I am a decent artist and would like to paint my new fatbob tank. What do I need in order to do a good paint job. I would like to put my own touch on my bike rather then pay someone to do it for me.

 

You may want to consider a decent HVLP system that is designed for automotive finishes. For under $1,000 you can get a pretty good one, and with some practice you can get pretty good with it pretty quickly. I've had friends that never painted before lay down some pretty nice paintjobs with a HVLP after some practice. Buy some inexpensive metal garbage cans, sheet metal pieces, an old auto hood, anything that you can practice prep and painting on.

Another alternative, often cheaper than a local shop is sinisterflames.com their prices are pretty good for the product that they deliver. If you want graphics or a complet design, it might be worth it to pay someone else.

Being a die hard do-it-yourselfer I applaud your efforts to do it yourself.

 

Yes, just about everyone is advising me to pay someone else to do it. But I think in the end, I would feel better knowing that it was my artwork, and not someone elses on my bike.

 

If you have a regular compressor, you can do it with a pretty inexpensive paint gun. With today's base coat / clear coat systems, I am certain you can get a great looking job. Lay on your base color and do all your art work on the sheet metal then spray about 8 coats of clear coat over it, wet sanding between. It will look great.

The nice thing on the base and the clear, if you mess up, just sand it out and shoot it again.

 

There are lot's of rental bays that will supply you with everything, comp, lines, mask, sanders, guns, even down to 1200 paper and cheesecloth.

I'm in the painting business, (not bikes, but graphic supplies) so if I can help when it gets down to it e-mail me.

I have painted a few of my bikes and cars with great results, and have always found preparation is everything. If you want to do it at home, you really don't need expensive equipment, just set it up right. If you don't have a booth, set up an area with plastic on the walls and cieling. Get a good fan, and have it floor mounted since fumes are heavier than air. Get hanging clips for the small parts and good areas to place painted parts when done. Don't rush, each coat should be sanded and inspected. One trick I use to reduce dust and crap in the paint is to wet the floor with water before shooting. And never sand in your paint area. Use only base, top and clear coats from one supplier.

If I think of anything else I will respond again.

 

Great advice, Joe.

 

Not to hijack the thread, but I have a small spot to touch up on my front fender where my braided brake line rubbed the paint. I have the touch up base and some clear coat. What kind of prep work should I do? If sanding is necessary, what grit of paper should I use?

Thanks,
Rick

 

The HD touch up paint is always too dark, simply for the reason that you apply it much thicker with their stupic nail polish brushes. If you want to use it, thin it with a Dupont solvent and do many, many coats. When you mix it, and it seems to you that the colour is too light, add a drop more solvent, because in reality it's still too dark.

If you want to paint a small area with regular paint, colour, and clear, it's hard because you will always have lines showing where you have sanded showing the transition from colour to clear. I usually sand the area, not too much, you don't want to hit primer, and then tape off the area. I then mix some colour in clear coat (50%- 50%), and shoot the patch with an airbrush. When dry, compound, and wax. It will be very, very close, no one will notice, but not show quality. I've done this on my 2001 Ultra, and no one has ever noticed it.

 

Check out this forum , they have a HOW TO section where you can ask all types of questions. I use to do custom painting on bikes but it was many years ago with laquers and wouldn't even know how to use the newer urethanes.

http://www.customflamepainting.com/

 

No artwork on mine 'cause the loose sand, gravel, and log truck detritus tend to eat paint if you ride much. But I stripped to bare metal, sanded, primed, & painted the tanks, rear fender, fork lowers, fender struts, and primary cover using rattle can auto primer and Rustoleum Hammered Black paint. Total cost was about $25.

Yup, I'm cheap, er, frugal!