Anyone do their own bodywork painting at home?
Discussion
I've just bought a blackbird that's seen better days and despite the plan being to leave it as it is and just use it I thought it might be fun to paint it. I've no experience of doing this but a lot of enthusiasm and frequently misplaced confidence. I've also got a big compressor.
The body work is a mix of original and after market. There's plenty of scuffs that look easy to repair and a crack or two. The tank is a different shade of blue to the rest of the bike and currently hidden under a baglux cover.
Looks good at a distance though...

Quite fancy doing something like this to it...

Anyway, does anyone have any experience of doing this sort of paintwork at home, ideally using a compressor rather than rattle cans. What paint would I use?
Cheers,
Mark
The body work is a mix of original and after market. There's plenty of scuffs that look easy to repair and a crack or two. The tank is a different shade of blue to the rest of the bike and currently hidden under a baglux cover.
Looks good at a distance though...

Quite fancy doing something like this to it...

Anyway, does anyone have any experience of doing this sort of paintwork at home, ideally using a compressor rather than rattle cans. What paint would I use?
Cheers,
Mark
Edited by dern on Monday 25th June 11:08
i sprayed my track fairing on my blade and kit car in the garage at home. came out well. Not easy as it's difficult not to get bits on the paint when drying but seemed to work ok.
I have a small 50ltr compressor. Advice and help from the BIL,
Bought 2k paint an came out well. I did use sheets to make the garage into a spray booth. Again worked out well.
I have a small 50ltr compressor. Advice and help from the BIL,
Bought 2k paint an came out well. I did use sheets to make the garage into a spray booth. Again worked out well.
I approached pretty much the same way as Remal but on my road bike, started with this.

Ended up with this

As Remal 50 Lt compressor, cheapish gun and then base coat and 2K clear. Mine was all flat paint although I know metalics are trickier but if you've got an old panel to pratice on and set the gun up you'll find what works. But in the end if you screw it up, just flat it back and have another go.
Only word of warning is 2k is nasty stuff, so you'll need to sort out breathing, especially if you plan on more of it in the future. You also need to consider where you'll vent it to if you've got neighbours. I bodged mine up from an old chemical suit helmet attached a pipe and ran it through one of those crap clip on jacuzzi pumps for your bath to outside the garage. Still alive, no ill effects.
Good luck.
Ended up with this
As Remal 50 Lt compressor, cheapish gun and then base coat and 2K clear. Mine was all flat paint although I know metalics are trickier but if you've got an old panel to pratice on and set the gun up you'll find what works. But in the end if you screw it up, just flat it back and have another go.
Only word of warning is 2k is nasty stuff, so you'll need to sort out breathing, especially if you plan on more of it in the future. You also need to consider where you'll vent it to if you've got neighbours. I bodged mine up from an old chemical suit helmet attached a pipe and ran it through one of those crap clip on jacuzzi pumps for your bath to outside the garage. Still alive, no ill effects.
Good luck.
Boys, you do know 2k paint has arsenic in it and unless you use a very very good mask in a confined space you will get arsenic poisoning from breathing the fumes.
Use 1k paint and take away the risk. Much the same as ye olde style cellulose but uses a different solvent.
All it takes is patience, and allowing plenty of drying time between coats. Dont expect to get a mirror finish from the gun, that involves flatting back and polishing. A good paint job takes time and a meticulosely clean work surface and enviroment.
Use 1k paint and take away the risk. Much the same as ye olde style cellulose but uses a different solvent.
All it takes is patience, and allowing plenty of drying time between coats. Dont expect to get a mirror finish from the gun, that involves flatting back and polishing. A good paint job takes time and a meticulosely clean work surface and enviroment.
3200gt said:
Boys, you do know 2k paint has arsenic in it and unless you use a very very good mask in a confined space you will get arsenic poisoning from breathing the fumes.
Use 1k paint and take away the risk. Much the same as ye olde style cellulose but uses a different solvent.
All it takes is patience, and allowing plenty of drying time between coats. Dont expect to get a mirror finish from the gun, that involves flatting back and polishing. A good paint job takes time and a meticulosely clean work surface and enviroment.
cyanide.. Use 1k paint and take away the risk. Much the same as ye olde style cellulose but uses a different solvent.
All it takes is patience, and allowing plenty of drying time between coats. Dont expect to get a mirror finish from the gun, that involves flatting back and polishing. A good paint job takes time and a meticulosely clean work surface and enviroment.
Done a few tanks and side panels and a few car parts. I tend to do older bikes and cars so no experience of painting plastic.
Can't remember what make my compressor is, I "liberated" it from my old mans garage. I read up on technique on some forum (think it was the mig welding forum) and just got stuck in about it. It's one of those things where you just need to try it to work it how to do it.
Good tip I learnt with regard to dust in the garage was to wet the floor before painting.
Can't remember what make my compressor is, I "liberated" it from my old mans garage. I read up on technique on some forum (think it was the mig welding forum) and just got stuck in about it. It's one of those things where you just need to try it to work it how to do it.
Good tip I learnt with regard to dust in the garage was to wet the floor before painting.
I did my Thunderace panels myself. I used 1k paint just in the garage with dust sheets around the walls, then I moved house and needed plan B for the lacquer. I used 2k lacquer and I bought a big spray booth gazebo with sides, and did it in the garden, with a decent, although not pressure-fed, mask.
Reasonable results although I made the mistake of buying a black gazebo, so I had to rig up some lights but could have done with more. Buy a white one! As a result, I got some runs in the lacquer, but let it go hard and you can flat those out and polish.
Reasonable results although I made the mistake of buying a black gazebo, so I had to rig up some lights but could have done with more. Buy a white one! As a result, I got some runs in the lacquer, but let it go hard and you can flat those out and polish.
Lee540 said:
3200gt said:
Boys, you do know 2k paint has arsenic in it and unless you use a very very good mask in a confined space you will get arsenic poisoning from breathing the fumes.
Use 1k paint and take away the risk. Much the same as ye olde style cellulose but uses a different solvent.
All it takes is patience, and allowing plenty of drying time between coats. Dont expect to get a mirror finish from the gun, that involves flatting back and polishing. A good paint job takes time and a meticulosely clean work surface and enviroment.
cyanide.. Use 1k paint and take away the risk. Much the same as ye olde style cellulose but uses a different solvent.
All it takes is patience, and allowing plenty of drying time between coats. Dont expect to get a mirror finish from the gun, that involves flatting back and polishing. A good paint job takes time and a meticulosely clean work surface and enviroment.
t either way, but yes your rightyes - it is possible to get a good finish..



its actually a lot better than the last photo makes it look.
the infra-red heater is brilliant for this sort of thing. wet the ground before painting to control dust.
biggest problem I was having was that the gazeebo had paint on it - by the end and in any breeze this was flaking off and landing on the panels - not a disaster just more work polishing at the end.
I painted a mini in that gazeebo when it was new and got a very good finish straight from the gun - yes 2-pac, yes poisonous, always use in a well ventilated area and dont do it very often.....
its actually a lot better than the last photo makes it look.
the infra-red heater is brilliant for this sort of thing. wet the ground before painting to control dust.
biggest problem I was having was that the gazeebo had paint on it - by the end and in any breeze this was flaking off and landing on the panels - not a disaster just more work polishing at the end.
I painted a mini in that gazeebo when it was new and got a very good finish straight from the gun - yes 2-pac, yes poisonous, always use in a well ventilated area and dont do it very often.....
paintwork appears to be 90% preparation, 5% technique and 5% luck! (to me anyway...)
pick a nice warm windless day and it all works nicely

pick a colder slightly windier day and it can be a complete b
h.
I wouldnt advocate the regular use of 2-pac unless using an air-fed mask, I was in that gazeebo with effectively 2 open sides and I made sure there was a through draught.
these £50 gazeebos are brilliant for this - although once they get paint on them like mine has, throw them away and get another.
pick a nice warm windless day and it all works nicely
pick a colder slightly windier day and it can be a complete b
h.I wouldnt advocate the regular use of 2-pac unless using an air-fed mask, I was in that gazeebo with effectively 2 open sides and I made sure there was a through draught.
these £50 gazeebos are brilliant for this - although once they get paint on them like mine has, throw them away and get another.
Mrtee said:
yes - it is possible to get a good finish..

its actually a lot better than the last photo makes it look.
the infra-red heater is brilliant for this sort of thing. wet the ground before painting to control dust.
biggest problem I was having was that the gazeebo had paint on it - by the end and in any breeze this was flaking off and landing on the panels - not a disaster just more work polishing at the end.
I painted a mini in that gazeebo when it was new and got a very good finish straight from the gun - yes 2-pac, yes poisonous, always use in a well ventilated area and dont do it very often.....
That looks mint.its actually a lot better than the last photo makes it look.
the infra-red heater is brilliant for this sort of thing. wet the ground before painting to control dust.
biggest problem I was having was that the gazeebo had paint on it - by the end and in any breeze this was flaking off and landing on the panels - not a disaster just more work polishing at the end.
I painted a mini in that gazeebo when it was new and got a very good finish straight from the gun - yes 2-pac, yes poisonous, always use in a well ventilated area and dont do it very often.....
3200gt said:
Lee540 said:
3200gt said:
Boys, you do know 2k paint has arsenic in it and unless you use a very very good mask in a confined space you will get arsenic poisoning from breathing the fumes.
Use 1k paint and take away the risk. Much the same as ye olde style cellulose but uses a different solvent.
All it takes is patience, and allowing plenty of drying time between coats. Dont expect to get a mirror finish from the gun, that involves flatting back and polishing. A good paint job takes time and a meticulosely clean work surface and enviroment.
cyanide.. Use 1k paint and take away the risk. Much the same as ye olde style cellulose but uses a different solvent.
All it takes is patience, and allowing plenty of drying time between coats. Dont expect to get a mirror finish from the gun, that involves flatting back and polishing. A good paint job takes time and a meticulosely clean work surface and enviroment.
t either way, but yes your righttricky1962 said:
3200gt said:
Lee540 said:
3200gt said:
Boys, you do know 2k paint has arsenic in it and unless you use a very very good mask in a confined space you will get arsenic poisoning from breathing the fumes.
Use 1k paint and take away the risk. Much the same as ye olde style cellulose but uses a different solvent.
All it takes is patience, and allowing plenty of drying time between coats. Dont expect to get a mirror finish from the gun, that involves flatting back and polishing. A good paint job takes time and a meticulosely clean work surface and enviroment.
cyanide.. Use 1k paint and take away the risk. Much the same as ye olde style cellulose but uses a different solvent.
All it takes is patience, and allowing plenty of drying time between coats. Dont expect to get a mirror finish from the gun, that involves flatting back and polishing. A good paint job takes time and a meticulosely clean work surface and enviroment.
t either way, but yes your right
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