Anybody paint motorcycles as profession or side-job?

[81xsproject]

My buddy has a 77 kz1000 that he wants to get painted and doesn't want to (A) wait for me to do it, and (B) Doesn't want to mix business w/ friendship. Everywhere he has checked wants around $1100-$1200, which I think is a little steep. Does anybody here paint or know a place that does nice work for reasonable price?

[cloerts]

An old guy(owns a 40 year old body shop) here in Oklahoma said he would match/reproduce my custom paint job on a second tank for $400. Don't know if it would be worth the time and risk to ship across the country for paint though.

[xsivegary]

I can do it. One color, base/clear/sanded and polished tank is $500 plus materials. Materials probably about $150-200 depending on paint color. Includes striping old paint, but not dent repair. Would have to know how many/how bad dents are if any. Side covers would be another $150. Shipping both ways is owner's responsibility as well as shipping insurance. And pack it up well, because that's what it's coming back in

I used to own a body shop, now just an odd job here and there at home.

Let me know if I can help.

Gary

[fredintoon]

My buddy has a 77 kz1000 that he wants to get painted and doesn't want to (A) wait for me to do it, and (B) Doesn't want to mix business w/ friendship. Everywhere he has checked wants around $1100-$1200, which I think is a little steep. Does anybody here paint or know a place that does nice work for reasonable price?

Hi 81xs,
we are seeing estimates here of between $400 and $700 just to paint a gas tank. On that basis $1,200 to buy a professional paint job on a complete bike seems like a reasonable deal.
OK, it's not everyone who can afford $1,200 for a paint job. My advice? DIY. Rent an air compressor and a paint gun for ~$50 a day. It shouldn't take more than 3 days if you do all the prep work first. Good 2-part spray paint, primer, spot filler, solvents etc will cost ~$300. Your total cash outlay will be ~$450.
The next bit is real important. Lower your standards. It's a bike fer chrissake, not a coffee table. If it looks good at a casual glance from 5 feet away it's good enough.

[DiverRay]

My buddy has a 77 kz1000 that he wants to get painted and doesn't want to (A) wait for me to do it, and (B) Doesn't want to mix business w/ friendship. Everywhere he has checked wants around $1100-$1200, which I think is a little steep.

Get used to the cost of painting!!
As Gary stated, the materials can cost $150 to $200 for a single color, and over $500 for a three color paint job. Plus you have a LOT of time in prep work, if it's done correctly. To save money, your friend can do SOME of the sanding himself. Do NOT go down to metal, as you do NOT want to prime it with a rattle can. The pro's use a very good primer, and it may react with the rattle can stuff. DAMHIKIJK
One way you may be able to save some money is find someone who works at an auto bodyshop, and have him paint the bike as a "side" job. It will probably still be about $800 or so, but it SHOULD be a good job! JAT

[TopCatGr58]

Hey Ray,

Due to the sticker shock of the fancier brands of bike paint, I found an auto paint store that sells PPG paints, got my 2 color, black and metal flake green, plus clear for about $150.00 or so. They also had some PRO rattle can etal etching primer that was suggested for use on the bare metal tank I ended up with after the paint removal stripper. Has worked just fine, no bubbling etc.. I had very little experienc with spray painting, but with a modest spray gun...~ $30.00, plus my home 4gal compressor/tank and aux 5 gal tank, proper water/oil filter. So, I'm a big proponent for DIY techniques, and I don't think mine came out too badly!
T.C.

[DiverRay]

T.C.
I understand the DIY, but in California, we CAN'T GET THE GOOD PAINT! The CARB laws here keep all the good paint in Nevada, Oregon, Arizona, etc. I've used Dupont and S.E.M. brand paints with good results, usually. The big problem I've had was the SEM self etching primer, rattle can, and my white base coat. Had a NASTY reaction every time I tried to spray the base coat!

[fredintoon]

T.C.
I understand the DIY, but in California, we CAN'T GET THE GOOD PAINT! The CARB laws here keep all the good paint in Nevada, Oregon, Arizona, etc.

Hi Ray,
how far to the border?
Do they have checkpoints?

[DiverRay]

Hi Ray,
how far to the border?
Do they have checkpoints?

Fred,
If you look at my avitar (that TC put up!) you will see I'm on the West coast. As I live on the north side of Monterey Bay, it's about 250 miles east to Nevada, and almost 500 miles north or south to Oregon or Mexico. It's a long way to tip a paint can.......

[devilschld]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myJyPiME_Gg

well i thought i would post it again in reply to this its all autozone paint in a pint can.

Hey Ray,

Due to the sticker shock of the fancier brands of bike paint, I found an auto paint store that sells PPG paints, got my 2 color, black and metal flake green, plus clear for about $150.00 or so. They also had some PRO rattle can etal etching primer that was suggested for use on the bare metal tank I ended up with after the paint removal stripper. Has worked just fine, no bubbling etc.. I had very little experienc with spray painting, but with a modest spray gun...~ $30.00, plus my home 4gal compressor/tank and aux 5 gal tank, proper water/oil filter. So, I'm a big proponent for DIY techniques, and I don't think mine came out too badly!
T.C.

[xsivegary]

Best and fastest way to paint a bike tank is (I've done a bunch) chemically strip the tank. D/A the residual paint with 150 grit. Then D/A the bare metal with 300 to knock down the scratches from the 150. Clean with Prep Solvent. One coat metal etchhing bare metal primer, no sanding. One or two coats primer surfacer if needed and sand with 300. One coat sealer, no sanding.
two coats base color. Three coats clear. Wet sand with ultra fine. Polish once with polishing compound(Heavy duty/cutting). Polish again with fine compound. Polish again with swirl remover/finish enhancer. Wax it. Ship it.

If you have to fix dents, do it between the metal etch primer and the sealer. Bondo aborbs moisture that makes it bubble, etc. So you want it sealed between products and not on the bare metal or directly under the paint.

That's the right way to get an ultimate finish with the least amount of fooling around. And as you can see it takes a lot of materials and that's why it costs so much. I can easily do a tank like this in 8-10 hours over two days, allowing paint to cure overnight before sanding and polishing.

My 2 cents.