Spray Painting GRP Fairings.

When giving GRP race bodywork a rattle can spray, is it best to rough up the gel coat? And is a primer required, or just preferred?

[rowdy]

http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/fo...d.php?t=264901

Mister YC needs the credit for that one though as he posted this up the other day
HTH

Not lloking for such professional results, but gives a good guide, cheers.

[yorkie_chris]

Best to thoroughly degrease anyway. I would think hitting it with some very fine emery to key it would be a good idea.

But i'm no expert.

I would rough up the gel coat first yes, paint has a hard time sticking to really slick surfaces I think. I can't say I've ever tried it, I've always sanded first. On the primer, you could go without, I think it's main purpose is to provide an even colour base as the top coats don't cover different colours of bodywork easily?

I'm going to be doing something similar soon, I have the bodywork downstairs - but I'll be sanding and primering as I think for the effort it's worth it.

[Red Herring]

I paint all my own race fairings. I rub down with wet and dry then use a good high build primer, it's not just about covering but about providing a good key for the paint. I then spray with two pack but I've seen good results from cans. The most important bit is the preparation, make sure you damp down all around where you are working to avoid dust and clean the fairing with a cellulose thinners to make sure there is no greasy spots.

[fastdruid]

I did mine with rattle cans, sanded it slightly, cleaned it with meths then sprayed it a nice shade of blue.

Didn't bother with primer on the fairing although I did on the tank as it was over the original yellow (and metal, and filler) and I used white so that it matched the fairing colour.



Be warned, you need to cover *everything* where you are spraying, not just close stuff, mostly it'll settle as dust at any distance but if you have anything nice cover it up!

Oh also remember to use a petrol proof lacquer over the top, otherwise any spills while filling and you'll get runs, I've got a blue spot on my frame now and need to re-do the tank thanks to that!

Druid

clean them well with degreaser before sanding them.... panel wipe is the stuff and 5 litres cost about £6.... same stuff as brake cleaner so you will have loads left

400 grit wet and dry with a bit of soapy water. (very little washing up liquid)

2 to 3 coats of grey primer. dont apply the first one too thick.

spray a really thin mist 'guide' coat of any colour but grey.

400 grit again with the soapy water until you cant see the guide coat. go very easy on the edges.

leave it over night.

degrease again, paint with as many coats as you feel (i do 3 or 4) leaving each coat to dry properly (very important) and its sorted.

its all in the prep and you have to be patient.
if coats are applied too soon then crazing will appear in the near future.

laquer the tank in fuel proof laquer as said but there is no need to laquer the fairings etc unless its a base coat metallic.

hey fast can u tell me what body work you have there?

^ looks like K6/7 GSX-R 600/750 race bodywork to me.