NEED help Painting

[rebelrider28]

I have obtained an 86 honda rebel, and I am attempting to do some modifications on the lil bike. I am ready to spray some paint. I honestly have not painted anything before, but there is a first for everything. I guess my first question is.... what steps should I follow for painting after I sand everything and clean it? Do I have to sand all the way to the metal?primer? Or just rough up the paint a bit? My thoughts were to sand down to primer or metal and then recoat with primer (darker base). I am wanting to achieve a dull black/grey/charcoal look on the bike when I am finished. Can I just use a sealer on the primer and then spray a clear coat over the bike? Or do I have to prime, seal, paint, clear? I figure there is only one way to learn and that is to just do it. I am trying to turn the little bike into a bobber, thats the plan, the handlebars are done, the rear fender is chopped, signals/brake light/ license plate all relocated. I think I am just in need of some paint and it should be ready for now(other than I am still in the process of trouble shooting turn signals, I think it may be the switch though). This is pretty much a rat bike............ so I am not looking to spend a whole lot on paying someone to paint it, I think I should be able to accomplish it with a little guidance. Thanks in advance!!!

Feel free to PM me with additional ?'s needed to help me out here!!! Thanks again!

[Big_J]

First step would be to sand the whole bike with 300 or 400, not down to the metal, just get a good even sanded finish then wash, allow to dry and before the next step clean with a good tach cloth. For best results a coat of primer would be good. If you need to, after priming, give another round of sanding with 600 or 800 to smooth up any imperfections. Next wash it again and allow to dry, the before the next step, tach it again. Now for the paint, the trick is to be close enough to get a good even coat, but not so close you cause runs. a lite mist at first as a tach coat helps sometimes. After you get you paint down, you may wast to wet sand the finish with 1500 until the entire painted surface has become dull. after that wash again, then let dry, then tach it before you clear it. The clear coat is much like the base coat , close enough for a good even coat, but not so close you cause runs. A couple of good coats of clear and you're in business.

[Guba]

Does a tach cloth pick up any fingerprint oils? It seems every time I do a small paint job everything goes really good except for a spot somewhere that won't accept paint very good. The last couple paint jobs I did I used brakewash on a lint free rag and wiped everthing down and they came out pretty nice. But, as I don't work in a paint shop I don't have any experience with a tach cloth, are they cheaper and can they degrease?

[Big_J]

wipe with a degreaser first, allow to dry, the tack. They mainly get rid of any lint or left over sanding residue etc. They are about $5 each or so.

[rebelrider28]

So I would need to go ahead and paint over the primer, and to achieve the dull look I would just get a flat black auto paint? I just want to make sure I am understanding everything correctly. Is there any reason why you are not supposed to spray a clear straight over primer? That may be a dumb question to some, but like I said I have never done it so I am learning. Thanks again.

[Big_J]

House of Kolor has come put with a new line of what they call hotrod paints. They are all "flat" colors. If its a flat you are after, clear coat will not give you the right look, you will have to leave off that step. Just be careful with the paint. The clear is going to give a glossy shine to just about anything.

[Guba]

Thanks for the info Big J, it always a good day when I learn something!:D

[Big_J]

anytime, learning is the best thing you can do on any day ;)