How much paint?

[Tat2demon]

Started a new job last week at a large nation wide paint retailer. Today I was talking to one of the mixers about painting my bike and he mentioned the line of auto paint we carry and said he could mix up anything I wanted.

How much will I need for a tank, side covers and possibly a small sports fairing?

Im thinking of just having it put into spray cans and doing it that way. Thoughts?

[BA80]

I use just regular spray Duplicolor on mine. The trick is to get a good 2 part clear coat to protect it.

This is what I use ..........http://www.66autocolor.com/SprayMax_.../spm-mix2k.htm

[donebysunday]

I use just regular spray Duplicolor on mine. The trick is to get a good 2 part clear coat to protect it.

This is what I use ..........http://www.66autocolor.com/SprayMax_.../spm-mix2k.htm

Once the Duplicolor is really cured I've spilled fuel on it and just a little buffing took away the signs. Only clear I've tried was 1 part and the fuel took it off to leave rivers in the finnish, re-do !

[BA80]

Yeah, the duplicolor melts with a gas spill, even the high heat ceramic, and you have to work on it. This clear holds up good and spills just wipe off easily when you catch them.

The only time I had a problem with it is when I had the tank off and fuel spilled out the cap because of how I had it sitting. It got in under the clear and bubbled after it leaked on it for about 4 hours.

It's some work to apply because it orange peels when it dries but a good wet sanding with 600 then 2000 and then a finish with 3000 and some rubbing compound and it looks pretty much factory and is pretty bullet proof.

[BA80]

On another note, you can't get in a hurry if you want a good paint job. The base color needs to dry completely, at least 4 - 5 days.

Wet sand that smooth with no more coarse sandpaper than 450 and then apply the clear. That needs to dry at least 4 days, a week is better. Then do the finish sanding as I said.

All wet sanding.

[Tat2demon]

Excellent. I think Ill go that route. Not crazy about taking two weeks off of riding but I think it will be worth it. Thoughts on how much paint Ill need? Would 1 quart be enough for the base?

[BA80]

Don't know how much in Quarts. I used about a can and a half of color in spray cans. Probably 8 coats or so. About a half hour between them.

This is what the tank for the SF looked like while the clear was drying.



You can sorta see the orange peel that needs attention when it's done.

[Tat2demon]

Anything special I would need to do for two colors? I wasnt sure if I needed to wait for the base to completely dry, tape it off and sand the area for the second color or do I not sand before the second?

[BA80]

I would sand before changing colors and sand to blend the border of the two. You'll need to be certain the base is dry before you tape or the tape will pull it up.

Here's the finished product. There's still rubbing compound in the cracks and it hasn't been polished yet.

[Tat2demon]

Turned out real nice. Im thinking of going a dark metallic grey for the base and a maroon racing stripe, knee dents and side cover pattern trimmed in black.

[jwhughes3]

Buy a trashy tank thats clean and swap it in while painting.

Isn't $40-60 worth not skipping out riding?


John

[BA80]

Buy a trashy tank thats clean and swap it in while painting.

Isn't $40-60 worth not skipping out riding?


John

Never hurts to have an extra laying around anyway.

John will tell you.

[crazy steve]

How much will I need for a tank, side covers and possibly a small sports fairing?

If you're spraying with a HVLP gun, about a pint will be enough for a tank, sidecovers and a small fairing. But it's tough to get custom mixed paint in less than a quart, so it's usually not an issue....

[DGXSER]

I got about 1/2 a pint of the red I painted the SG I just finished. Did not quite use all of it to paint the tank and both side covers. Put three good coats of color on each. That is using a 2 part base that got thinned down with reducer.

[Tat2demon]

Wow so a quart should be enough for a few bikes.