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Bike painting advice needed

  1. #1
    100 X slower than Gerard scootertrash's Avatar
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    Bike painting advice needed

    So I need to paint the bodywork for my track bike and need a little advice. I don't expect to end up with a show bike, but I don't want it to look like I painted it with a rattle can either.

    Question 1: Should I buy/rent/borrow a fancy paint sprayer, or can I get decent results with a cheap paint gun ? Anyone ever use one of those cheap "airless" HVLP units ? Harbor Freight sells one for $50 that you don't need a compressor for. Just plug it into 110volts and away you go. I'm guessing you get what you pay for, but is it good enough for a track bike ?

    Question 2: Does the paint brand make a big difference? There are online places that sell a gallon of auto paint for $30. Is it worth buying top-shelf paint or is it all pretty much the same ?


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  2. #2
    Super Moderator OreoGaborio's Avatar
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    Bike painting advice needed

    man, it's a track bike.... rattlecan it. From what i've heard the nozzles on spray cans have come a long way, and if you spend most of the time preping the surface and have a smooth hand it comes out plenty decent enough for a track bike.

    wetsanding is your friend

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    -Pete LRRS/CCS #81 - ECK Racing, TonysTrackDays
    GMD Computrack Boston | Pine Motorparts/PBE Specialists | Phoenix Graphics | Woodcraft | MTag-Pirelli | OnTrack Media

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  3. #3
    Lifer richw's Avatar
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    Bike painting advice needed

    Special rattle cans

    Only get the ones with the

    blue nozzle that has a pin that actuates the spray not all plastic like a carb cleaner nozzle.

    Better buy is the

    Duplicolor TRUCK, van suv paint so is 11 oz spray can. 2 Coats

    Also if you pick a solid light color not
    metalic it will cover many sins and better coverage vs metallic where a uniform primer coat is required.

    If you are extra frisky do 2 coats clear over coat and the a 3m or other liquid polish compound

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  4. #4
    Lifer legalspeed's Avatar
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    Bike painting advice needed

    I have a good compressor (low or high vol.) and ahve a pro gun, will buy whatever else we need.

    Let's do this together.

    The biggest thing will be environment. Heat, humidity etc.

    What do you think about this?

    Oh, I have a new set of hot bodies to shoot.

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    LRRS\CCS\WERA #486

  5. #5
    Newbie CHKM8's Avatar
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    Bike painting advice needed

    Here is what I did, seemed to work out ok for me:



    Painting My Bike

    -Chris

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  6. #6
    Lifer
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    Bike painting advice needed

    Dan, sign me up for that deal. I'll buy whatever else we need, or treat to paint or something. I'm planning 2 colors, maybe some pinstriping before I clear over it too. Have you done it before?

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    It's all water under the bridge, and we do enter the next round-robin. Am I wrong?

  7. #7
    Lifer legalspeed's Avatar
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    Bike painting advice needed

    Nope.

    Someone told me I can't do it. That pretty much seals it up for me.

    We need a clean,dry,heated environment. I have a few possibilities. Haven't heard form Gordon, he could be busy. I want my shit done by April 1, that way I could test and tune at VIR two weeks before our season starts.

    I think we need lights and some kind of over-spray barrier too.

    I am going to check Chris's link now.

    Oh, I am leaning towards Arrival Blue, the same color as my Avalanche.

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    LRRS\CCS\WERA #486

  8. #8
    Lifer
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    Bike painting advice needed

    I'm planning blue/yellow or blue/silver. Chris's link looks awesome. It came out great. I'll ask around for tips, but we can just setup an enviorment with some plastic sheeting, and heat it up with a space heater if need be. My body work should be done in a week or two and shipped out to me.....so we'll do some research and plan for sometime next month?

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    It's all water under the bridge, and we do enter the next round-robin. Am I wrong?

  9. #9
    100 X slower than Gerard scootertrash's Avatar
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    Bike painting advice needed

    Originally posted by legalspeed

    ...
    Haven't heard form Gordon, he could be busy.
    ...

    Hey...some of us have to work for a living.

    That sounds awesome Dan. I really appreciate the offer.
    As far as the environment, unfortunately I can't help out too much with that, having recently sold my house and currently living out of a condo while I look for my dream home with a 6 car garage.

    The color of your avie sounds great. We can do all the parts in one shot.

    I was hoping to have it done before the VIR track day at the end of March, but if we can't pull it off by then it won't be the end of the world for me.

    I'll start looking around for a place we can use to do the painting in...

    By the way...I have two sets of body work to paint...

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  10. #10
    Super Moderator beet's Avatar
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    you can do a good job with a rattle can

    its the prep work that counts as long as its not 2 big
    wet sand smooth as a babys ass & 2 get your panels on strait your in. if ya fu do again by the time your done you will b a pro clear coat easy if ya run wet sand it clear over wala go easy on the clear that stuff gets hard as a rock then scuff & buff it

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  11. #11
    Lifer
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    Bike painting advice needed

    95% of the work with painting you will never see. Surface prep and cleanliness are the most important. Any residue from fingerprints will come up through the paint, and dust on the floor can also get sucked into your painted piece. You can make a cheap spray booth with vapor barrier and duct tape. Depending on the finish you are looking for this may be fine. The actual surface prep will depend on the paint you go with. Spray cans are a lot more forgiving, and if you take your time it will come out great. If you go with a mixed gun paint talk to the guys at the automotive supply store about filtering / water separation / pressure regulation and gun requirements. You will want to consider a flex additive also. Some paints are pretty high tech, talk to the pro's. Good luck...

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  12. #12
    Lifer legalspeed's Avatar
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    Bike painting advice needed

    Rumor has it there is a place in Exeter that will rent us a spray booth.

    I'll check into it.

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    LRRS\CCS\WERA #486

  13. #13
    Tifosi RSVMILLE661's Avatar
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    Bike painting advice needed

    Gordo.. if you need a spray booth lemme know.. I have access to one in Goffstown.. it may be a bit of a hike but it will be free.. All I need is about 3-5 days notice.. I will be glad to help if I can.

    Also.. we have a compressor and paint guns.. if Dan does not want to lug his stuff..

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    Scott Major
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  14. #14
    100 X slower than Gerard scootertrash's Avatar
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    Bike painting advice needed

    Thanks for all the advice everyone and for the offers for help Dan and Scott.

    After reading all the encouragement to use a rattle can, I went out and got a can of Duplicolor with the pin-type nozzle that richw mentioned. I tried it on my tail piece and was surprised how well it came out. That pin nozzle is key...it even has a tip you can spin to get different spray patterns. Not bad for a $4 can of paint. I wouldn't do it on my nice street bike, but it looks good enough for a track beater.

    Let me know when you do your bike Dan. If you need any help, I'll gladly help you out. I would like to go through all the steps involved in using a good setup just so I can see how it's done.

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  15. #15
    Super Moderator OreoGaborio's Avatar
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    Bike painting advice needed



    That's what i'm talkin about... i've heard good things about those pin nozzle cans.

    Like you said - not exactly the way to do a custom street ride, but plenty worthy enough for a track rat (not that we don't love are track rats just as much )

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    -Pete LRRS/CCS #81 - ECK Racing, TonysTrackDays
    GMD Computrack Boston | Pine Motorparts/PBE Specialists | Phoenix Graphics | Woodcraft | MTag-Pirelli | OnTrack Media

    The Garage: '03 Tuono | '06 SV650

  16. #16

    Bike painting advice needed

    You stupid guys with all your stupid forum-resources

    I should've came here before painting my street bike myself, using the following instructions:

    http://www.thegsresources.com/garage/gs_repaint.htm

    In short, you need an enclosed area with good ventilation and good weather.

    Wet sand, do body work, prime, wet sand, paint, wet sand, paint, wet sand, clear coat, wet sand, polish, and wax.

    It should take a week a 10+ cans of paint with the needle nose.

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  17. #17
    GRONSEL'D!!! gixxer6's Avatar
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    I know a guy

    I know a guy who does good work..his name is Mike and he rides for Collision Pros....

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