We generally only trim cars for color change and/or if we order parts new because they'll need full coverage and/or etching. I haven't seen the problem with clearcoat filling cracks and then chipping off later... we keep all moving parts slightly ajar during prep and painting (hood, doors, gas tank, deck lid, etc...) This allows us to get better coverage and also avoid the crack-filling you mentioned.

My mirrors are masked, I don't see there being any issue getting an even coverage on the door underneath. Additionally, we have an excellent, excellent painter who manages to do a fantastic job on about 8-10 cars per day (not all overalls, obviously). Trimming that number of cars, though, would certainly hurt our business if we get great results without doing it.

We do trim handles at our painter's discretion, though. If I really want the back of my door handle refinished (which I don't see as a necessity since there's nothing wrong with them and we are painting the same color), I could always have one of our body guys pop them out to be sprayed at a later date.

In any case, I'm looking forward to seeing how it turns out today, I powerwashed both booths this morning.. and yes, we leave the floors wet while painting. Wish me luck!

 

Good luck with everything i hope it turns out great. I wish you no dirt or buffing. It was so hot this past week we had problems with gnats landing in our clear.

 

gnats??!!! that sucks! When it was 95-100 earlier in the week, we ruined two jobs because of sweat pooling in our painter's suit... which eventually leaked out the sleeve onto the car. re-do's are killing us... we just got him a ventilated open-back suit, he looked like he was about to pass out at the end of the day on tuesday.

 

Thats prob the stupidest thing Ive ever read in regards to painting a car.

If I were painting my own car, id pull EVERYTHING, glass, trim, weatherstripping, EVERYTHING. Its not like he's on the clock doing someone elses car, its your own. Do it 110%

OP, Post pics man!

 

I did have them pull the weather strips at the bottom of the doors because I'm replacing the driver's side anyway (it was ripping in half all on its own.)

Big two weeks for my car... last week I threw on some Kinetix HFC's, which I love. Unfortunately, the extra rumble has agrivated a heat shield rattle that I had on my deteriorating OEM y-pipe. Tomorrow, I'm swapping it with an aftermarket one. Hopefully she'll be all set tomorrow for the holiday!

Painter is spraying clearcoat now, then she's gotta bake. Pics in a couple of hours....

 

good luck.

 

Just rolled out of the oven... pics!!!

It came out great... can't wait to see it when it's done being detailed. It's awesome getting to see my car without the dings and key marks all over the hood, fenders, and quarter panels. They've been there since day 1 (I bought it used).

I also snapped a pic under the mirror, no runs whatsoever!

 

Very nice. I want to respray mine in a year or 2. I sprayed a buddy's car 2 years ago, it was just a beater car that needed some bodywork done but he was happier than a pig in sh*t with the results. I love painting all my own stuff. Runs aren't the end of the world anyways, just wet sand and buff them out

Ill end up renting a booth when I spray mine.

 

Why wouldn't you take the bumper and headlights, etc off? Wouldn't it be easier to paint and get a better overall outcome?

 

Looks good from here, the important part is you're satisfied/jazzed/happy!
Gary

 

I am super satisfied, I haven't seen my car look this clean ever (bought it used with scratches, dings, and a seriously roughed up front bumper). I felt like I was driving a new car for the holiday weekend!