GUIDE: Respraying With Cans.

Guide by "wheely"



Firstly


Before any spraying you must consider:


1. Time - Give yourself at least a week and a half to spray, so try and do it during school/collage holidays, or if possible take time off work. If you rush it will not come out as good.


2. Transport - If you do work, or go to collage/school and can't get time off, how are you going to get there and back.


3. Place - Where you plan to spray your panels. a) If it is outside on your patio, path etc. get plenty of materials to mask off your path. Also if doing it outside check the weather forecast - Paint dries quicker in the sun, try to avoid humid, windy, and most importantly wet conditions. be) If it is a garage then you have to be carefull. Unless you have a proper ventallation system the colour spray paint will settle onto things in the garage ie. mum/dads car/bike lawnmower etc. If it a garage will just shite in or just your bike then fine. I would advise to spray it outside.


Also - Your colour code may not be on your bike, if not take it to a dealer with your frame number and they can give it to you. Or you can ask the dealer to order some of the exact paint used which is about ?18 per can (300ml) Or get the colour code and get halfords to mix it up ?9.99 per can (300ml)


Stage 1 - Preperation


Firstly clean your bike. Leave to dry or shammey after. Strip it down - remove all lights/vents/indicators etc. and carefully place the screws/bolts somewhere where you wont forget. Label where the screws came from if nessiccary. Then sand the panels down using p600 grade wet and dry paper. Use a rougher wet and dry paper (P120) for deep scratches on panels, try to avoid using this on the smooth parts of the panels for it will mark them. Wipe the panels down after. (Sanding is a messy job) Make sure all the gloss from the old panels is off. The paint dosen\'t have to completely come off. It should feel like a smooth/non glossy feel after. Make sure all drips/scratches/dimples etc is off for it will show up after been sprayed.

Stage 2 - Priming

The colour primer you need will be different for different paint colours. If not known then ask, but normally if it is a light colour then white or a dark colour then black or grey. White will normally go with most colours. Shake the primer can for at least 2 minutes or leave in on a warm radiator for 10 minutes before. Test spray it on a masked area first. Aim at about 25-30cm's away from panel and press down then go over the panel then let off. Do this untill you have made an light EVEN coat allround. Make sure to either rotate the panel or you rotate around it to get all the edges and curves even! Leave for 15-20 minutes (the panel should be touch dry) before starting the next coat. Build up about 3-4 coats - the panels should be fully white/black/grey with no patches of light or dark and make sure again all the edges are done the same colour. Leave for 24 hours.


Stage 3 - Painting


Firstly sand the primer down using WET p800 wet and dry paper. Dab it in some water and try and get the drips off. Sand down the panels. The primer should feel 'pimply' and not smooth before sanded - when it is sanded down is will be smoooth 8) Make sure again all the edges are sanded down. Any area is not sanded down the paint will not stick as well and can come up spotty. Whilst sanding the panels leave the paint spray cans on a warm radiator or water boiler cupboard etc. for about 10 minutes. Then wipe the panel down after sanding. Again shake the can well, then test the spray. Aim next to the panel press down and gently slide over the panel. It will build fast, again make sure all the edges are done the same amount and make it all even. Don't build up the layers too much but don't do it too light. If it is too light it was look spotty, dimply if done too heavy it it will run and drip. About 4 layers is fine for this, leaving each one 25-30 minutes to dry. You should be finished with your colour evenly spread over the panel, no patches of shade. If it does drip just leave it to dry then sand it down after, don\'t do anything whilst it is wet. Leave 24 hours if happy with the finish.

Stage 4 - Laquering

Some people think this made there colour more matt and worse. I found it made mine better. It all depends on the primer colour and paint colour. It makes the colour slightly darker and a lot richer & deeper. Well first sand the panel with WET p1200 wet and dry paper. Rub it toghther first to make it more smoother then dab it in water. The paint work should not be dimply but smooth so sand it down untill smooth - this should not take a lot of paper/work to do. Wipe the panel down. Before the laquer get your colour can (if any left) and give it a very very light coat, this has to be very light - apperently this helps stop the matt effect (i done it and it worked ) Leave for 15 minutes then start shaking the laquer. I personally found that it was better with thicker coats of laquer. Not too thick else it will run. Make sure it is even, and you get all the edges and sides of the panel. *caution laquer is very sticky try to avoid leaving in windy conitions or near pets etc as anything will stick to it. Leave the first layer 25 minutes to dry, then apply another. Leave the panels for 24 hours then apply another 2 coats. (Laquer when wet will look dimply/rippely this will even itself out as it dries)

Leave for a minimum of 2 days - The longer you leave them the better. Try and aim to leave them for about 5-7 days.


Do not polish untill after 2 days after the final coat of laquer has dried.


If any drips was made from the laquer you try sandin them down with p1500 Wet and dry paper. Nothing less ! After the panels have dried properly refit carefully. and use an expensive polish and wax - maguires showroom polish and gold class wax is the best but may burn a hole in your wallet. DO NOT GO NOWHERE NEAR T-CUT. T-Cut is for old, scratched, weatherd paint work. It strips a layer off your paint work to remove weathering and swirls, as the paint work is new it will not need t-cut for ages !!