what would you expect to pay for paint. just the product.

Yea but I want to learn how to paint the car.

 

then be prepared to pay more for the first one you do. There are always little incidental costs that many don't expect the first time you do it and they all add up to easily push you over budget. Decent tape, non-bleeding paper to prep it, and even final-prep solvent wipes cost more than some realize. Heck.. even naptha, paper towels and tack cloths with set you back more than 20 bucks these days.

But once you invest in some extra materials and tools(DA Sander) to make tasks more efficient is when the do-it-yourself jobs really show their worth in cash saved.

What you really get with doing it yourself is the satisfaction of telling people that you did the paint yourself.

PS.. I would expect that material total to hit around 1 grand once it's all done.

 

http://www.smartshoppersinc.com/automotive-refinishes/automotive-refinishes.html cheapest place I have found super fast shipping and nice guys willing to answer all your questions