Advice on respraying (DIY)

loply · World Chat Champion Joined: 24 Mar 2004 Karma :

Anybody ever done a DIY respray of a bike?

I know Ill have to sand the fairings down to a smooth finish, then is primer neccessary (if so how many coats)?

Also, will aerosols be fine or is a decent airbrush strongly recommended?

Once Ive done the paint how many coats of gloss are needed?

I know some of you will grumble that I havent even passed my test yet, yet alone bought the bike, but still Wink

Im hoping to respray my zxr400-to-be as so:

https://www.loply.com/loply/ZXR400small.jpg

Ill probably wait 3 months to see if i drop it first (will be a good excuse)

Thanks for any helpfull replies

TheShaggyDA · Repost Police Joined: 14 Jun 2004 Karma :

Black Hammerite, 2 coats.
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Chills · Scooby Slapper Joined: 03 Feb 2002 Karma :

loply · World Chat Champion Joined: 24 Mar 2004 Karma :

Chills, did the finish come out looking profesional?

Were there any bits that made it obvious it had been sprayed at home?

Laura · Playboy Bunny Joined: 28 Jul 2003 Karma :

hae you seen the pics of my cbr didn't look to bad.
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Ste · Not Work Safe Joined: 01 Sep 2002 Karma :

I did one on my ZX6R, and it came out so well the nose fairing which I'd sprayed sold for more than I bought a nose fairing in original colours on eBay for. Razz

Yes I did spray my nose fairing on my ZX6R but it was slightly disatourous to say the least. Spend lots and lots of time making it a smooth surface before you start to paint it, and be very careful if you use a sander thing on the end of a drill.

Oh and I did manage to sell the fucked one for more than I bought a mint one for. Razz

skyline · Scooby Slapper Joined: 20 May 2004 Karma :

hmm im thinking of doing mine to. does anyone know of like an instuction sort of manual thing to spraying bikes on the net at all?

ZRX61 · Victor Meldrew Joined: 05 Nov 2003 Karma :

If the original paint is in good shape then theres no need for primer. If there are a few scratches then just sand & spot prime those bits.
Rattle can jobs can look great.. the downside is it only lasts about 6 months before it looks like total crap because the paint in the cans is crap to start with... & rattle can clear coat isn't petrol proof so if ya spill fuel on it, it will go yellow... Rattle can paint doesn't *kick off* & remains soluble for it's life, therefore any solvent spill is going to disolve the paint finish, the real stuff (2part urethanes etc) are resistant to solvents to the extent that a rag full of laquer thinner can be left on it for a minute without ANY damage to the finish, try that with rattle can paint & most of it will be on the rag, the rest will be on the floor.
If the fairing is multicoloured then it's probably a good idea to give it a coat of primer/sealer for colour hold out.
By *airbrush* I assume you mean a proffesional paint gun because if you used an actual airbrush it would take about 5 months to finish painting the fairing...
If you use *real* professsional stuff then ya looking at $800-$1000 in equipment & another $400 or so in materials..... Ya can't spray 2 pack stuff without an air supplied respirator & the mask alone will set you back $200 (for a cheap one, mine was $400)... & ya can't hook up the mask to a normal compressor because you'l be breathing carbon monoxide from the oil in the compressor.... the alternative is cyanide poisoning & thats not very pleasent at all... your choice.

As for how many coats:
1 coat of primer/sealer
2 colour coats
2 clear coats.

any questions?

ZRX61 · Victor Meldrew Joined: 05 Nov 2003 Karma :

Big Pete · Spanner Monkey Joined: 18 Jul 2004 Karma :

loply · World Chat Champion Joined: 24 Mar 2004 Karma :

How much would it cost to have a bodyshop do a job like that?

If I sanded the bodywork down before delivering it to them?

mr jamez · World Chat Champion Joined: 04 Aug 2003 Karma :

Not very difficult if it is the same colour going on top, flat the paint back with 1200 grit wet and dry so the whole surface is dull, then build up plenty of thin coats. I did mine with the large tins of halfords spray paint, came out fine.

https://home.btconnect.com/p.leigh/1024/DSC00959.JPG

That is mine afterwards, left the paint to dry for 3 days then put a coat of lacquer over the top. The finish on the large panels is satin and on the smaller bits it is gloss.

Demonic69 · The Pink Rhino Joined: 31 May 2002 Karma :

Chills mate, what paint did you use for that?
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ZRX61 · Victor Meldrew Joined: 05 Nov 2003 Karma :

Kye · Scooby Slapper Joined: 13 Sep 2004 Karma :

Can finishes will come out crap generally.

Dusting on laquer in light coats leaves an even worse finish than before! The whole idea is to provide a "wet coat", several dust coats just leave orange peel and satin like finish, which screams rattle can paint job!

If you're painting a flat colour, i.e. non metallic, just wet sand with 2000 grit to remove orange peel, then polish with a cutting polish like T-Cut or Autoglym paint restorer to bring back the shine, just be careful not to go through the paint!

Chills · Scooby Slapper Joined: 03 Feb 2002 Karma :

ZRX61 · Victor Meldrew Joined: 05 Nov 2003 Karma :

Kye · Scooby Slapper Joined: 13 Sep 2004 Karma :

Well its just the same as Autoglym paint restorer, which has worked fine for me until I started using G3. The 2000grit makes it matt but smooth, then the cutting polish just brings the gloss back

ZRX61 · Victor Meldrew Joined: 05 Nov 2003 Karma :