I was at Putnam years ago and a CR showed up with shiny new beautiful bodywork. He took the bodywork and threw it across the asphalt paddock and scratched it pretty good. He said you have to pay forward to the track gods and not use bodywork that is too beautiful. Then he mounted it up and rode off…it was pretty funny.
ive done that with every set of bodywork i've put on my bikes over the last 14 years, even when i had it professionally painted.
if it was at putnam, it wasnt me, never been there. ive done it at the track tho, when it was delivered to me there or when i hadnt had a chance to get it installed before the race.
It's a cool story though. I believe it was track bodywork that the painter just delivered to him. While everyone was admiring it is when he tossed it on the asphalt…..said something like "making the track gods happy"
220-1000 grit sandpaper and Walmart Krylon spray paint equals this: Cost me less than $50 and a little patience to do the whole bike. Picture is a little fugly but you get the idea.
I decided after I saw this thread to take notes of my experience with the rattle can and what worked for me. I'm sure not the only way to do it but I'm happy with the results. In order: -Wet sanded bodywork 400 -Cleaned with Mineral Spirits and Tack Rag -Sprayed Rustoleum Primer (1 Tack Coat, 3 Solid Coats) -Wet sanded primer with 400 -Sprayed Rustoleum Automotive Acrylic for each seperate color (1 Tack Coat, 2 Coats) -Let cure a full week before clearing! -Spray Max 2K Clear (1 Tack Coat, 3 Coats) This stuff is $20 a can but its dual part with clear and hardener very similar to what you will spray out of a gun. -After 48 hours I wet sanded with 1500-2000-2500 to remove some orange peel -Buffed with a compound and then polish, If I worked at it longer it would have been better but no use in putting too much time in it. Anyways pictures below I hope this helps some people. After patching Primer Done Black Done Tape what is to remain black and sprayed Red Same steps with the red to spray white and get this (I used 3M 1/8in striping tape for the initial line cuts. After Clear, as it dries orange peel sets in Lower is finished with wet sand buff and polish upper is not. All Polished Throw some stickers on to cover up any imperfections and your good to go. Take your time and you will be good. Not as great as my last professional paint job but given what its going to be used for I'll save the $450.00
I've painted a few myself. i will never ever use a rattle can again! i was told once, it's all about the clear coat. i was also told, you can rattle can the rest, but spend money on clear. i was told in that same session, rustoleum does not play well with others. that being said, we buy automotive paint and primer. it ends up being less expensive actually. i spend $70 on clear coat and it's enough for two bikes. you can buy the gun for $25-$50 (i achieved great results with the base model from sears for $50, better guns available for the half on amazon..com) i paint outside and let the sun help in the process. i rather put too much clear than too little. i hate when it's not shiney!!! I'll take the runs and shiney instead of no runs and dull. you can see some reflection here different bike, same procedure i used to buy primer in a rattle can, until last time. OMG, it's almost fun to sand the primer, with the gun primer. ALMOST!!! But, if you can afford it, have it painted!
So why don't you like the rattle cans? I mean, i certainly would expect actual auto paint to work better, but what caused you to turn away from spray paint? Quality? Longevity? I was planning on the "ye' old rattle can special" and was wondering if there may be some pitfalls i wasnt aware of.
Rattle can paint isn't very durable in my experience. That Ducati looks great, though, and I hope the paint lasts better than mine. You also have to worry about gasoline, unless you get the special 2k clear coat in a can (which is expensive). If I paint my track bike, I'm going to pay someone to do it that knows what they're doing and has a spray gun. Also, as mentioned, with real auto paint you can add a flex agent to allow the bodywork to flex more without damaging the paint.
what is a tack coat? and what is a Solid Coat? Sprayed Rustoleum Primer (1 Tack Coat, 3 Solid Coats) Sprayed Rustoleum Automotive Acrylic for each seperate color (1 Tack Coat, 2 Coats) Spray Max 2K Clear (1 Tack Coat, 3 Coats)
Tack coat being a super light initial coat to help the next coat stick without starting runs. I do agree I think the 2K clear is the key to making it durable and getting the desired shine most of us are looking for.
Well i cant deny that Supergirl's paint looks fantastic, but i just dont have the resources to paint it like that. Hoping the rattle-can will do me ok. Especially since i just got my popshadow order in and it looks freaking ace.