I just got my paint correction stuff in (Thanks Phil ), and I'm eager to find a scrap panel and begin to learn techniques and whatnot. However, I have no connections at bodyshops, junkyards, etc. Should I just go to a local mechanic or bodyshop and ask if they've got anything laying around? I'd prefer not to actually pay for one of these panels if I can. My boyfriend's mom has got her old and broken Town & Country minivan parked in her yard, and I'm thinking about scavenging something off of it, like the hood or something...but she lives four hours away and I don't go out that way very often. Any tips?
Sounds easy enough. lol. I'll give it a go. I just didn't know how willing they were to just give away stuff like that. I feel dumb now xP
Nahh, no need to feel dumb... Probably depends on a bunch of things if they give you one like how busy they are, have they had the daily allowance of coffee, etc...
This is what I did also. Most are very willing to get rid of it so they don't have to do it themselves.
I went to a junk yard. They usually keep really "nice" good-condition panels somewhere. I found one that belonged to a Taurus, but they wanted $70, so I told them I only had $40 cash and they sold it to me
Been getting body shop panels for years. I usually kick a few bucks into their Christmas or party fund. One shop I have been too numerous times I have taken the manager to lunch a few times.
I have go a few from one body shop in my area one time. hood, door , and fender. just go in and ask, you will usually be able to tell as soon as you walk in how friendly the people are. Body shops also usually have guys that come in and buy all the scrap panels so dont expect for them to let you take the whole lot but they should be able to give you one or two
Woo got one lol, just went to probably the biggest body shop in the area and the guy dragged me out a hood from a Civic. It was actually in in pretty good shape...only minor swirls so I had to add a few of my own.
When I first started I went to a junkyard and bought a red trunk lid off a Dodge Neon for $5. I practiced everything on that old lid. It looked like new after a few weeks.
Here's what I got... I cleaned it up and have been messing around with it some since then. Times like this make me REALLY wish I had a garage.
