Painting Question - what do I need to know?

[VaSteve]

I wanted to paint a small motorcycle...fender, tank and a couple of other small pieces. Rather than rattlecan it, I thought that I could learn to paint it with my compressor and a painting kit. (I guess it's only a fancier version of a rattle can ).

Down the road (if I'm any good at it) I figure I could touch up parts of my car that need it. If seen plenty of you guys painting stuff, can I use a kit like this?

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=219031-1126-TFK00100AV&lpage=none

I figure the parts are now small so the fact I have a small compressor shouldn't matter much.


Any thoughts, suggestions? What do I need to know??

[Shaun @ Tru6]

it's all about surface prep.

[Zeke]

Looks like a good starter kit. You may find you like the detail gun for frames, etc. Get a filter/trap for your compressor and mount it a few feet from the outlet if you can.

When I get these cheap guns I usually go over them with a glass looking at all the orifices and passages for little chips and things. Having them all working as designed makes for a better spray pattern. Even the fluid needle withdrawing back out of the fluid cap dead on center is very important. Otherwise you get a fat part in your pattern. Of course, expensive guns have all this done before they leave the factory.

[VaSteve]

Originally Posted by milt

Get a filter/trap for your compressor and mount it a few feet from the outlet if you can.

I assume you mean the air outlet? Assuming I have a ~20foot hose, where would I mount it? thanks

[Tishabet]

Originally Posted by VaSteve

I assume you mean the air outlet? Assuming I have a ~20foot hose, where would I mount it? thanks

I have an industrial one just after the regulator from the compressor (i.e. between the compressor and the hose) and a disposable in-line plastic one between the hose and the gun.

If you use your compressor to run tools, you know that they can start spitting water from the lines, and that water will get into your gun/paint without a filter. For a small job like you're talking about, I would just get one of the cheapie plastic ball in-line ones, should be able to find them in the $10 range.

[dad911]

Originally Posted by Shaun 84 Targa

it's all about surface prep.

+1

Also, I like to use HVLP.

[dbrisson]

www.autobodystore.com
the pelican parts of the paint world. Forums little hard to follow but great info and supplies.

DBrisson 83sc

[VaSteve]

Originally Posted by dad911

+1

Also, I like to use HVLP.

What's the difference between that and what I posted a link to?

[Rot 911]

Originally Posted by VaSteve

What's the difference between that and what I posted a link to?

This is an HVLP gun. It is a Devilbiss HVLP Finish Line gun (purchased at Harbor Freight). It is a decent gun and an excellent price and will last a lifetime. Not all that expensive and will make painting a whole lot more fun than the gun you are looking at.

[berettafan]

kurt what's the HF model # on that puppy?

been tossing around the idea of painting my R25 now that i have the motor so clean.

[dad911]

Originally Posted by VaSteve

What's the difference between that and what I posted a link to?

HVLP has alot less overspray, less mess, more paint ends up on the surface.

[Rot 911]

Originally Posted by berettafan

kurt what's the HF model # on that puppy?

been tossing around the idea of painting my R25 now that i have the motor so clean.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=92541

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by dad911

HVLP has alot less overspray, less mess, more paint ends up on the surface.

And designed for more modern paints, like 2-stage. HVLP's tend to produce more orange peel with single stage fast dry material, which is my preferred paint.

[VincentVega]

Check your compressors specs against the guns you are looking at. Without enough clean air you wont be happy with the results.

So, changing from brown to silver or black?

[FastDave]

I've painted several ladder racks that I built in my shop with a very small air compressor and achieved excellent results even with the small pump and small tank. You just gotta take your time. Since you're only painting a tank I don't think you should have to worry so much about your air compressor specs.... unless you're a real "tech head" and then you'll want to go buy a newer, larger air compressor since this one job really does justify the expense! lol

[Rick Lee]

I'm painting my bike soon too, but will rattle can it. The way my bike is built, you can just take each plastic panel off and do it as you get to it.

[VaSteve]

Originally Posted by Chris Martin

Check your compressors specs against the guns you are looking at. Without enough clean air you wont be happy with the results.

So, changing from brown to silver or black?

It's a small compressor. I'm pretty sure I can get enough air to do the parts I need done, I just need to make sure It'll run the gun!!! How can I tell???


I haven't completely decided on a color yet. I like white, black or maybe a dark red. I want to avoid metallics and crazy stuff since I've heard it's tougher to work with. The bike is pretty scratched up from 28 years of first time riders. It needs some help.

[targa911S]

All who have posted are giving you the BEST advice. Prep is where it's at for sure. Painting is the easy part.

[Tim Hancock]

Steve, believe it or not this $15.00 Harbor Frieght gun works pretty good. http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=47016

I picked up a couple for the machine painters at work and I tried one out spraying Polane (similar to Imron) and it work just as good as some of my guns I use at home for painting cars, airplanes, motorcycles etc. These cheap knockoffs are a lot better than they used to be. FWIW, I prefer these gravity fed new fangled guns over my older suction feed guns. To get the best finish out of most guns, it is usually best to crank the pressure up to at least 50 psi even though the directions on the paint or gun may suggest lower. You will get better atomization of the paint for a better finish, but will waste a bit more paint. (good for the finish, bad for the EPA nazis )

[VaSteve]

Originally Posted by targa911S

All who have posted are giving you the BEST advice. Prep is where it's at for sure. Painting is the easy part.

Yeah, I already knew that. I didn't know anything about equipment. I'm pleased to see that I can get equipment relatively inexpensively.