Motorcycle owners strive to keep their vehicles looking attractive at all times. However, motorcycles, like all automobiles, develop nicks, chips and dents due to the wear and tear of regular use. A custom paint job can restore the beauty of the machine and give it a striking appearance that differentiates it from all others. Having a professional do the work for you can be expensive. Being able to paint your own motorcycle will save you some money, allow you some freedom with your designs and also give you a sense of pride in your work.
Instructions
Prepare your work area
1. Choose a work area. If you don't have a professional booth, consider using a portion of your garage or a storage room.
2. Prepare your work area. You may wish to protect the walls of your workshop with a covering, such as white poly tarps. If the lighting is inadequate, consider placing additional light sources, such as lamps or fluorescent bulbs, on opposite sides of your work space.
3. Ensure that the room is well ventilated so you don't inhale the toxic paint fumes. Also make sure that the room is well lit so that you can apply the paint evenly. Place a portable fan in a corner of your work area to aid ventilation and speed drying time.
4. Gather your equipment and supplies. You will need an air hose, a compressor, an air regulator with a water trap, a couple of paint guns, a speed polisher, buffer and a buffing compound. You will also need filler, flowable putty, primer, various grades of sand paper, opaque paint and clear paint.
5. Ensure your safety. Use an appropriate respirator with a filter that is meant for the type of paint you will be using.
Prepare your motorcycle for painting
6. Detach the tanks and fenders of your motorcycle. Remove old paint from these parts with sand paper or by sandblasting.
7. Wipe the parts down. Ensure that every surface is completely free of residue before you begin to paint.
8. Use filler on any dents and sand it smooth when it has dried. If the filler contains low spots, apply more filling and then sand it again. Repeat this process as needed.
9. Use a spray gun to apply two coats of epoxy primer. Follow this with a light spray of black paint to reveal any more dents. Apply flowable putty thinly in these areas and then sand when dry. Use 80, 120 and 400 grit sandpaper successively.
10. Spray another coat of primer. Sand it with 400 grit sandpaper when dry.
Apply Color
11. Apply the base paint with a spray gun. You will need at least three coats, each one applied after the previous coat has dried. When the base color is dry, you may begin to apply other colors according to your custom design. Give each coat enough time to dry before applying the next color.
12. Apply a coat of clear paint. When it is dry, wet sand it with a 600 grit sandpaper until it is even. Apply another coat of clear paint and sand it with 600 grit sandpaper. Repeat as needed and then sand with a 1500 grit sandpaper, followed by a 2000 grit sandpaper.
13. Polish your motorcycle. A speed polisher will help you achieve a mirror effect. You will also need a buffing pad and a buffing compound.
14. Learn more. Read "Custom Paint Your Motorcycle," by JoAnn Bortles for more information (see Resources below).
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