Painting fairings
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Painting fairings
I've got a fiberglass upper fairing and I want it to match the rest of the bike and look good for as little cash as possible. Is it possible to DIY and make it look good for cheap? Can anyone point me in the right direction for where to start?
My vague understanding of the steps involved:
1. Sand with 400 grit
2. Apply a few coats of quality primer
3. Flatten with 200-grit
4. Apply a few coats of color-matched base
5. When dry, apply clear coat
Is it possible or prohibitively expensive to rent some tool to apply all these expensive liquids? Do I have any other options? So many questions... thanks in advance
My vague understanding of the steps involved:
1. Sand with 400 grit
2. Apply a few coats of quality primer
3. Flatten with 200-grit
4. Apply a few coats of color-matched base
5. When dry, apply clear coat
Is it possible or prohibitively expensive to rent some tool to apply all these expensive liquids? Do I have any other options? So many questions... thanks in advance
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Joined: Nov 2006
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From: Los Angeles, California
RE: Painting fairings
It is a lot simpler on paper than actually doing it.
Yes you have to wet sand the piece then primer it. Sand again. Then clean the peice. Otherwise itll fish eye.
You also need an air compressor and preferably a water catch/filter. Water + Paint = Mad runs and color defects.
Also, you need some experience and the right temperatures. And some knowledge about adhersion, distance, etc.
There is a lot of problems with shooting paint that experience helps.
Get a decent gravity feed or syphon gun and start shooting. Post results. Some people here will be able to help you with any problems that come up. Also, I am not sure how much Honda sells paint for but there are some body supplies that can match colors pretty close for cheaper than dealer paint.
Yes you have to wet sand the piece then primer it. Sand again. Then clean the peice. Otherwise itll fish eye.
You also need an air compressor and preferably a water catch/filter. Water + Paint = Mad runs and color defects.
Also, you need some experience and the right temperatures. And some knowledge about adhersion, distance, etc.
There is a lot of problems with shooting paint that experience helps.
Get a decent gravity feed or syphon gun and start shooting. Post results. Some people here will be able to help you with any problems that come up. Also, I am not sure how much Honda sells paint for but there are some body supplies that can match colors pretty close for cheaper than dealer paint.
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From: Fort Awesome
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RE: Painting fairings
Thanks for your help. Yeah, so looking into this further, the stuff I need is going to be expensive and the whole thing time-consuming and error-prone.
I talked to an auto body shop and they said they'd take care of it for $100 with some leftover black paint. Won't be color matched, but with my luck it'll be broken at the track soon anyway.
I talked to an auto body shop and they said they'd take care of it for $100 with some leftover black paint. Won't be color matched, but with my luck it'll be broken at the track soon anyway.
Joined: Jul 2007
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RE: Painting fairings
Always go finer and finer. 200 grit paper is rougher than 400 grit. I would think that you go to at least 600 grit and then when done and before a clear you would water sand it at1000 grit or something like that and use 2000 grit on the clear. But then again I don't really know what the heck I am talking about 
as I have never painted a bike.
as I have never painted a bike.
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