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Custom motorcycle paint jobs are a great way to give your bike a unique look. Do it yourself and you can cut down on labor costs while having more control over the personal touches that you want to add. Furthermore, it can be a lot of fun to paint a motorcycle if you are a motorcycle enthusiast. This article will explain both how to prepare and paint your bike, and also how to protect the area in which you're working from paint damage.
Steps
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Choose a large area where you can make a mess. Though you’ll take steps to protect this area, don’t create the paint booth somewhere where an errant paint stain will be a big problem. A garage or storage area would be your best options. [1] X Research source
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Protect the walls with plastic sheets. You can buy plastic sheeting at any home improvement store like Lowe’s or Home Depot. Make sure you buy enough to protect the whole area.
- Use thumbtacks or a hammer and nails to hang the sheeting up on the walls.
- Use masking tape to secure the bottom of the sheet to the floor. This will prevent the sheets from billowing out and allowing paint to stain the wall.
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Set up a variable speed, oscillating fan. Place it somewhere where it will blow fumes out of the room or space, so you don’t inhale too much of it.
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Set up additional lighting. It’s important that you can see what you’re doing, so place extra lights in the area where you’ll be working. Floor lamps would work well, but you can place side table lamps or desk lamps on a flat, elevated surface, as well.
- You can also increase the brightness in the room by adding reflective materials such as aluminum sheets or mirrors on the walls.
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Remove and set aside the parts of the bike you plan to paint. This article will use the tank as an example, but the same basic method should be applied to all bike pieces. The tank is a great place to start if you’re new to painting motorcycles because it’s fairly easy to remove and has broad, flat surfaces that are easy to work with.
- Check which size allen wrench you need to remove the bolts holding the tank in place.
- Remove all the bolts holding it in place and lift the tank off the frame. Set it aside.
- Store the bolts in a plastic baggie clearly marked as “tank bolts.”
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Sand down the surface you wish to paint. [2] X Research source This part will take some time and elbow grease, but it’s an important step. If the surface you’re painting isn’t perfectly smooth, you’ll end up with an ugly, uneven coat of paint on your bike, and nobody wants that.
- Purchase sandpaper at any home improvement or hardware store, like Home Depot or Lowe’s.
- Rub the metal surface down with sandpaper in a circular motion until you have removed the old paint.
- You should be down to bare metal by the end of the process.
- Switch back and forth between arms to prevent fatigue and soreness.
- Take a break if you need one. You don’t have to finish this project in one sitting.
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Wipe down the newly-sanded surface. Remove any residual dust or particles that might be on the surface. You want to be working with a clean canvas.
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Smooth a layer of body filler over the newly sanded surface. [3] X Research source This will help ensure you’re working with as smooth and level a surface as possible. You can purchase body filler at any automotive retailer, from O’Reilly’s to Auto Zone, and also in many home improvement stores.
- Mix the filler up well to make sure it’s loose and not clumpy when applied. It hardens quickly, so repeat the process in small batches as often as necessary. [4] X Research source
- Apply it in a layer about 1/8” thick.
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Re-sand the surface once the body filler has dried. You want to wait about an hour to make sure the surface has dried completely and ready for a second sanding.
- If you’re not satisfied that the surface is perfectly smooth and ready to be painted, apply another layer of body filler and sand it down again.
- When you’re satisfied with the smoothness of the surface, move on to the next phase: painting your bike.
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Apply two coats of epoxy primer. This will help protect the metal against moisture down the road, preventing unwanted effects like rusting. [5] X Research source
- Follow the instructions on the packaging for the brand you purchase to figure out which hardener you should mix it with. Make sure to do this at the automotive store so you can buy the hardener at the same time.
- These products can vary significantly in their treatment needs, so don’t work by a rule of thumb — always follow the specific instructions.
- Mix the primer with the hardener.
- Pour the solution into the can of your spray gun .
- Apply one coat evenly onto the bike, allow it to dry, then repeat.
- Follow the recommended drying times on the packaging for the primer you bought.
- When applying any product with a spray gun, make sure to move the spray slowly and evenly across the surface.
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Lightly sand down the primed surface, once the second coat has dried. Most primers leave a powdery texture behind, especially after multiple coatings, so you want to smooth the bike back down to a level surface. [6] X Research source
- Use a 2000-grit wet-and-dry sandpaper.
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Wipe the surface down with a rag that’s been lightly wetted with thinner. Don’t use enough thinner to strip the primer, just enough to wipe down the newly sanded surface.
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Clean the spray gun. You don’t want any of the epoxy primer mixing in with the paint you want to apply. [7] X Research source
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Mix the paint with the thinner. As with the epoxy primer, use the ratio recommended by the packaging on the specific product you buy. Again, you want to make sure you’ve mixed the products thoroughly. This will prevent clogging in the spray gun and ensure a smooth coat on your motorcycle.
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Use the spray gun to apply three to four layers of your chosen paint to the motorcycle. You’ll sand down the bike before applying the final layer.
- Let each layer dry completely between applications, using the drying times recommended on the paint packaging. [8] X Research source
- After the third layer of paint has dried, sand the surface again with a 2000-grit wet-and-dry sandpaper. You want to surface to be perfectly smooth in preparation for the final coat of paint.
- Wipe the surface down with a clean rag after sanding.
- Apply the final coat of paint and let it dry.
- Clean the spray gun thoroughly again after applying your final coat of paint.
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Apply two coats of clearcoat lacquer to finish and protect your paint job from the elements. [9] X Research source Follow the recommendations on the lacquer packaging to determine how long you should let it cure before applying the second coat.
- If, after the second coat of lacquer has cured, you’re satisfied with the final product, you’re done!
- If there are still inconsistencies, sand it once more with 2000-grit wet-and-dry sandpaper, then reapply a coat of clearcoat lacquer to your satisfaction.
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Community Q&A
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QuestionHow do I prep fiberglass and hard plastic?Community AnswerWash with a tiny amount of thinner then sand with 400 grit paper prior to primer.
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QuestionIs it the same process to paint the plastic fairings?Community AnswerNo, you can skip the epoxy primer and just prep it for painting. Make sure that you sand it down to a smooth finish.
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QuestionWhy should I put filler on if there are no dents on the tank?Community AnswerYou could have small, barely noticeable dents or scratches that would show more once you have a shiny new paint job. It is not a necessary step, but to ensure that your paint looks as good as new when you are finished, it is definitely recommended.
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Tips
- There is a lot more that you can do than just painting the motorcycle to customize it. Motorcycle shops offer handlebars, wheel rims and many other accessories to create a custom motorcycle.Thanks
- You can paint a motorcycle with a new motorcycle paint color to change the color of your motorcycle. You can even select different colors for different parts of your motorcycle to give it a unique appearance.Thanks
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Warnings
- Paint fumes are toxic. Wear a breathing filter and ventilate the fumes to an open areaThanks
- Paint is highly flammable. Do not use paint near a kitchen or other areas that have flames. You should avoid smoking while painting.Thanks
- Your motorcycle should not have any leaks that could cause spills and slippery puddles.Thanks
- The room where you paint should not be near the living area because long-term inhalation of fumes can be very hazardous to health.Thanks
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Things You'll Need
- Plastic sheets
- Duct tape
- Sandpaper
- Spray-paint gun
- Body filler
- Epoxy primer
- Paint
References
- ↑ https://garagespot.com/how-to-build-paint-booth-garage/
- ↑ https://www.liveabout.com/wet-sand-cars-primer-or-paint-281367
- ↑ https://www.cycletrader.com/research/news-reviews/custom-motorcycles/tips-for-painting-your-motorcy
- ↑ https://youtu.be/HhggdspcZys?t=52
- ↑ https://youtu.be/fbysEYtn8MU?t=130
- ↑ https://www.liveabout.com/painting-motorcycle-parts-743654
- ↑ https://www.autorefinishdevilbiss.com/Portals/0/documents/Cleaning%20Your%20Gun-Rev1.pdf
- ↑ http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/how-to/maintenance/a-diy-guide-to-painting-your-car-15998013
- ↑ https://www.liveabout.com/painting-motorcycle-parts-743654
About This Article
Article Summary
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To paint your motorcycle, first remove the parts you want to paint and sand them down. Then, apply body filler and sand them down again. Next, use a spray gun to apply 2 coats of epoxy primer, which will prevent rust. Before you paint, sand the primed surfaces and wipe them with a rag and a little paint thinner to clean them. When you’re ready to paint, spray 3-4 coats on your parts, letting them dry completely between coats. Finish by applying 2 layers of clearcoat lacquer to protect your paint job. To learn how to set up your work space to paint your motorcycle, keep reading!
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Reader Success Stories
- "Basically just knowing the order of the steps helps, because I think a lot of people do not follow each step in order, mess up their paint job and then wonder what they did wrong, so just knowing what to do is one thing, but you have to know in what order ." ..." more
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"Basically just knowing the order of the steps helps, because I think a lot of people do not follow each step in order, mess up their paint job and then wonder what they did wrong, so just knowing what to do is one thing, but you have to know in what order ."
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"I followed these instructions. Well, actually I only half heartedly followed them at first and I put a lot more work into it than necessary. I ended up following steps carefully, my bike looks great. Don't shortcut, it's pretty simple to do."
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"I love how its step by step in detail what to do. I'm painting my motorcycle and was looking for exact details. I feel a lot more confident after reading this."
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