How to prep my tank for paint?
 

Ok.. so I am changing the colors on the F2. I am going to prep the tank myself (a little sweat equity). What is the best way to get it sanded down and ready for paint. Any suggestions are welcomed. This bike is goign to be very good lookign when I get it done. Clewan and simple.

RE: How to prep my tank for paint?
 

There are two ways I would recamend. First is sandblasting....if you have a sandblaster use it...wear a resporator, goggles and gloves. Use fairly fine grit...not the finest though. Second is stripping the tank, the only kind of stripper that i know of that will do the job is "aircraft stripper". I beleive you can get it at walmart. Wear a resporator gloves etc...this stuff is nasty. DO NOT get this on your skin. Its kind of like jelly...just brush it on the tank and wait 10-20 min. and scrape off....either of these will work. I would not sand it seeing as how tanks usually have allot of paint on them and it will leave a bunch of scratches in the tank. I allways use just spray paint primer and do 3 coats...then sand it very lightly with 600grit and brush off all dust...but dont blow it off. This leaves all the dust in the small scratches. Then paint over it 2 more coats and wet sand with 800grit or higher. Then be sure to use high quality primer on top of the original spraypiant primer....this will give you a extremely smooth primer and will allow the paint to bond to the primer to its very best.

RE: How to prep my tank for paint?
 

ok well good time to ask im painting my bike this week here is what i did for the tank frist to clean i used aircraft stripper you can get it at low's and some car part store's than i did a quck sad with some 220 wet paper. the next thing is tois to use primer filler do about 3 coates than use a 800 wet paper do another 2 and sand realy quck with 1000 grid wash and let dry in a clean place than use primer sealer do about 3 of that and put some where safe so it will not be messed with i raped me to be safe while waiting to paint

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RE: How to prep my tank for paint?
 

Well, if it's anything like the automotive world, you really do not want to strip the thing down to bare metal...The factory paint is the strongest bond to the metal...you'd just want to roughen up the paint enough for the new coats to adhere.
RB

RE: How to prep my tank for paint?
 

Thanks.. I will check with my painter and see what he recommends is the bes.. I can definately scuff up the original and or do the stripper thing.. I will keep you all posted.

RE: How to prep my tank for paint?
 

Does you tank still have the decals on it? I painted mine a couple years ago and sanded the whole tank with 180grit with a DA and removed the decals.After that prime it with high build primer(two part primer) 3 coats.After it dries sand with 400 grit wet or dry.Then you will seal and paint it.I wouldn't recommend stripping it because with bare metal you are suppose to put etch primer which just adds a step you don't need to do.

RE: How to prep my tank for paint?
 

10-4

RE: How to prep my tank for paint?
 

if it still has the decals on it then you have to sand down to below the paint to get rid of them...it's why i had to flatblack mine because you could see the honda sticker and the stripe underneith the po's paint job and it looked like crap....so yea you'll have to sand it at least that far to get the stickers gone