Anyone tried their hand at painting?

**KIPS powervalve** · 22nd November 2014, 06:31

I have just acquired an 87 GN250 as a project. I'd like to have a go at painting the tank and wheel spokes. Any thoughts on good products, methods, or just handy tips? Primers, etching primers, lacquer, vinyl, enamel...my head starts to spin

Colour scheme will probably end up being cream on black in one form or another

**ruaphu** · 22nd November 2014, 06:34

You tube, covers a ton of info

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

**Waihou Thumper** · 22nd November 2014, 06:52

Originally Posted by KIPS powervalve

my head starts to spin

And you haven't even inhaled the vapours yet...
No hope for you then with this project...

**R650R** · 22nd November 2014, 07:36

How good a finish do you want, will probably be cheaper to pay someone to do it.
Its all in the preparation though, lots of elbow grease sanding before hand etc and removing any dents etc.
I'm doing up an old classic moped, had got good results with small supercheap auto spraygun and small compressor (you really need quite a large one for painting though) and some primer and paint from Mega10.
I just hang it off the clothesline outside, spray then take it into shed before too much crap lands on the wet paint and worked out ok so far.
You really need a good mask, you don't want aerosolised hyrdrocarbons in your lungs or eyes.

**Woodman** · 22nd November 2014, 08:39

Preparation. What may appear to be a good smooth unpainted surface will only reveal itself as a crap surface after the paint has dried.

Thats my experience anyway.

**mossy1200** · 22nd November 2014, 09:21

My wheels are being powder coated at the moment.
My tank and tail is being painted next.

Easier to earn some money and pay for a good finish than struggle away and end up with a poor result.
Maybe if you have the gear and the experience then all good but if your asking advice im thinking average paint job pending.

**KIPS powervalve** · 22nd November 2014, 10:26

Originally Posted by R650R

How good a finish do you want, will probably be cheaper to pay someone to do it.

It's a GN250. Crickey, a pro paint job costs what... $600? The bike's only worth that even if I did pay more. I have a mid-small compressor from Supercheap, and dad has all the gear (gun etc) for his old Triumph.

**Akzle** · 22nd November 2014, 10:39

600$???
i'll do it for 1500.

wait until the wife is out.

preheat your parts in the oven on it's lowest setting for days.

get some good 2 pack. colourpro in onehunga, just by the northbound onramp to the southern carpark.

make sure there is no water or oil in your air lines/receiver.

i always mix slightly less hardener.

get a paint ODOUR respirator, proper charcoal /or carbon paper.

work in positive air pressure.

use a gravity feed gun with small tips (!! <1.8mm)

test paint some other shit first to get your hand and eye in. it's fucking easy, but it's also easy to fuck up.

start further away than you've probably been told to, and sweep quickly, it's easier to add more paint than remove it.

sweep with your arm not your wrist - keeping the dose of paint going on even.

fuck spokes, srsly.

external corners are easier than internal ones (ie outside of tank is easy compared to inside of rim)

pics or it never happened.
also, titty pics from the wife for KB approval.

**Oakie** · 22nd November 2014, 11:58

Give it a go. When I was 19 a friend and I did my CB125. Just hired a compressor with paint gun and let rip. Come up really good. 'Electric Blue'. Lovely colour. Good prep and a bit of practice before you start is half the battle.

Originally Posted by Akzle

also, titty pics from the wife for KB approval.

Feck. that's the first time I've ever agreed with a post of Akzle's

**pete-blen** · 22nd November 2014, 12:15

I put paint on things all the time... "trucks"
If theres one thing I have learnt.... I suck at it...

But I am pretty good at the texture finishs...

**Akzle** · 22nd November 2014, 12:50

Originally Posted by pete-blen

I put paint on things all the time... "trucks"
If theres one thing I have learnt.... I suck at it...

But I am pretty good at the texture finishs...

too much air and too close, sounds like your paint is bouncing.

**R650R** · 22nd November 2014, 15:47

Originally Posted by KIPS powervalve

It's a GN250. Crickey, a pro paint job costs what... $600? The bike's only worth that even if I did pay more. I have a mid-small compressor from Supercheap, and dad has all the gear (gun etc) for his old Triumph.

If its a shitter then you may as well just use aerosol cans, you can get some good results on small jobs with them.

**mossy1200** · 22nd November 2014, 15:55

You just motivated me.
Still not doing the tank and tail though.

**Laava** · 22nd November 2014, 18:56

Originally Posted by R650R

If its a shitter then you may as well just use aerosol cans, you can get some good results on small jobs with them.

You can get a great job with aerosol cans, just make sure you get a good quality rattle can and try to do the painting in a warm and breeze free environment. Big tip, heat the item up with a heat gun first till it is almost too hot to hold. Fuel tanks are for the brave person with a rattle can.

**R650R** · 22nd November 2014, 20:05

Originally Posted by Laava

You can get a great job with aerosol cans, just make sure you get a good quality rattle can and try to do the painting in a warm and breeze free environment. Big tip, heat the item up with a heat gun first till it is almost too hot to hold. Fuel tanks are for the brave person with a rattle can.

In Soviet Hawke's Bay we just hang items in direct sunlight to preheat

When the small Tamiya cans got to ridiculous prices I started using normal aerosol cans for some projects. Certainly get very good results.