If I buy a used RV (6-9 model), how much should I plan on spending to have a professional paint the aircraft (I would not be doing it myself)? I think it’s safe to assume it’ll be at least $20k. Another question I have is does it add to the cost to have it painted more than one color versus the entire airframe being just one color? And is the old paint stripped off, or is it simply painted over? Would this add any noticeable weight (the only dumb question is the one you don’t ask)?
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Ball-park estimate for paint job?
- Thread starter Duncannon
- Start date
I received two estimates to paint my bare aircraft white - one at $14k the other at $18k... neither of which I can afford so I'm polishing.
I got a quote for a -6A, 3 colors, a year ago at $25K. The number of colors and complexity of the paint scheme affect pricing, as well as the status of the basic aircraft skins. Let them prime the exterior, otherwise they want to remove your unknown to them primer to prime with their primer system.
When they give estimates, should I assume it would cost more than what they quote? I know different shops may charge more or less than others, and some people may give overly optimistic quotes, whereas other may give ‘worst-case-scenario’ quotes. So when you pay slightly less than estimated, you’ll think you got a bargain and will tell others about it.
I’d be surprised if you could repaint for 20k. I don’t know if any shops that would paint over old paint which means they would need to strip the old paint. More work equals more money.
The gold standard would be Evoke. As previously posted, it will be expensive and Jonathan always has a long wait list. Yes, prices can go up during the wait. You also realize that they will have your aircraft in the shop for months.
The gold standard would be Evoke. As previously posted, it will be expensive and Jonathan always has a long wait list. Yes, prices can go up during the wait. You also realize that they will have your aircraft in the shop for months.
Is that doing it yourself or someone doing it for you? Would it be pretty simple for someone with no mechanical aptitude?
My 8A is in the paint shop now. I got two quotes, both from places I have used previously. One was for $24,000, and they could get me in two weeks from my call. They painted a Bonanza for me in 2019, photo attached. The other was for $36,000, and it would be two to three months before they could start. I only had this shop do touch-up paint for me on two different airplanes in the past. I went with the first option, knowing the quality of their work. Last time they were on time and on budget, so I expect the same. They need the airplane for five weeks.
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Haven't seen the clown RV in quite a while. No doubt it's the same plane. Haven't seen the owner either since last time flew into our BBQ at Taylorsville Ga.
Where did you get the materials? Do you have any links for instructions on how to do the process? TIA!
Rolls can be purchased from a variety of online sellers. Plenty of YouTube videos on the process.
A good paint job is a thing of beauty, but most of us find it hard to cough up $35K. Consider paying for one color (white) and contacting Aerographics for vinyl add-ons, fairly easy to do. (aerographics.com)
The problem is that most of the work goes into that first coat. All the fiberglass work, all the prep work, priming, everything. So trim stripes or a 2nd, 3rd, or 4th color don't add that much in the scheme (ahem) of things.
DIY white with vinyl trim is a great option if you have the patience and facilities to do it right.
I’d seen it in the past online; just type “Vans RV 9” on google and scroll the images, and eventually I came across it. The owner went with the color scheme he wanted , regardless of what others thought, so kudos to him. If it were for sale and I bought it, I would show if off as well
. But hey, I’ve seen some RV’s that are painted pink…That would be good for me. A solid white or yellow, and maybe paint the wingtips & tail red, and give it a stripe.
Go on YouTube, lots of instructional videos on vinyl wrapping cars. Airplanes with mostly flat surfaces generally much easier (assuming the riveting quality is good on your plane). Vinyl material costs for this plane was under $3500 Cdn. Recently done. Time to apply basic white was 80 man hours (learning as we went). About another 80 hrs applying colors (most of that time spent experimentally laying out the graphics).
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You bet. I painted my RV-6 piece by piece in my garage before final assembly. My RV-10 was the same, but a friend with a paint shop did the painting.
Relatively speaking, you can learn to paint on small pieces, so you don't have as much rework as you'd have if you weren't happy with your first effort at a wing or fuselage.
Dean Pichon
Well Known Member
I paint $11K for this repaint 2 years ago.
I was quoted $8k to strip the paint off an RV-8A a year ago.
Stripping an airplane is a horrible job. When the time comes, I'll probably do it myself, but $8K might be a decent deal.
Just for strip? Ouch!
What is funny is the previous owner got it painted for $8k at a fly by night place. The paint hasn’t lasted 600 hours with some pretty bad wear. I knew going into the sale the paint may be an issue later on, but he would have saved me money if he didn’t get it painted at all.
schooner49
Member
Built ten of these things. Painted all of them in our garage. Had a pit so I could walk under to
do the belly. Never cost more than $2500.00.
Bryan
do the belly. Never cost more than $2500.00.
Bryan
Don’t call the advertiser in Missouri for a quote on a strip/repaint of your RV. Calls won’t be returned, even after multiple attempts. A previous co-owner flew our RV-10 through rain, and paint on wing leading edges and HS was damaged. Apparently, paint shop operator wasn’t even willing to discuss a quote even with an offer to fly to his home field for an eyes on eval.
Any leads on a reputable shop willing/able to strip and paint without a 2yr wait would be appreciated.
This is the answer. I can't get my head around $20,000.. for paint??!! Got to be kidding. Learn to do base/clear. It's easy and it's fun.
If it was easy and fun, I think most people would do it themselves.
There's a reason people pay $30,000 for paint.If it was easy and fun, I think most people would do it themselves.
From my neighbor -
Exactly. Some people have the skills to do it right, most of us do not. Evoke put over 1000 person-hours of labor in my RV-10 paint and around $10K in materials. Was it worth $40k? To me, yes. There is a reason they have a multi-year waiting list and the majority of the award winning planes at SNF and OSH are painted (or the scheme is designed) by them. We spend $60k or more on a pre-wired panel, $100K on an engine. $40k on a show quality paint job that will last for many years is a bargain.
No it's not easy, it is educational and ultimately satisfying but it is a LOT of work to prep and paint an RV "DIY".If it was easy and fun, I think most people would do it themselves.
I recently finished painting my 6A and it turned out well enough, though it is not perfect (amateur builder and painter after all). However it would be really difficult (for me) to justify $30k or $20k to paint something that is a discretionary hobby. YMMV as the saying goes.
My cost was $2k for the paint booth, $1k for spray painting equipment, $1.5k for materials. This is in $AUD, which is worth about $0.62 USD.
The booth and equipment could be re-used to paint another RV. I could definitely do it easier and better on the next one, based on what I learned on the first one.
I can recommend JetCrafters at Safford, AZ (KSAD). That's where my 8A is right now. http://jetcrafters.com
WTF
Man, I miss the days of when I built my 8A. Total cost was only $89k for a painted flying airplane. It was a long time ago though. Sucks getting old.
I think I paid Grady $6400 for the Valkyrie’s paint back in those days….
My advice is to strip-off the old paint yourself using aircraft paint stripper and then look for a local car painter on craigslist for much less money. Taking in the various main parts (wings, empennage and fuselage) disassembled can also save you from having to find an actual "aircraft painter" for a premium price. Aircraft painters are generally backed-up with higher paying jobs. In addition, some smaller airports have paint shops, and can accommodate the the smaller jobs much easier. My RV-9A was painted with Imron paint and still looks great after 20-years! So, don't skimp on the paint quality -- PPG is also a very good choice!
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Prep is important too. Mine was an Imron paint job but it is coming off by flying after 4 years.
Those days weren't that long ago because I can still remember them! Finished my 7 in 2017 for $85K including an $11K paint job, full Flightline interior and basic VFR Dynon panel. Now a paint job is half what my finished plane cost.
My 8 was painted using PPG epoxy primer and base/clear paint in my hangar by the local PPG rep for $3500. Maybe not an EVOKE quality job but she looks great and I can still afford to fly it.
Back in my day…
Yes -- and, a zinc chromate epoxy primer base is a good why to keep the paint sticking!
Not sure what they used but it is green underneath.
Does the primer look like it’s been sanded or thick and glossy?
Very thin as best I can tell. It’s a yellow green tint and where it peels it either peels off the imron and leaves behind a sandpaper like feel with the primer color or it just leaves bare shiney aluminum clad in other places.
On the fiberglass it just chips off leaving pink for the cowl or gray for the windscreen surround.
9A back from Fulltron about a month ago. I’m very happy with how it turned out. $22,000. The amount of labor needed to do a quality job is unbelievable.
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Fulltron Aviation
Member
Kevin,
We recently have had a change of personnel who answers the phone and gives quotes. We are sorry to hear you had a negative experience with us! Please feel free to reach back out for a new quote. Our owner Marlin would absolutely never turn down an offer from someone to fly to our home field to evaluate.
One must remember that Imron was originally created for the heavy-duty truck industry and has been used on airplanes for years! I've had Imron on two of my own airplanes, and it's extremely durable if done right. However, mixing the hardener to paint ratio is absolutely critical, and it's not the same ratio as PPG. Paint shops have been known to get the paint to hardener radio wrong on Imron jobs now that PPG is popular. My painter mentioned this to me when I asked for Imron instead of PPG. He gladly shot Imron over a "shiny green" zinc chromate epoxy primer that he first applied (preferred primer for both Imron or PPG). In addition, the bare aluminum surface needs to be properly Alodined, rinsed thoroughly and dried before any primer is applied -- VERY important prep steps. If these steps are followed, then Imron paint is "tuff as nails" and will last for years looking nearly new! My 20-year old RV-9A paint job is a good example, and no paint chips! But, I also hanger the airplane because we are based out of Paine Field WA. While building the airplane, I also applied epoxy primer on all internal structures -- well wroth the extra time and effort!
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