Paint shop recommendations?

[Sable1]

Does anyone have any recommendations on where to take a 231 for paint?

I would prefer to stay in the upper mid-west (based at KFCM), but I would be willing to travel for the right deal.

I've talked to a number of people that have told me I should be able to get a good job done for around $10k.  But of course nobody can remember who did that great paint job at that price.  I spent some time talking to the guys at Wipaire (fully knowing they would be on the high end), and true to form, they came in at $17,000+.  From what I've seen, I am going to be spending at least $14,000 - $15,000.

Was anyone able to get it done cheaper - and been happy with the job?

If I'm spending that kind of money, I'd rather go with someone that was recommended than roll the dice.

Thanks for the feedback.

 

Tedd

[DonMuncy]

Call Doug Blair at Mena Aircraft Painting in Mena AR. He did my 231 9 years ago for $6,000. My plane has won numerous "best K model" at MAPA. 

[DaV8or]

Art Craft in Santa Maria, CA (KSMX) is highly recommended and they are Mooney specialists. I know it's a long ass way for you to go, but I'm pretty sure their price will beat the quote you got unless you want something super duper custom, like Aztec virgin sacrifice mural on the side of custom van kind of custom. Sadly they are not located on, or near a major airline hub, but there are lots of Mooney folks around there, maybe one of them could give you a lift to the hub?

[jetdriven]

We are also shopping for a paint shop. Mooney 201, red/white split scheme, 2008 ovation style. More South or SE/SW.  Keep suggestions coming.

[Parker_Woodruff]

Hawk Aircraft Painting at VDF. Unless you do something crazy you'll get out for less than $10,000.

Both fantom and I had our Mooneys painted there. Joe and his crew do excellent work.

[mooneygirl]

ArtCraft has painted 40 Mooneys since 2009 when our Ovation was painted there.  They hosted Jerry Manthey's seminar this weekend, and were offering a $10,000 paint job with one color and two trims colors. The price includes five hours of body work.  United, Horizon, and Allegiant fly into KSMX [santa Maria, Central Coast of Ca.]  Our Ovation won best of show at MAPA and my E model did too. Both painted by ArtCraft.

[Dave Marten]

Teresa at ArtCraft runs a great shop. www.artcraftpaint.com They do it right!

[Bennett]

Second that for ArtCraft. Worth the trip. Great quality, and they will work with you for custom designs.

[flight2000]

Wow, CA is considered the Midwest too now....who knew.  By time he spends money on gas, RT airline tickets, might as well get that $17K job that is local.   

 

I had mine done in 2010 by R&B Aircraft (located at KTOP) and paid $11K out the door (had some extra work done and all new SS screws installed).   I'd go back there in  a minute if I had to.  Greg has a lot of repeat customers (as they bounce from plane to plane, not painting the same one...  )

 

Contact info on their website.

 

http://www.rbaircrafttopeka.com/id5.html

 

Brian

[MARZ]

We are also shopping for a paint shop. Mooney 201, red/white split scheme, 2008 ovation style. More South or SE/SW.  Keep suggestions coming.

Byron - have you checked out Murrmur at southwest ?

[jetdriven]

Mike, I did check out Murmur and Te-has. Both came in a little over 18 grand. I think they do great work, but we just don't want to spend that much for a repaint.

[N601RX]

I was quoted $8600 local for 1 base color and 2 trim colors.

[TWinter]

Call Doug Blair at Mena Aircraft Painting in Mena AR. He did my 231 9 years ago for $6,000. My plane has won numerous "best K model" at MAPA. 

I'll give another vote for Mena Aircraft Painting (Mena, Arkansas). Great price and great service. Got mine done last year. They even picked it up and I brought it home. One base with two accents $10K +/-. Turn-around was about three weeks. 

[chrisk]

I too am looking for a paint job on my bird.  

• Murmer quoted $13,900, +$2100 for a split base paint scheme, +1200 for stainless steel hardware, +$250 for door jams.  Right around $17,500.
• Hawk Aircraft had a very attractive quote.  Much closer to $10K if I remember.  

And for those who have gone through a paint process, did you have any new fuel leaks associated with the paint job.   My tanks are good now, but I keep hearing that the paint stripping process has a tendency to find new leaks.  --Something about the paint sealing around rivets.

[fantom]

Hawk in Tampa is excellent. Joe owns it, is hands on, and has done more Mooney's than I care to count for the past 30 years. He has always sealed the seams to protect the fuel tanks, unlike some more touted shops. Mine was done 3 years ago and still goods great...when i wash it.

It's ridiculous to fly from the mid west to either CA or FL for a paint job if you have no other reason to go there. It isn't rocket science after all, and there is no logical reason to pay more than 10 or 11 grand. The folks in Mena do fine work also, just do some homework on which shop on the field you're using.

I have no financial or other interest in Hawk Painting/Tampa, nor am I trying to ingratiate myself to Joe. I'm not hawking Hawk. His is just an excellent, reasonable and fair, no nonsense shop.

[John Pleisse]

Dial Eastern is still good..   http://www.desapi.com/home.html

 

I did Lancaster Aero in 2001 (Jet Glow). It has held up. I hear LA has vastly improved. They do all the paint work for O&N's P210 RR conversions. Lou is a fair guy.

 

I think both will be in the $15k neighborhood.

[Glenn]

I had very good results with Sturgis Aviation, in Sturgis, MI (KRIS).  Danny King is the proprietor and is  great to work with.  I had my M20F painted about 4 years ago, an it still looks great.  I had to wait about 2 months to get on the schedule, but they then stripped, had ailerons reskinned, and painted the plane in less than 3 weeks.  In short they did what they promised on-time and on-budget.  They even ferried me back to my home airport in their C182. Their number is (269) 659-3773.  Below is before and after.

 

[Sable1]

WOW!  Thanks for the tremendous response.  Now I have MORE calls to make. 

I just talked with Ken at Flying colors in MI.  Spent about 45 minutes on the phone, maybe the last 15 - 20 were actually talking about paint.  Really nice guy. 

He seems to know Mooneys pretty well.  We talked a lot about the process he uses, and sounds like he's into the details.  He may end up being on the higher end - he ballparked $15,000 for a good but basic job.  $18,000 would get something that really pops. 

I would consider taking the plane to him for a "real" quote based on our conversation.  That's only a few hours flight from here, and he's a Mooney Geek (his words), so how bad can he be - right?

However, I am definitely going to be checking out some of the recommendations posted here.  Flying to the coast (either one) is obvioulsy not my preference, but if I wait until winter and combine with a vacation it may not be such a bad idea.

I did get an email back from Edge Aircraft in Urbana OH.  Quick quote of $10,500.  I've not talked to them yet, but I thought that sounded light.  But after the comments here, maybe not.

Thanks again for all of the recommenations.  I'll post more info as I get it.

 

Tedd

[Awful_Charlie]

One thing that no-one seems to have directly mentioned yet is when looking for a reference, don't look at the aircraft painted last month, or even last year - look at aircraft they painted 5 or even 10 years ago, and how they are holding up.  It's all very well getting a paint job for half the price, but if it needs doing after a third of the time......

 

If you 'just' want a quick 'tart up' to sell again soon, or get a 'best presented' award at the next fly-in, your requirements are a lot different to the owner whose bird is a keeper and is going to stay with it for years.  The 'quick blow over' does exist, and although cheap is neither good for longevity or payload!

 

Ben

[Marauder]

Dial eastern is still good.. http://www.desapi.com/home.html Still good. I did Lancaster Aero in 2001 (Jet Glow). It has held up. I hear LA has vastly improved. They do all the paint work for O&N's P210 RR conversions. Lou is a fair guy. I think both will be in the $15k neighborhood.

At Smoketown? It is under new management. They quoted my $12k for my Mooney a couple of months ago. The airport was bought by a guy name Horst. His son Kendall runs the paint shop.

[Marauder]

I had very good results with Sturgis Aviation, in Sturgis, MI (KRIS). Danny King is the proprietor and is great to work with. I had my M20F painted about 4 years ago, an it still looks great. I had to wait about 2 months to get on the schedule, but they then stripped, had ailerons reskinned, and painted the plane in less than 3 weeks. In short they did what they promised on-time and on-budget. They even ferried me back to my home airport in their C182. Their number is (269) 659-3773. Below is before and after.

Prices if you don't mind...

[Sable1]

One thing that no-one seems to have directly mentioned yet is when looking for a reference, don't look at the aircraft painted last month, or even last year - look at aircraft they painted 5 or even 10 years ago, and how they are holding up.  It's all very well getting a paint job for half the price, but if it needs doing after a third of the time......

 

If you 'just' want a quick 'tart up' to sell again soon, or get a 'best presented' award at the next fly-in, your requirements are a lot different to the owner whose bird is a keeper and is going to stay with it for years.  The 'quick blow over' does exist, and although cheap is neither good for longevity or payload!

 

Ben

 

This is a great comment.  What I'm really looking for is a good value.  I don't really want a quick and cheap job, I want something that will go the distance.  

But there seems to be a bit of a range in costs for what people here have reported as quality jobs - just like in most ventures.  If I can go with a company that charges less (because for whatever reason the economics work that way) that's what I'm shooting for.  If I can pay $10k or $12k for the same quality that someone else is charging $17k, sign me up.  And from what I'm seeing here, that sounds to be the case.  I may just need to fly an extra couple of hours to get it - and that's not a bad thing.

[jetdriven]

You really have zero to go on but the shop's reputation. You can pay 20 grand for a paint job that fades in 3 years or 8 grand for a paint job that lasts 20.  There are a couple top-rated shops nearby to me, but I am not spending 20 grand on a paint job when it can be had for half that.

[KSMooniac]

I would try to find something with several hundred hours/few years on the paint job from a candidate shop and see how it is holding up.  Details skipped in prep work might not show up until a much later with peeling paint around edges/seams, leading edges, etc.  

[TWinter]

This is a great comment.  What I'm really looking for is a good value.  I don't really want a quick and cheap job, I want something that will go the distance.  

But there seems to be a bit of a range in costs for what people here have reported as quality jobs - just like in most ventures.  If I can go with a company that charges less (because for whatever reason the economics work that way) that's what I'm shooting for.  If I can pay $10k or $12k for the same quality that someone else is charging $17k, sign me up.  And from what I'm seeing here, that sounds to be the case.  I may just need to fly an extra couple of hours to get it - and that's not a bad thing.

When I was shopping I found that several of the smaller shops that I called had price structures that reflected the current workload and size of the shop. At Mena Airport there are probably five or more paint shops at the field. They all know each other and have a pretty good idea of what the others are charging. There were one or two that priced much higher because they were smaller and when they were on one job they were limited to just that project. A few other "Banner Ad" shops that I checked just surfing the web had the fancy websites etc..well I guess somebody has to pay for the fancy ad. They all quoted 17K and up. Just some reasoning to the wide window of prices.

 

I think most everyone on the forum would only suggest who they have confidence in. I think you will be looking at 13K-15K in real numbers from any of the shops the guys have suggested. That would get you one solid and two accent w/ warranty. All good names mentioned.