(spray)paint your bike
 

So i got pinched in a fast right hander while trying out a new line right off the main straight, and got a bit bumpy with my lowers. 4 turns later i see a caution flag and pull into the pit to find my lowers MIA. Yikes. cant wait to get track plastics.

Anyways, the one lower is rashed bad and the other is split in two, so im going to paint my OEM's and slap them on. Theyre in the last pic there.

I'm just gonna sand em and use spray paint, but i figured while i've got a project might as well have some fun. Is there any way to mimic the fading from the white to black that the side fairings have? i dont want to just put a solid Black/White line down there, and i want to two tone it somehow.

anybody have ideas/suggestions?

http://img338.imageshack.us/img338/2173/1000158mg.jpg
http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/4347/1000159g.jpg
http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/5025/1000160e.jpg
http://img571.imageshack.us/img571/1613/1000161.jpg

oooops need to resize, hold on.

Gloss black only quick job

Yea but im bored. so.....

I'm getting crazy thoughts like this too.

http://img35.imageshack.us/img35/6641/1000159gt.jpg

somebody stop me if i'm going to far.

I think you are going to have trouble replicating that fade with a spray can. None of them I have used give control over the spray like what you would require. You may need an airbrush to get that effect.

Custom painters do gradients with a spray gun, why wouldn't a spray can work?

Of course it will, and you don't need a fucking airbrush.

A spray can, a steady hand, and (optionally, for more control) a piece of cardboard as a hand held mask (held away from the surface so as not to make a too-sharp line) works just fine.

Get some rattle cans and practice on a piece of white art paper until you can get a nice, repeatable gradient. Paint the white first, fade in the black over top.

I have done some sharp track bodywork paint jobs with rattle can. It is just a matter of surface prep and finish. Never done a fade though.

Isn't there some trick with different absorbtion rate tape?

HPLV guns, especially good ones, allow control over the spray pattern, flow of paint, and air pressure. A rattle can doesn't offer any of that. It may be possible to match the fade on the upper fairing with a spray can but I doubt it.

Bullshit. It's at the bottom of the fairing, furthest from your eye. You'll never fucking see it if you do a halfway decent job. Most modern rattle cans actually have a decent enough spray pattern, and with a handheld mask for more control, some simple modulation of the distance between sprayer, mask, and workpiece is likely all you'll need to achieve the effect with just a little practice.

If you really want maximum quality from a rattle can there are houses that will actually mix up any fucking color you want, and pop it into a rattle can for you - some which can be had with a deluxe fan-spray nozzle for a few cents more.

ha well thanks for all the help, but i'm officially the worst painter in the world. I'm gonna need another can and a little practice, they came out pretty terrible in all black. Lots of streaking and the gloss is only in patches. gonna have to re-sand and paint again another time.

Consider using lacquer. I believe Duplicolor has what you may need.

You can spray a few color coats, color sand [wetsand] between them, and then clear coat final, then wetsand that and buff it out for a flawless finish...with a rattle can.

With lacquer, if you goof [get a run, or whatever] just sand it out, hit it again, and keep going.

This is paint, not fucking rocket science.

granted its not rocket science, but its not exactly finger painting in art class either.

Imma stick with this rattle can i think, the parts that DID end up glossy look pretty good. i think i just need to put a fuck ton of paint on there to get my desired look. that, and be a bit more consistent with my "strokes".

w/e though im gonna put em on and ride to work tomorrow. i dont really give a F

Well, it does take a little practice, that's why I suggested doing it on paper first (you can get a $3 rattle can to practice with)...but also if you use lacquer, it's "repairable", unlike enamel. You actually have to colorsand, clearcoat, sand and buff lacquer to a smooth finish...allowing you to correct for any flaws in less-than-perfect spray technique.

Don't try to do one heavy coat. You're gonna need to do multiple thin coats.

I'll try again tonight...

back to the store for more paint i guess. what grit sandpaper u guys suggest?

Over 9000

what 9000?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

400 between coats, 800 for final finish coat before buffing.

ETA: You know you should be wet sanding that, right? Good.
While you're at the store, pick up a tack cloth.

JC

Black is also a notoriously difficult color to get perfect.

What AMJ said...and make sure to clear coat it really well. If you get gas on spraypainted surfaces the gas will eat it.

jesus, i didnt know this was gonna be such an endeavor...

Anybody have a good link to a How-to page? I know nothing.

It's a bit of manual work, but it's not hard. If you use the basic painting and prep procedures, whether you use a gun or rattle can is actually of little concern (or consequence). In other words, with sound methodology, and time and care, you can get simply amazing, and surprisingly professional results...out of a rattle can.

I am a bass guitarist, and on a bass forum I frequent, people are always posting super-professional jobs they've done on guitars using a rattle can, using paint from here:

http://www.reranch.com/

This site sells paint. What does this have to do with automotive paint?

Guitars are actually often finished in car paint, some very famous traditional vintage guitar colors actually being nothing more than a GM paint number.

I'll see if I can come up with some links on how-to's, but I wouldn't be doing much more than using google myself. I'm sure there's a million out there, some in video form on YouTube, if you don't even care to have to read it.

That fade shouldn't be too bad... Like 'tard said, practice first... Lay down the white paint, then run the black. Prep and practice... you can do it!!!

If you're comin' to the rally, just bring it with you and some money. I'll do it for you.

Wet sanding is your friend!! Any non major errors you make can be repaired with a lil bit of water and some fine grain sandpaper. Rinse repeat.

Remember the black and pink honda...all rattle can baby...also how I learned that failure to put on a good clear coat will let gas eat into the paint. Sand and redo.

Yea i wet sanded it down yesterday and put another coat on , then put em on last night after they dried a little. This morning they looked good. Here are some pics of it. and my crazy dog.

http://img641.imageshack.us/img641/6176/1000173e.jpg
http://img692.imageshack.us/img692/4943/1000172z.jpg
http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/1851/1000171d.jpg

I think im just gonna get some decals and go that route, maybe throw some clear coat over the decals.

That looks pretty solid.

yea he's a cute dog, how did u like the paint job?

Picked up these to go somewhere on the lowers, im gonna get something cut for the rest. I've always liked the "stupid hurts" honda logo's, but i dont think i'll find them. i may just get it in white lettering. its always fit my riding persona.
http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/5568/29866198.jpg

:lol: Nice job.

sweet just found a 2 pack of 10cm stickers exactly what i wanted. now i just need to figure out what else to slap down there... maybe an Astar sticker or some nekid chicks.

(decals are addicting, if i ever had sponsors for racing i'd prolly end up w/ the factory that had the best looking logos)

If you want some custom vinyl stickers, like Honda or something. Give me a shout, you know I make a mean vinyl sticker.

o yea i completely forgot. whip up a neat idea for something that'll take up around 4x10" that will run along the bottom.

It's even in the TWFix font

Yeah, I am not good on the creativity part of it, I need direction.

Yea i know.

uh. ummmm. im not good with words.

how about guardrail

I was wrong, that came out pretty damn good.:dthumb:

"STEPHIE-cakes"

I am going to make a bunch of pink penises to stick on everyone's bikes while they sleep at the rally.

lolz

My Gf would like that!

Make mine xtra girthy

But remember you're the one making them, touching them, tasting them, fondling them, then molesting other's bike's with them. So who really is the homo and who is the victum? :D

Why would I be tasting them? I don't put my mouth on stickers.