Just curious to know how hard and long it takes to become a professional painter. I would love to learn how to do it so I could paint my car myself so I know it's done right. I've been burned too many times before with crappy work that seems great at first but cracks and peels later on (on previous cars).

 

You might be better off fixing the body and preping it yourself and let someone shoot it for you . just do a good job sanding out all chips and scratches use good primes not laqures use well now products like PPG or Sikkens go to a local body shop and ask what they will charge to tape it up and spray it. And if you want a real good job take everyting posiable off like door handles belt moldings miorrors side moldings . it is not as easy as it looks to lay down a good paint job and most of the time you get what you pay for plus tell them you want to sand and buff the car if you can do that use 15-2000git it is not that hard just watch out for the edges. hope this helps you.

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91 Camaro SS
305 tbi edelbrock intake &strut brace crane compucam march underdrive pulleys ads superchip k&n open air cleaner mac headers & subframe con. 3"flowmaster 3.42 posi. ascd ss hood and gm ss rims 6 speed Sphon suspension eibach pro, carbua targa rs seats ,

 

I actually want to learn how to paint. I understand the prep work, I just want to learn the skills it takes to paint and was wondering generally speaking, how long it takes to learn.