", "will I be able to feel the paint ridges?", "is the clear coat UV and fuel/chemical resistant?". A lot of the work is done at the prep stage, cutting corners here may result in problems down the road. $250 on top of my cost to redo it is $250 more than you needed to pay, go with a quality shop and do it right the first time. Lastly, ask your buddy if he was blown away with the end result, if not, what was the point? Q - How do I know the design in my head will translate to the final piece OK? Once we have reviewed the goal, I will provide a comprehensive colour layout showing the item(s) from all views. We make all changes at the layout stage until you are happy with the design and direction. I consider this part of the prep work, and when done thoroughly, there are no surprises at the end. Q - Is your work guaranteed? Absolutely. I stand behind all of my work, and because I use only the best products, I can paint with complete confidence that under normal use your custom piece will last for years to come and then some. Q - What is the finish like on the completed item? As mentioned earlier, you may be able to get custom paint on a helmet for $250, I should know, that is what I used to charge for sign painters paint, cleared with rattle can top coat. Since I switched to high end products like House of Kolor, I have ultimate control over the quality of the finish. After several applications of clear coat, the item(s) is then colour sanded, that is, wet sanded with 2000 grit sand paper, and then buffed back to high gloss with a top quality polish. This process eliminates any impurities that may have settled on the surface during the clear coat stage and leaves a glass-like finish. The results are indisputably awe inspiring.
|
