so i need to paint my bike...

[mattg]

ok,

so i am gonna need to paint my bike.

before someone flames me for the many paint threads before, I have searched and not found the info im looking for.

what i have:
a 2nd hand tank which i have peeled the decals off and sanded back
complete fairing kit - aftermarket ebay dodginess (still waiting for these to arrive)

I am planning on spraying it in a custom colour, the same colour as my ute which is ford's 'ego' (code EG) but with a load more metallic bits.

I called a few paint shops, including motorcycle panel and paint, but noone wanted a bar of it because of the custom colour and the fact the fairings aren't genuine.

I am expecting the fairings to possibly be a bit dodgy since they didnt cost much, but i think ill be fine fixing them up and prepping them myself.

Because the shops dont seem inclined to take the job on, and because I enjoy having a go at things myself, im thinking of painting the bike... I have a decent spray gun and can hire a compressor but I have the following questions for someone in the know:

-Is it best to use acrylic or two pack? or something else??
-I read that two pack has cyanide in it, will it kill me if i breathe it in?
-Im very very limited for suitable places to paint around home, i was thinking of buying one of those temporary carports (like a big garage sized tent) so that id have somewhere where the wind and sand wont get in my way. if i come up with a way to ventilate it, will this be suitable? or is it a moron idea?

Ive only used a spray gun once before. It was a car that i sprayed using an el-cheapo spray gun with acrylic paint and it turned out dull and generally shit like. I have no idea what i did wrong (or what i should be doing right..) so i'd appreciate any hints, tips, pointers or even a 'dont do it you moron you'll fuck it up'. If someone in the know wants to come around to give me a hand for $ or beers I wont say no either

If I stuff it up, its not the end of the world. Ill sand it all back and take a different route. Im the kinda guy who likes to give everything a go so its more important for me to learn from the whole experience then being the worlds best painter straight up. It'd still be nice to get it right first go but..

Thanks psb peoples

[chief wiggum]

paging mr potato



i think 2-pack would be the go, but yeah, it's bad for you if you breathe it in. good on you for having a go

[mattg]

now that i think of it, i need new 'kawasaki' decals for the tank.

got a price from mach1 theyd take a month or so to get here but..

anyone know of a sticker place locally that could make them for me? i found a place on the net who can do them fairly cheap, theyre in the US but. I need them quickly so i can get this bike back together before MAD otherwise ill have to ride my pushy to northam

[Desmo]

Don't go metallic mate, look at what is called a "mica" topcoat.
I have a sample if you want to look.

[mattg]

sounds interesting..

ive got no idea what a mica topcoat is so i might have to look at this sample of yours

[Desmo]

Imagine a topcoat fll of tiny little crystals, diamond like.
Reflects the light beautifully.

[mattg]

mmm

do ya just use a flat colour underneath this top coat? is it something a wanna be painter like me could pull off without screwing up?

[Desmo]

Yeah, just a flat colour underneath.
I'm not a painter mate, so have no idea how easy it is, better off asking a professional.

[mattg]

cheers

[Desmo]

Drop me a PM if you want to have a look at the paint sometime mate, but honestly, it looks a million times better than metallic.

[rabbit]

Mate you can paint the fairings in my warehouse on a Saturday arvo if you want and i'm willing to help but im only a gofer cos i have never spraypaynted befor.

[Pobbler]

I've been thinking of spraying my bike black, so i'd be very interested to see how this turns out.

You're ideas in your first post seem logical to me.... but then again i'm not a panel beater/painter either.

[T.G]

i think your right about dying of fumes in that setup (portable garage closed in), i coughed my ass off just painting a fridge under a patio with rattlecans, and i had a mask on.

take the warehouse offer

[mattg]

haha, yeh. i was thinking something to extract the fumes from my tent thingy but the warehouse sounds like a much better plan (thanks rabbit)

rabbit- i need to get around to sort out your antenna. it was my first day back at work today since my off, got a pretty quiet day tomorrow so if everything doesnt fall apart like it did today ill give you a call and see if we can tee it up

[themadone]

2 Pack is seriously dangerous shit and if you spray it without proper protection you are crazy. Acrylic will give a good finish but be prepared for heaps of coats and lots of wet sanding between them. Mica paint is great but don't expect it to match your Ford colour. Metallic paint has lots of little metal flakes in it and Mica paint is full of tiny glass beads. Pearl white is a good example of a mica paint. Park Automotive will mix up paint for you. They are next to the bike wreckers in Neil St Osborne Park. Flat colour from acrylic could be a number of reasons but 2 that spring to mind are you didn't spray it wet enough or put enough thinners in. Painting truly is an art. Takes ages to learn to get it right but if you cock it up you just sand it back and start again. Rewarding as hell when you do it right. PM me if you have any questions. I'm not a painter but I've done a few cars/bikes and my best mate is and only a phone call away.

[Captain Starfish]

2 pack will do fuck all to you for one paint job - probably. You can also buy iso-free 2 pack now, costs a little more but doesn't contain the cancer linked isocyanates.

I use acrylic generally because I have a shitload of the stuff and because it's easier to do spot work with acrylic.

But for a full paint job go the two-pack, soooo much easier, soooo much tougher.

Buy a bunch of those $1.50 drop sheets and masking tape from Bunnings, to make a booth in a carport or under a patio - just stick the stuff up to make a box. Or the temp carport will work, provided it seals up reasonably tight.

Don't worry about ventilation too much for one job - worth getting goggles and a cheap respirator (canister type) from Bunnings though. Also grab a pair of the disposable overalls.

Also, get an old carboard box (bigger the better) and shove it in there to test your spray pattern and size and to get a feel for the right working distance each time.

[NoDs]

wat fairing kit did u go with?

i kno theres a lot of unhappy people who've bought hot bodies ones

[TYSON]

Mate you can paint the fairings in my warehouse on a Saturday arvo if you want and i'm willing to help but im only a gofer cos i have never spraypaynted befor.

If it's a saturday arvo and i'm in the state I'll lend a hand.

[Hostilemonk]

If you still want someone to do it try Automotive Panel & Paint (9298 8827), corner of Great Eastern Hwy and Bilgoman road, Glen Forrest. They are doing mine - i just provided the paint. Tho not sure if they would do the type of paint you want. The owner's (Birny) sons race MX. He's done my car before and does a good price.

Anyway may be worth a call, he can only say no

[rabbit]

haha, yeh. i was thinking something to extract the fumes from my tent thingy but the warehouse sounds like a much better plan (thanks rabbit)

rabbit- i need to get around to sort out your antenna. it was my first day back at work today since my off, got a pretty quiet day tomorrow so if everything doesnt fall apart like it did today ill give you a call and see if we can tee it up

No drama mate. Sorry I will be on the Honda ride Fri,Sat Sun. I'm in no hurry for the antenna when your all well and sorted is fine ( but I drank one of the slabs while I was waiting hehe). I'm keen to have a go at this painting and if Tyson is free you might even get a pro looking job.