Painting the wifes bike

Discussion in 'Mechanics Garage' started by Cundalini, Feb 6, 2010.

  1. Cundalini

    Cundalini New Member

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    Awright guys, this isnt a VFR - its a suzuki. But painting techniques and advice would be the same for any bike so I am putting it here.

    I am HORRIBLE at paint in the past, but this time I am gonna follow some advice and be pateint and try and do it right.
    vfrhusband has offered to lend me some online support with this endevour.
    As you know the wifes bike was bought on a budget - less then 800$ and a good runner. But ugly as sin.
    So - let the madness begin.
    I plan on waking up early and removing the tank, side panels and the front fender.
    vfrhusband has a few sketches to email me regarding his ideas on what might work after I told him what I was going for.
    This thread will have lots of pics, lots of laffs and hopefully few tears.

    So how boot it vfrh - what is on my list for the morning.
    sand paper - what kind and how much
    chemicals for removing the old decals - wtf do I start with?
    Paint - to be decided when mudguts makes up her mind on the color ( I like the look of my vfr and think its kinda racy, pushing her towards a race theme a la suzuki rather then the hello kitty or punk rock ideas she has mentioned )
     
  2. Cundalini

    Cundalini New Member

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    battery died today as well. We all knew it was coming, and I am glad it lasted this long. My budget just went down a lil bit hehe.
     
  3. Fazer1Sniper

    Fazer1Sniper New Member

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    Ok, Sent of 4 ideas to ya.
    Paper, the bike looks clan so nothing more course than 400, 800 might be fine. I you wet sand your paper will go alot farther
    Decals. There are some spray can decal removers out there, just be ready to wash it of if it starts to eat up the paint or plastic. another option is a plain old razor blade. be carefull no to nick ip the paint under it or you may be filling it later. after you blade it off the adhesive will probably wet sand off easy nuff.
    Paint, If you gotta run rattle can, stay with one brand name. READ THE BACK OF THE CAN. You are gonna want to wipe down and clean each part before paint with cleaner-thinner. Let it dry off all the way then rub it off with a clean paper towl. Watch out for lint & dust. If you use a thinner for laquer and are shooting an enamel, you may have a problem. Anything else, let me know.
     
  4. Fazer1Sniper

    Fazer1Sniper New Member

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    Pick your base color. Sounds like a white may be your start point. The other colors will cover damn nice in it. I TOLD YOU BEFORE, Get good masking tape, The 3M blue stuff is great. Even then W a rattle can it can bleed over a bit. Vynal pinstripe to outline the graphic looks good when it's done. you can do that defore clear coat.
     
  5. Cundalini

    Cundalini New Member

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    Ok guys. He sent 4 really good ideas, and I dont want them to go to waste so I am posting them here. We are going with one, so it isnt a topic open for discussion.
    I am only saying it that way because me and mud hmmed and hawwed for too many hours of it already.LOL.
    They are all kickass tho - Thanks vfrhusband.
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     
  6. Cundalini

    Cundalini New Member

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    Really really good sketches vfrhusband. I Liked all of the ideas. Really, really, really liked 2 and 3. We are going with #3.
    Small delay in our day has set us back a bit, already 4 pm and just now heading out to get sandpaper and paint.
    Will have beginning of project pics posted by this evening, if everything goes right.

    so here is number three guys, and what we are going for.
    [​IMG]
     
  7. Cundalini

    Cundalini New Member

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    Haha I just realized tht the first sketch wasn't just a rndom cool idea. I recognize Harley Quinn anywhere ;)

    Ok off to the store.
     
  8. crustyrider

    crustyrider New Member

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    does her ass stick that hi in the air? just remember when painting. steady consistent paint strokes move your whole arm and not just your wrist....
     
  9. TOE CUTTER

    TOE CUTTER Mullet Man

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    Thats why I use a roller, idiot proof.
     
  10. Fazer1Sniper

    Fazer1Sniper New Member

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    Crusty, Just did the scetch free hand and the tail did kind of ride up on me. Must be my fondness of the euro trash street fighters in my head. I had a few more ideas in my head but those are the first 4 that I schetched out. If it was my ride, I would shoot matte black & silver.
    Cundalini: Base coat the white First! Dont even screw around with laying out the blue till the white cures up. When you get to that point, USE GOOD MASKING TAPE. Light coats & make sure ALL the base coat your arnt striping is covered up by paper. If you get any bleed, Auto Zone and Pep Boys have that vynal pin stripe stuff. Works great and the blue they have might look great on that bike. Before that, when you figure out the graphics on one side of the tank or tail, Cut out a paper stencil to match the other side before you paint the oppisite side. You getting the white layed on the body pannels is just the begining But important to do well.
     
  11. Fazer1Sniper

    Fazer1Sniper New Member

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    After all prep and you shooot the base coat it should look like this only white...
    [​IMG]
     
  12. Cundalini

    Cundalini New Member

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    Ok so first stages went slow but well. Ran into a snag at the end, and that will be continued tonight.
    This isn't my bike ( althoagh I do ride it sometimes ) so I thought it would be fun to have mudguts involved as much as possible. Here is a few pics. She succesfully removed the battery ( we are replacing that as well, old one is kaput ), side panels, rear grab and gas tank, I only had to help out a little bit. The snag was, the front wheel has to be removed to get the fender off. We will pick up where we left off tonight.

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Feb 8, 2010
  13. Fazer1Sniper

    Fazer1Sniper New Member

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    The front fender can be a bit of a chore but I'm sure you 2 can get it knocked out.
     
  14. Cruise

    Cruise New Member

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    send pics of the ugly bike before paint
     
  15. crustyrider

    crustyrider New Member

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    did she snap the rubber gloves and say "bend over. you'll feel a slight pressure...."

    looks like you guys had a good bonding time..
     
  16. Scubalong

    Scubalong Official Greeter?

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    Well..............................I am waiting.............
     
  17. TOE CUTTER

    TOE CUTTER Mullet Man

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    Yeah me to........WTF?
     
  18. elwray

    elwray New Member

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    Maybe they painted it invisible ........
     
  19. vfourbear

    vfourbear New Member

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    Apparently the whole surgical glove thing took on a life of it's own and we may not hear from them for a while.
     
  20. GreyVF750F

    GreyVF750F Member

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    May be they are still bonding!?
     
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