My first spray job

R4nger · World Chat Champion Joined: 05 Jan 2005 Karma :

For a Suzuki GS500E Cool

Lacquer drying.

Chr!S · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 17 May 2005 Karma :

Looks a bit patchy in places, but overall looks alright.

Did you sand down each layer as you painted?

R4nger · World Chat Champion Joined: 05 Jan 2005 Karma :

I found sanding made it worse

Phoenix · Twisted Firestarter Joined: 01 Aug 2002 Karma :

Dont use gloss paint with lacquer, that's what it looks like you've done.

Kye · Scooby Slapper Joined: 13 Sep 2004 Karma :

WTF, of course you can laquer over gloss paint.

And you're not meant to sand between coats, ESPECIALLY with a metallic

It looks alright for a canned job, but it'll never match a compressor and gun.
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Ducati 600SS
Vespa PX125

Phoenix · Twisted Firestarter Joined: 01 Aug 2002 Karma :

Kye, yes...of course you can lacquer over gloss paint, you can lacquer over a dogshit if you want, doesn't mean it'll look good.

Halfords Gloss finish paint is designed to finish well without lacquer, if you then apply lacquer it instantly goes matt and you can't get the shine back. Tin knows all about that one. You use normal paints with lacquer, and it's possible to achieve a finish with aerosols just as good as with a gun, you just got to know how to do it, so for a can, it's not a good finish.

Simonbt · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 10 Mar 2005 Karma :

Sand down between primer coats. You can also do it between top coats but you need the finest paper. You're best off using Tcut.

I'm currently respraying my bike. I've just finished reparing all the panels and now im priming them. When you spray out of a can the paint will end up pretty lumpy and rough when it drys (tiny little bumps which stop it going shiny). If you get 1600 or 1200 grit wet and dry, get it soaking wet and then run it over the primer (dont rub, remember you are only smoothing it down) the paint will become really smooth. You will find that you will rub all the way through the coat in places so just respray and keep repeating.

Do exactly the same with the top coats, but with a little difference. Do about 2-3 coats, sanding between each one. Remember you are only sanding to smooth it off. Once you cant see the primer after you have sanded give it one more coat, wait for it to dry and attack it with tcut. You can get a good finish with a can but it takes hard work.

Or, do what im doing. Do all the prep work, fibreglass it, sand it, prime it, sand it again and get it smooth. Then send all the panels and tank to a spray shop and get them to top coat it for you. I was quoted £75 to spray all my panels red. I'll post some pictures when i've got them done. sorted Very Happy