Respraying the bike

[SuperDave]

I would like to respray my whole bike after exams in about 4 weeks time but I know virtually nothing about how to go about this. I was thinking about buying myself a spray gun and compressor off trademe but not really sure what to look for. I understand that the quality of the finish depends greatly on how patient you are and how well you have done your prep work - I am prepared to spend many hours on this to do a real good job.

Would appreciate if someone could give me some starting out tips and maybe the link to a website which has crediable information.

Thanks
Dave

[aff-man]

I would like to respray my whole bike after exams in about 4 weeks time but I know virtually nothing about how to go about this. I was thinking about buying myself a spray gun and compressor off trademe but not really sure what to look for. I understand that the quality of the finish depends greatly on how patient you are and how well you have done your prep work - I am prepared to spend many hours on this to do a real good job.

Would appreciate if someone could give me some starting out tips and maybe the link to a website which has crediable information.

Thanks
Dave

I already sprayed it once hahaha. But yeh bought me a $150 compressor and spray kit from bunnings. The paint and thinner is the hard part you looking at $200 => $300 for the whole lot then it's just time and either perfect outdoor conditions or setting up a spray room or somehting in your garage.... Thee are a few tips but I found the only way to learn is by doing. If you need a hand give me a yell.. Have fun

[Smorg]

Primer gray man, its the only way to go. Then when you put it down its an easy fix

[Korea]

Patience Grasshopper... apply many coats thinly... and buff your way to a shiny new you.

[Marmoot]

and lots of sanding until your eyes bleed and your tear glands run dry

[pyrocam]

I just finished mine. took me 7 months and about $500 to get it done in the end. I made a fair few fuckups on the way but its mint now.

I bought all my shit in cans from repco and a mint place in albany called carcolors that will mix you up a bigarse can of anything.

[metric]

ya man... good call... have started thinking that I might do the same - my bike's got a few scratches from being dropped/slid etc so I got a quote off my cousin to suss painting the thing completely - $1700+. I was like... ummm... cheers bro.

won't be pursuing that option I don't think

[geoffm]

The cost of spray cans will cripple you, and it is hard to get a good finish and feather the coats. Buy a gravity feed spray gun (the ones with the paint contianer on the top - I got mine fron Chevpac, or NZtools on Trademe sells them too) and a small compressor (2hp min == $130ish at M10) - all up should be around $250. You won't be able to paint a car with the compressor, but fine for small stuff like bike bits, where you aren't painting continiously.
The gravity feed guns are a LOT easier to clean than suction guns, and are better at feeding primer as well.
Once you have the gear, you will use it again in the future. An air compressor is a useful toy anyway
Preperation is the key - every little scratch will stand out.
Geoff

[SuperDave]

Sweet. Thanks for all the advice guys, I've already learn't a hell of a lot more than what I orginally knew just form a couple of these posts.

[XP@]

I'm just about to start painting my CBR600. I've got the paint, thinners etc but not the additive you put in the paint to help it flex with the fairing. So far $280 + $70 for the additive!

I've been told matt black is one of the easiest colours to paint because it won't show the imperfections as much. If you go for a gloss finish then the darker the color the harder the job. so choose your colour wisely.

I've got some spare pannels which will be used as a practice before i hit the real work.

All parts have been sanded to 280 fo far, I will be spraying the primer and then sanding to 800, then spraying the black.

If there are still funds I will look at getting some decals laid as per the original(ish) scheme but in a different colour. I've had a quote on this for $200 approx.

[pyrocam]

The cost of spray cans will cripple you, and it is hard to get a good finish and feather the coats. Buy a gravity feed spray gun (the ones with the paint contianer on the top - I got mine fron Chevpac, or NZtools on Trademe sells them too) and a small compressor (2hp min == $130ish at M10) - all up should be around $250. You won't be able to paint a car with the compressor, but fine for small stuff like bike bits, where you aren't painting continiously.
The gravity feed guns are a LOT easier to clean than suction guns, and are better at feeding primer as well.
Once you have the gear, you will use it again in the future. An air compressor is a useful toy anyway
Preperation is the key - every little scratch will stand out.
Geoff

the cans did cripple

and about $500 to get it done in the end.

me. this is why it took me 7m months to paint mine (well im also lazy)

but there is a certain level of skill involved with the feathering. and also spray cans produce droplets which can fuck a mint fairing and you have to feather it all in again.

but I learnt alot from it and im happy I did mine. when I first started I fucked up all the time and it took me 2 days to do one tiny fairing. when at the end I recoated the lot and did my tank from scratch in about 4 hours (ok yes you naysayers will yell but omg pyro you gotta let it dry good' but read above im lazy) and in that time I actually got a reasonably decent job out of it. just doing a few more coats of clearcoat soon (when im not feeling so lazy )