hey guys, well i just recently bought some used race fairings for my F2 and now i need to prepare them for paint! and well i just painted my old fairings last year, but i did kinda a crappy job (i just used spray paint) and it didn't turn out the way i was hoping it would! so now its paint time again! and i was just wonderin if there was a good way to prepare them for paint... like should i just sand them all down till i get rid of all the old paint, or should i use acetone and get the paint off that way, or what?? any advice would be great guys!! Thanks!

 

I would sand down as much of the old paint as you can, and keep the surface as smooth as possible. You can try some stuff called "Strip-ease" or a similar product, Home Depot sells it, and that will remove a lot, if not all of the paint. Once the paint is off get yourself some primer, and lay a few coats down, sanding before each new coat. The i would wet sand the primer before paint, the smoother the surface the better.

I am not a painter, but my buddy does autobody and custom work, and this is how he is having me prep my bodywork. I'm going flat black, out of a rattle can, so it's not going to be amazing, but I'd like it to look pretty good. As long as you take your time and don't cut corners, you should be happy with the end result. Hopefully someone else can help you out with some painting advice

 

First I would sand until it is smooth before final coat. Sand original paint, you dont have to get it all off, just scuff it up real good. Prime that, then give that a good sand with about 600 grit, then re-prime. After second prime start with our basecoat, in your case the color your using, give it light dusting. Allow 10-15 minute flash and then another dusting (more than last dusting). Another flash time then put done a good even wet coat, another flash and then the final wet coat. Allow another flash and come and check the coverage, if needs more the proceed with another coat, but the 2 wet coats sould be enough. Let dry at least 24 hours and then scuff with 800 grit, it is just a scuff you dont want to sand away the paint you just sprayed, then clear coat. The clear coat should be sprayed the same as the basecoat, 2 dustings and 2 wet coats with same amount of flash time. If everything is free of dust and crap and you are happy then you are done, but if has dust in it then wet sand with 1200 grit, again not too much to go through clear. Once wet sanded buff with polishing compound and then final glaze. Done. I do custom painting and thats what I do. Take it or leave it. You also may have to put more clear down after wet sanding, then scuff and then buff.

 

The guy is right...

I worked at a motorcycle shop for nearly two years and 50% of what we did was custom painting. (Mostly Harley's and Goldwings which wasn't thrilling but the type of bike doesn't matter as far as painting goes.).

Just wanted to add one more thing that is probably obvious to most, but didn't see it mentioned.

You need to paint in a closed area...not so closed you suffocate and die of paint fumes...but at least closed to keep any wind and of
course weather off your bodywork and painting area.

 

<rant>And for the love of god keep everything clean. I an still kicking my *** a bit becuase I have some dust flecks between my color and clear. No one can find then but I know they are they and it pisses me off. Be obsessively clean with everything.</rant>

 

ok Thanks for your help guys!! i will do it that way and might get pics and keep you updated! also i am goin to pain my bike gloss black and i was thinking about getting the red honda wing decals, and the "Honda" decal for the bottom of the bike. and well i'm pretty sure but just making sure... i should put the decals on right before i spray my clearcoat, right?

 

To answer your question.......yes, if you want your decals to be cleared like they do from the factory, then apply the decals right before you clear coat it. (but MAKE SURE your base is COMPLETELY dry before applying the decals.......then reclean your surface and spray the clear.

Just to add to the other comments............here's how I repainted my car.

Sand original paint.
Primer.
Lightly sand (until smooth)
Primer again.
Lightly sand again until smooth.
Spray a light coat of base.
Tackrag (wipe base coat with cheesecloth)
Spray another coat (possible final coat) of base.
Tackrag again with another CLEAN tackrag.
Apply first coat of clear.
Wait a bit.
Apply second coat of clear.

For you, I would recommend using black primer since your base coat is going to be black. This will eliminate the possibility of "bright spots" with areas that got a thinner coat of base.

FYI; Black is the hardest color to paint. It shows every flaw......so make sure you are in a very clean area, painting surface is clean and dusty free.

Also, clearcoats take about 2-3 days to FULLY dry and harden. The clearcoat will be dry to the touch, but will remain a bit soft for 2-3 days after you sprayed it, so I would let it dry in a clean, dry, warm place for a couple days before even installing it on the bike.

If you get orange-peel (paint looks slightly like the peel of an orange), then take 1500-2000 grit sandpaper, LIGHTLY sand it smooth, and then buff it out.

Hope this helps. good luck.

 

yes it does,thanks alot blue Fox!! and i had one more question... how long should i wait in between spraying my coats of primer, paint and clear? do i just spray a dust of primer, then let it sitfor like 15 min. and spray another coat of it? and then how long should i wait in between sprayin the primer and the paint? thanks alot guys!! this is really helpful!!

-Mike

 

I was in a heated paint booth when i did mine, so by the time I was done spraying the entire car from front to back, it was already dry up front for another coat.

I would wait 15-30 minutes between each coat of primer, then I would wait 30 minutes minumum between each coat of base. Then, let it dry overnight before applying the decals. Then wait about 30 minutes to an hour between each coat of clear. That would be my recommendation unless someone else knows better. I'm not a professional, but it worked for me.

 

ok, i will do!! thanks alot for your advice guys!! appreciate all the knowledge i can get!!

-Mike