good cheap paint??

[Soundguy]

I need to get some flat black exterior ( latex?? ) paint for a small wooden structure.

I'm looking for 'cheap'. I'm painting a small wooden structure that will be setting in a paintball field. Estimated lifespan of the structure is 2ys or less, as they re-arange the 'bases' on the field every couple years.. so I'm just looking for something to hold the rain-rot at bay for that period. It's exterior plywood construction.. etc.

Each of the members of the field try to contribute a bit to the maintenance and upkeep of the field to keep the owners costs ( and more importantly PRICES )down.. so our team's contribution this time around is this mobile 7'x12' plywood bunker/pillbox.. etc. My other tem members are cash poor right now, so it's all on my dime, and my other 3 team mates are providing the labor. I'v already layed out about 195$ on the wood skinning and frame, screws, staples, screen material, and glues/caulks, etc. Once it gets finished ( this weekend?) I want to get paint on it and haul it over to the field.. my wife keeps harping about how it looks like an eyesore setting int he back bay of the barn..e tc.

So any ideas on good cheap paint.. I've got about 180 exterior sf to cover..( interior too?? ) I'm figuring on using a roller to paint it with.

Soundguy

 

[chucko]

home depot has paint form time to time very cheep. People have it mixed and it is wrong...seems they could remix any color and make it black

 

[fig]

Soundguy,

Look at TSC. You can get barn paint in 5 gallon buckets around $40 I think. It only comes in white, green, or red, but I am sure you could probably take it somewhere to be tinted.

Fig

 

[EddieWalker]

There's always a deal on the classifieds, but you never know when they will apear.

Home Depot usually wont remix there return paint for the same price they are selling it, but I always look on the shelf to see if they have something I can use. Several times I've been lucky and bought some really good paint for $5 a gallon.

My usuall source for paint is Wal-Mart. It goes on good and so far has lasted several years. I forget the price, but it's proabably gonna be the lowest of any department store.

 

[Mike1]

Tractor Supply also has acrylic black barn paint in 5 gallon buckets for around $20.00 depending on your area. Sometimes it isn't in stock at every store, but it is listed in their blue book. It's advertised as not rubbing off like the inexpensive asphalt paint, but I haven't personally used it. I plan to in the near future though, for a fencing project. If you try it, let us know how it goes.

 

[bczoom]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I'm painting a small wooden structure that will be setting in a paintball field. Estimated lifespan of the structure is 2ys or less)</font>

Soundguy,

This may be a dumb question but if it's for a paintball course won't it be covered with paint pretty quickly anyway?

When you say the lifespan is a couple years, is it torn apart or re-used? If torn apart, won't the plywood and stuff last 2 years without being painted?

Anyway, I'll 2nd the tyoughts on checking with Home Depot, Lowes... for pre-mixed that someone didn't want.

Brian

 

[Soundguy]

The paintball marking paint is non permanent.

Also.. down here in florida, there is so much humidity/moisture/rain, etc, that untreated unpainted plywood usually looks pretty rough in a year.

After a couple years the material is either re-used, or if it has substantially fallen apart or been damaged beyond easy repair.. it is 'bon-fired'.

Soundguy

 

[Highbeam]

I recommend an oil based paint for the sake of waterproofing and durability, cleanup with gas. I bought the KILZ brand paint, oil based, had it tinted and then diluted it with mineral spirits before spraying my shipping container with it inside and out. I sprayed through a 20$ automotive type paint gun, highly recommended.

The whole 20'x8'x8' container took less than 2 gallons of paint. I had it tinted to an olive drab. Works great and repels water. The KILZ is also available at the HD but costs more than 4$ per gallon.

 

[Golfgar4]

Most paint stores (Mautz, Sherwin Williams, etc.) have "unused" paint they offer at very low prices. This is usually extra paint that contractors ended up having left over. Sometimes it's paint that was mixed improperly colorwise. You could check with these stores and see if you could get some, although getting black might be a problem. Also be aware that sometimes, the store will require the purchaser to take everything they have.

 

[Scozz]

Why don't you post a "Wanted" ad in your local freecycle:
www.freecycle.org
You'll likely get plenty of responces from people happky to get rid of their old paint...Scozz