Where to get automotive paint cheapest?

[3cargarage]

I know that I can run to my "local" bodyshop (1 hour round trip) like many prefer to do.

However, the second that the majority of things became available online I do anything that I can to avoid B&M stores.

So where do you get your automotive paints the cheapest? Is it still locally? I am no expert and know that not all automotive paint is created equally.

I want to go with lower quality basecoat/clearcoat honestly. Not interested in rattle cans either.

Thanks!

 

[finn]

Summit.

You’re not going to get custom paint matched to the paint code on your door, but I have used both their single stage and base coat / clear coat for amateur paint jobs.

 

[txvwnut]

I’ve had good luck with Kirker available at www.autobodytoolmart.com.

 

[whateg01]

Eastwood's ads lately say their paint is an exact match! Lol

Most of my paint I've bought from the local O'Reilly's. I don't recall what they stock now but I've bought nason there that was fine. (Looks like they still sell nason.) Haven't needed to match anything so I don't know how well they do there.

 

[liliysdad]

https://paintforcars.com/

 

[3cargarage]

Great info. Thanks again.

 

[WildBill]

I was looking at this kit for my cougar, I saw a lot of recommendations for this place on different painting forums. This is a single stage kit but they have all different types of kits. The single stage acrylic urethane paint is pretty good, I know two guys that painted their muscle cars with it and they both turned out great.

High Gloss Deep Orange Acrylic Urethane Single Stage Gallon Paint Kit

Our High Gloss Urethane Kit is formulated to give you a high quality, easy-to-use high gloss finish for your vehicle. This activated acrylic urethane has ultra high gloss, excellent mar resistance, and UV resistance. Manufactured in the USA to the highest quality standard for fast coverage...

autopainthq.com

 

[Burl]

Summit Racing matte baby blue and white, covered with Kirker matte clearcoat from TP Tools. Sprayed out well all with a LVLP Drizzle gun from Amazon. Where you're looking at it is where it was painted, a piece at a time. Less than $600 in 4 gallons and a quart.

 

[gearhead1]

Summit Racing matte baby blue and white, covered with Kirker matte clearcoat from TP Tools. Sprayed out well all with a LVLP Drizzle gun from Amazon. Where you're looking it it is where it was painted, a piece at a time. Less than $600 in 4 gallons and a quart.

Good job! That would definitely be good enough for me!

There‘s a Facebook group for spray painting cars with rustoleum! I wonder if you could put clear on top of rustoleum, that would be a cheap solution.

 

[Burl]

Good job! That would definitely be good enough for me!

There‘s a Facebook group for spray painting cars with rustoleum! I wonder if you could put clear on top of rustoleum, that would be a cheap solution.

The whole engine compartment, underside of hood, and inner fenders were sprayed with Rustoleum semi-gloss. You just have to find that happy medium with thinning with acetone and it still covers good without running. Mine was about 20% acetone.

 

[fourjeepin]

I prefer Krylon for my Jeep

 

[Sweetcorn]

Summit and Eastwood both sell rebranded Kirker paint.

There's no denying that better paints are available, but they are a pretty good bang for the buck.

Eastwood has their own color lines, same as Summit, but Eastwood can now "match" factory paint codes with their in house blends. I've had Eastwood do a few OEM colors for me out of convenience and they worked well. If I wanted a high end repair, I would go OEM though. The Eastwood did spray out nice and do a good job, I just can't speak to it's longevity yet.

 

[Damon L.]

The coating store is supposed to be pretty good.

Automotive Paint | Buy Custom Car Paint Colors from TheCoatingStore

Find the best automotive paint at TheCoatingStore. Offering a variety of professional-grade, custom car paint colors. Shop our selection now.

www.thecoatingstore.com

 

[Copymutt]

The whole engine compartment, underside of hood, and inner fenders were sprayed with Rustoleum semi-gloss. You just have to find that happy medium with thinning with acetone and it still covers good without running. Mine was about 20% acetone.

Painted my plow truck 2 yrs. ago w/ Rustolium. Never bothered to cut & buff, still looks good.

 

[cgrutt]

Have you tried www.tcpglobal.com ? Not sure where they are pricewise but I've purchased from them in past. They seem to have large selection and service was great.

 

[zimman]

Have you gone to Oreilly's? They have a complete paint program at some stores.
Zim

 

[MovingAlong]

Good job! That would definitely be good enough for me!

There‘s a Facebook group for spray painting cars with rustoleum! I wonder if you could put clear on top of rustoleum, that would be a cheap solution.

I've painted a dozen or so vehicles, only one with Rust-Oleum and did not clear coat it. Goal was to change faded/peeling/ugly dark green to white. Scraped with a putty knife, quick sand with 220, taped it up and shot it. It accomplished the original goal and was still white (although matte finished) many years later with no other "paint" related issues.

Once you get your goals defined: 5ft, 20ft, from my house, etc.. you'll find a wider range of products at "cheaper" price points. Check with Tractor Supply, they carry a range of implement paint that may fit your needs too.

Was part of a dirt track crew once, we painted ours with white latex semi-gloss and a roller! After a few laps, it made no difference, they all looked the same...

There is a pretty wide range between "automotive paint" and "painting an auto".

 

[liliysdad]

Me and a buddy painted this CJ in his shop. I sanded it with a Dewalt cordless orbital sander, and we didn’t prime it. It’s the color it is because that’s the gallon of paint he had on his shelf for a long-forgotten trailer project that never happened. We didn’t even know what color it was til we owned it. No drop cloths, nothing other than wetting the floor down. I think I paid $40 for the reducer, funnels, etc.

It looks like hell because I know it looks like hell, but it gets a ton of compliments. It’s a Jeep, it’s supposed to have dings and scrapes and chips and stories.

 

[gearhead1]

Me and a buddy painted this CJ in his shop. I sanded it with a Dewalt cordless orbital sander, and we didn’t prime it. It’s the color it is because that’s the gallon of paint he had on his shelf for a long-forgotten trailer project that never happened. We didn’t even know what color it was til we owned it. No drop cloths, nothing other than wetting the floor down. I think I paid $40 for the reducer, funnels, etc.

It looks like hell because I know it looks like hell, but it gets a ton of compliments. It’s a Jeep, it’s supposed to have dings and scrapes and chips and stories.

Looks fine! For a daily driver or off road vehicle perfection would be overkill.

 

[partsguy5768]

Summit racing...

 

[gearhead1]

From the “Painting Cars with Rustoleum” Farcebook group, looks like Sherwin Williams Finish 1 is a recommended clear coat. A gallon is $100 on Amazon with the hardener.

Amazon.com : Finish1 clear coat

 

[Steve_P]

Maybe 20 years ago I painted a car's hood and roof with Omni BC/CC. At least two coats of clear, not sanded or buffed. The clear failed, checkered, in about 10 years which was way less than the OE paint lasted. So, don't expect the same UV resistance with Omni as PPG or Glasurit IME. Yes it sat outside, so for a garaged and seldom driver it would've lasted 50 years. But Omni clear isn’t as good as PPG.

In the past, I've heard good reviews of kirker if you're not trying to match for a partial paint.

 

[dnschmidt]

Well, you can rule out Glasurit, R&M, PPG, ProSpray (my favorite) Sherwin-Williams and Axalta. Nason is relatively cheap for basecoat but you're still talking over $100/qt. Do not buy Omni basecoat. You think that your saving money until you discover that it takes 5 coats to cover anything wereas DBC and DBU would do it in two. Omni is false economy.

Try Eastwood.

 

[Steve_P]

Well, you can rule out Glasurit, R&M, PPG, ProSpray (my favorite) Sherwin-Williams and Axalta. Nason is relatively cheap for basecoat but you're still talking over $100/qt. Do not buy Omni basecoat. You think that your saving money until you discover that it takes 5 coats to cover anything wereas DBC and DBU would do it in two. Omni is false economy.

Try Eastwood.

I had no issues with that Omni basecoat coverage, but I used white and black each over gray primer- so not exactly a challenge. As I said, I was disappointed in the clearcoat failing so "soon". I would use the basecoat again in similar circumstances but would skip the Omni clear and go for better if it was something that would sit outside. I am a PPG and Glasurit fan, but paint prices were ridiculous 10 years ago; I don't look forward to the next trip to the store...

 

[no704]

0 experience. But have heard SPI is great quality and reasonable?

 

[Vercingetorix]

I tried some Amazon stuff in a rattle can and it wasn’t even close.

 

[Slednut]

I buy from Tamco, really good product for a good price.

Tamco Paint | Affordable & High Quality Automotive Paints

Looking for high quality automotive paint? Check out or Epoxies, Primers, Sealers, Clearcoats, Custom Colors, OEM paint, Custom Candies, European Line and more!

tamcopaint.com

Painted this around a month ago.

 

[Junkman]

I have a 1979 F250 dump truck that needs paint badly. I am contemplating painting it next spring with house paint and a brush. It was my plow truck until 2003 when I bought a tractor with a snow blower. Last year, I dragged it out of the woods, had a clutch installed, rebuilt the carburetor, and it runs like a top. Has only 29,000 miles on it. It spent most of its original life in a cemetery, moving dirt from new graves and back again after the funeral. I should have taken better care of it, but it was a salvage purchase after it had an engine fire. It was mechanically repaired, but cosmetically, it looks like ****. The only reason that I got it running again is that I fear that we will have a blizzard this winter, and my little Kubota isn't up to the task of keeping my road open.

 

[whateg01]

I have a 1979 F250 dump truck that needs paint badly. I am contemplating painting it next spring with house paint and a brush.

I've going to go out on a limb and guess that's not what op is asking for.

 

[dnschmidt]

0 experience. But have heard SPI is great quality and reasonable?

The problem is basecoat. There are endless examples of decent primers and clearcoats at reasonable prices. The ACME clearcoat from Amazon listed above is actually pretty good stuff. Basecoats are extremely expensive. Like $500 per gallon expensive from any of the major brands.