to spray... or not to spray....paint?

AS I just spent some money on automotive paint and have done a lot of re-search on the subject. You can get a nice paint job from rattle can paint. The issues with rattlecan are durability. Since the rattlecan paint does not have any hardening agent in them, they will only last a short time. I would not try to clearcoat over the top unless you use rattlecan clear. The reason for this is real clearcoat will lift the paint.

However, no matter how you want to do it, prep is the key. Don't skip or try to cut corners on prepping or it will show up in the finished results.

 

I painted mine with spray cans, you can see it here.

http://www.slygrin.net/xjpics/html/rblankenship_2.html

 

Man...does anyone here have a bike that looks worse than mine???

 

Yup, she's on the back porch minus her powerplant and covered in a blue tarp. Sad scene, but I'll get to her.

 

hey jdrich. Did you use professional clearcoat on that, or just glossy black?

 

5 coats of gloss black and 5 coats of clear coat in a can made by the same people.

 

Nice. Looks good! Have you spilled gas on it yet to see how the paint holds up? I don't mean intentionally of course.

 

Yes about a month after I painted it I got some on it and thought I'd ruined it. But a little wax brought it right back.
I hope it was just because the paint was still fairly fresh. Haven't spilled anymore since then, knock on wood.

 

Kewl, just curious. Again, nice paint job!

 

Thanks, and your right about the prep work. Without that a good job is not possible.

 

man that is an awesome paint job! for a rattle can or not. I'm impressed! How long that take you? and did you use lacquer or enamel? Any bondo? Any how, excellent job jdrich!

 

I used acrylic lacquer. There was one spot by the filler hole that had a small ding. But I used some glazing putty to fill it. Can't even see it.
Not to sure in actual time how long it took. I worked on it for a month or so every weekend during the winter.

 

I'm painting mine right now. Lots of bondo on the tank and fender. I've just primed it, and will do a little more sanding before painting the color on. I was told that heating everything up before you paint it will give you a nicer finish. Has anyone else heard this? I was told to put the cans of paint in warm water, and to put the parts in a really warm room with space heaters or something. If no one here has any objections, I'm gonna try that method. I'll take some pictures throughout and post them later.

 

I've heard of baking after painting, but not heating before hand.
I'm not sure, but that may make the paint dry to quickly and may not flow out.
But I'm no painter, maybe we have some painters out there.
My 2 cents

 

i like to use the sun on cars n stuff,

i think it just helps to take out the humidity

and it dries faster!

 

Heat on the parts before hand does take the mositure out of the metal, but then you want to let it slowly cool. Also, you want to NOT touch the bare metal with your hands as oils in your skin will make the primer not stick as well or the paint if you are handleing the parts with the primer already on it. Use degreaser before you paint and the paint will stick better, whether a rattle can or automotive paint.

I just painted my 650 tank and it came out nicely, but there are a lot of steps to go through if you want the paint to last...

 

Another beautiful tank... this is inspiring!

 

Nice job Tazz and a nice color to.

Woot did you ever get a tank yet?

 

No - not yet.

There was one available but they weren't interested in shipping directly to Canada. We tried to arrange meeting one of my friends in the area but it hasn't worked out yet. I'll have to follow up on it - we've both been slow in responding... I think it basically boils down to too much hastle to sort out shipping.

I'll wait this season out and reassess... I might even just get a fuel cell. I've got room for it on the back and if I get a larger tank I'll have even more range.

 

Hey woot. what size tank you need? I got a spare from a 82 XJ550.