Fairing Painting (Can or Compressor)

[cbay]

Hey All!

Well I am used to a good bit of Spray Paint when redoing Alloy Wheels or fairings which I have good results from but costs hell of alot more.

I am looking into getting a compressor and paint gun perhaps.

But how much easier / cheaper is it. How do you know the paint consistency and how to make it?

Plus any recommendations on compressors and accessories?

Any help grateful.

[_Stretchie_]

**Watching this thread with interest**

The trick with painting bikes is you need a smaller gun, gravity fed is best.

Bigger guns cause loads of overspray and you use up loads of paint.

I assume you are talking about 2K

[cbay]

Originally Posted by hardhat_harry

I assume you are talking about 2K

I'm sure you can do it for less than 2K!

[Geodude]

Originally Posted by hardhat_harry

The trick with painting bikes is you need a smaller gun, gravity fed is best.

Bigger guns cause loads of overspray and you use up loads of paint.

I assume you are talking about 2K

Originally Posted by cbay

I'm sure you can do it for less than 2K!

2k is a paint term see here http://www.austinsevenfriends.com/paint.htm

[Dave20046]

Originally Posted by cbay

I'm sure you can do it for less than 2K!

Yep "2pack paint", solvent based automotive paint.
Like Hardhat says you need a gun with a small nozzle I used a HVLP gravity fed Clarke one (check machine mart) and an oil-free 3hp compressor (which I've now sold for peanuts ).

Just go to a spray shop ask them to do you a tin of such and such colour and you can even ask them to premix it with thinners. Then all you need is to mix it with hardener (says how much on the bottle) and spray away. Preferably done in a smallish space with lots of oil filled radiators. Meticulously prep everything (buy the right grade wet & dry papers) do a bit of reading and take your time and it should be fine.

BTW use a really good quality cartridge mask and preferably hold your breath if you're using 2k paint.
Really you're supposed to use an air-fed mask with a separate compressor in a location away from where you're spraying (clean air supply)

I suggest you dont use any other paint than 2 pack on a bike otherwise you will need to lacquer it as the petrol will melt the paint. I used 2 Pack for under and top coats apparently you can mix and match to save money to you risk the paint reacting to the different types of paint, its not worth the risk.

There are ruler type things (dont know the official term) which show the ratio of paint, thinners and hardner for each type of paint (undercoat, topcoat, thinners).

You will also need strainers (paper cones with mesh of the bottom) and measuring cups.

There is also different grades of thinners, paint needs to be mixed with good quality thinners which are much more expensive than normal thinners. Normal thinners is used to clean your gun.

There is a method to clean the gun. Put thinners in the top (if gravity fed) where you would normally put the paint and pull the trigger to draw the thinners through then swing the gun up and down when your doing it. Dont ask me why it was just the way I was taught.

As Dave says preparation is the key.

[cbay]

Right well I need to find myself a nice cheap air compressor and accessories someone is selling!

[Dave20046]

Originally Posted by cbay

Right well I need to find myself a nice cheap air compressor and accessories someone is selling!

How cheap? Sure I bought mine new for £165ish from sealey.

[cbay]

Originally Posted by Dave20046

How cheap? Sure I bought mine new for £165ish from sealey.

Really? What model have you got?