taking the mystery out of painting your own bike...

[sure]

OK so you wanna paint your own bike but don't have the slightest clue on where on how to do it,well I am gonna change that for you..
The tools and supplies you wil need:
Compressor(40 gal or bigger works best as it can keep up with the amount of air you will be using)
A D.A.(dual action sander)
paint mixing cups
paint sticks and strainers
A paint gun(it doesn't matter if its a high dollar gun the kits you can buy woork just as well and comes with 2 tips and needles one for spraying prime1.7 and one for spraying base and clear 1.3-1.4)
sand paper ranging from 80grit dry all the way up 2000 grit wet
sanding blocks(not necessary but will turn out nicer if you have atleast one)
body filler(if you need to do any body work)
some sort of metal etch(I use dupont metal prep which you wipe on but SEM makes a good one that comes in a rattle can that youcan also use)
A high build 2k primer w/ activator
you base coat of choice.(you can use anything from the high dollar stuff to a less name brand,the key is coverage not cost)
clear coat(this is where I would splurge for the good stuff as this is what will protect you paint job from the elements and gas spillage)

Now that that is out of the way.
I will be sprayiing a 71 triumph bonneville gas tank for a resto job.
This is what the tank looked like when the customer dropped it off.
http://i346.photobucket.com/albums/p431/sureshots11/DSCF0009.jpg
http://i346.photobucket.com/albums/p431/sureshots11/DSCF0010.jpg
http://i346.photobucket.com/albums/p431/sureshots11/DSCF0011.jpg
This is the original paint..He wants to freshen it up and change themain color to black.

Step 1:
I will be sand blasting this tank to remove the old paint..Be sure to cork and duct tape any areas you do NOT want the blasting media to go.
This is what it looks like after about a half hour of blasting time..Take your time on this step as you DO NOT want to ruin the tank.
http://i346.photobucket.com/albums/p431/sureshots11/DSCF0012.jpg
http://i346.photobucket.com/albums/p431/sureshots11/DSCF0013.jpg
http://i346.photobucket.com/albums/p431/sureshots11/DSCF0014-1.jpg

[sure]

(you can also strip the tank by hand using 80 grit sand paper or some sort of stripper if you do not have access to a blast cabinet)
Notice the corked and taped area still have the old paint on them,this will be removed when you rough up the tank with 80grit so that the prmer will stick to it..
step2.Remove any of the left over paint and rough up the whole tank with 80 grit sand paper on a DA or by hand..
step3. hang or set the tank on a stand and wipe or spray your metal etching material..
with the dupont metel prep the tank should look something like this.
http://i346.photobucket.com/albums/p431/sureshots11/DSCF0015-2.jpg

step3. Now you are ready to mix your primer.Make sure you have stirred on put primer in a paint shaker to insure that all the solid material on the bottom has been properly distributed through out..This is the stuff that gives the primer its thickness so that it covers and filler sanding scratch on the tank and body work(I got lucky on this one as it did not need any body work)
Now you can mix the primer pre manufacture spec. Make sure you have set your gun up for spraying primer(this is for you guys that are using a kit type gun . you want to use the bigger of the 2 tips and needles)
now you can spray your first coat of primer..be sure to wait the manufacturer spec flash time.usaul 10 to 15 mintues depending on temp. of where you're spraying..If its coolers it maybe longer and vice versa for if its hot.
After 4 coats of primer you tank and parts should look like this.
http://i346.photobucket.com/albums/p431/sureshots11/DSCF0016-2.jpg
http://i346.photobucket.com/albums/p431/sureshots11/DSCF0017-1.jpg

I will post the rest more tomorrow as this is a work in progress and will be doing the primer block sand and paint tonight.

[sure]

Ok so the tank is in primer and you are now ready to block the primer for paint..
I start out with 220grit and work my up to 600 wet..
you want to bolck until tank is smooth..if you break through the primer or can feel any body work it is ok to reprime and block again until you get it where you want it..
I go all the way to 600 because I prefer to not have and issues with sanding scratches the may come back through if theprimer shrinks(this does happen depending on the primer you use) This is also good because you do not have to use sealer..hence relieving some of the overall material cost..
Here is the taank hang and painted with the first color which is black.
http://i346.photobucket.com/albums/p431/sureshots11/DSCF0025.jpg
http://i346.photobucket.com/albums/p431/sureshots11/DSCF0024.jpg

Since this is a 2 color job I will let the black flash off and become dry enough that I can do my tape outs on it..ussualy about a half hour depending on the temp.
I use fine line tape to lay out the stock triumph scallops..
http://i346.photobucket.com/albums/p431/sureshots11/DSCF0028.jpg
http://i346.photobucket.com/albums/p431/sureshots11/DSCF0029.jpg
then I will use 2 inch tape to block out the rest of the tank..
http://i346.photobucket.com/albums/p431/sureshots11/DSCF0032.jpg
http://i346.photobucket.com/albums/p431/sureshots11/DSCF0033-1.jpg
be sure to cover the whole tank as you will get overspray on it if you don't.

[sure]

Next spray 3 coats of your next color in the case it is white..
http://i346.photobucket.com/albums/p431/sureshots11/DSCF0034-1.jpg
http://i346.photobucket.com/albums/p431/sureshots11/DSCF0035-2.jpg
Now in this instance I did not like how one side was a bit off.. so I will fix it..
I waited about 45 minutes the I wet sanded the edge off of the white.
http://i346.photobucket.com/albums/p431/sureshots11/DSCF0038-1.jpg
Then I made my adjustments with the tape to get the side dead nuts on..
http://i346.photobucket.com/albums/p431/sureshots11/DSCF0039-1.jpg
http://i346.photobucket.com/albums/p431/sureshots11/DSCF0040.jpg
http://i346.photobucket.com/albums/p431/sureshots11/DSCF0041.jpg
Now if you can still see where the previous tape out was you can wet sand w/ 600 to remove the line and spray another coat of white..
Now it is more how I like it..
http://i346.photobucket.com/albums/p431/sureshots11/DSCF0042-1.jpg

Now I am ready to clear the tank.
I will rehang it so that I can clear the underside also..
3 coats of clear later..
http://i346.photobucket.com/albums/p431/sureshots11/DSCF0044-1.jpg

let this cure for 24 hours then you can wet sand and buff....
I will also be hand striping the gold around the scallops..
but thats tonight so I will show the completed tank tomorrow..

[sure]

so now you are ready ot wet and and buff the tank..
First wet sand the whole tank w/ 1500 grit..this wil cut faster so don't go too far..just until the tank so flat in finish and texture..next use 2000 grit wet to remove the 1500 scratches..
Then buff with a whitefoam pad or wool,your choice using extra cut compound(I use 3m)
After you have buffed out al the 2000 scratches you move to the gray foam pad which is a finishing pad and it removes swirls...with the I used a finishing compound for black paint...
Once its polished to a mirror finish you shoul use a hand glaze apllying with a detail clothe in a circular action,let it haze over and then remove with a new detail clothe..you basically apply the hand glaze like wax...if you have done a single color you are done and all hats left to do is put your bike bacjk together..
On this tank I will outline the white with gold as thats how the orignal triumphs were..
here's the tank after buff..
http://i346.photobucket.com/albums/p431/sureshots11/DSCF0045-1.jpg
now to stripe it I will use a Kafka long liner and a 0 mac brush. and one shot metalic gold and imatation gold..I will blend them to make the metalic lay down easier..(if you havenever striped before do NOt attempt until you have had lots and lotsof practice..its not as easy as the guys at the car shows make it look..I have been striping for about 7 years and I stil need more practice)
bad pic sorry..
http://i346.photobucket.com/albums/p431/sureshots11/DSCF0046-1.jpg
Pallet the brush w/ paint and lay the line...
http://i346.photobucket.com/albums/p431/sureshots11/DSCF0047-2-1.jpg
here is the tank done and ready for the customer to pickk up...
http://i346.photobucket.com/albums/p431/sureshots11/DSCF0048-1-1.jpg

if you ever have any question about how to paint or do bodywork or anything related feel free to ask me and I will help in any way I can...

[Dodsfall]

Great thread!

The tank really turned out nice.

[Zuki]

Any pics of it on the bike yet?

[sure]

Zuki,He just picked this up this afternoon.I did the write up as I was working on the job..but they always say they will send pics of the bike when its back together but never do..will see if I get any.I have paint work all over the world I have never seen on the bike after I have painted it..Thats just how it goes..

[killereef]

wow, I am going to try this myself. Thanks for the thread.

[kaempfer0080]

Hey Sure, how would you handle painting plastic parts?

[sure]

Hey Sure, how would you handle painting plastic parts?

well if they are painted plastics just prep w/ 320 to block out any of the preexisting 2 tones line, if any, the prime adding a flex additive to your primer.
the blockprimer per sheet metal the when you paint them add flex additive to you clear and you are good to go.

if the plastics has decals on them and they are on top of the clear remove the w/ a heat gun DO NOT SAND THEM OFF YOU WILL MAKE a BIGGER MESS OF IT..this take a bit of time but the overall out come is worth the added effort and care..to remove an adhesive from the panel use 3m adhesive remover.

[Paintpimpp]

Not bad! "sure" do you paint for a living or just a hobby?

[kaempfer0080]

Sounds good, I think I'm going to paint my bike this spring =]

[sure]

Not bad! "sure" do you paint for a living or just a hobby?

this is what I do,well I build bikes also but painting is what I love to do..I do tons of resto stuff and custom. With the resto guy tey a fanatical about having it be asclose tofactory as possible so thats always fun..hand lettering,striping all that fun stuff.

[Paintpimpp]

thats what I do for a living also I'm "sure" you know what it's all about...you know long hours, late nights, all weekend long trying to finish jobs....it never ends...........I guess thats why I love it!

[sure]

thats what I do for a living also I'm "sure" you know what it's all about...you know long hours, late nights, all weekend long trying to finish jobs....it never ends...........I guess thats why I love it!

I only work at night..haha
But I also have one rule when it comes to doing custom stuff..you pick the main color and leave the rest to me...
the resto stuff I do exact to factory..

[NickGr]

Nice my friend, can you post a pic, of the tool you use to "sand blasting the tank"? you do it with the sand paper, or it's a different tool? Thanks...

[NickGr]

I assume that we follow the same procedure in order to paint the frame of the bike?

[NickGr]

And if you know can you tell us if it's possible to paint the cylinder/cylinder head, how and what kind of paint should we use?

[briang]

You use a sand blaster to sandblast something. To put it in very basic terms they use compressed air to spray some type of abrasive. The impact and friction from the abrasive hitting the tank causes the paint to come off. Makes it very easy to remove paint from tight places. You can also use it to remove surface rust.

[NickGr]

You attach the sand blaster to the compressor, or it's an independent tool? I have a compressor, but i have never seen a sand blaster, it must be very usefull!

[briang]

Most do attach to a separator compressor. What kind you get depends on how much you want to use it and whether or not you mind sweeping up afterwords. If you will hardly ever use it and don't mind a mess, get one of the handheld ones. They also make ones with cabinets that contain the mess but cost more.

[NickGr]

Thanks for the info, i found a site about making a homemade sandbluster attached to the compressor! It's really easy! (I can't post the link unless i count 15 posts...)
Do you know if it's possible to paint the cylinder-cylinder head? Will the paint hold the heat?

[sure]

use engine enamal

[captainhowdy]

can you do the pinstriping with masking tape? (saw it on OCC one time, have no idea how he got that thin blue tape to go where he wanted.)

[sure]

He used a digital cut mask..you can do it but I personally don't like it..