I had one of those moments of impulse....

[Guest]

And I swung by lowes on my way home and got sand paper and automotive spray paint. I got home at ten, pulled my sidecovers off, and started sanding. They're painted and currently drying for the night. Here goes nothing!

[twotimeGSr]

Photos please...

[Steve]

.

[DevanJones]

It didn't turn out great but we'll call it a test. I know it can be done well with a lot more sanding and prep.

[MisterCinders]

Did you prime the covers?

If so, did you clear coat them yet?

If yes to primer and no to clear coat, you should wetsand out those scratch marks with 400 - 800 grit paper and see what another coat looks like.

If you didn't prime or did clear coat, you'll need to sand that down to start over. Side panels aren't too bad to sand/strip. Just fill a 5-gallon bucket with water and go to town.

[DevanJones]

I didn't prime or clear coat. Today I'm gonna get some primer and start over on the side covers. When I pulled off my side covers it looked there was red overspray on the inside of them and in a couple places on the side cover I sanded too far and it was red. Did suzuki use red plastic and then paint it?

[DevanJones]

Also, should I sand down to the red?

[MisterCinders]

AFAIK, the base material for the side covers is black ABS. Check the backs of the panels, since those usually aren't painted.

While it's probably best to sand down to bare plastic, you can probably get away with just sanding through to the primer. If there are some spots with primer or even old color showing, you can level those out with prep work and prime/paint over them. Definitely need to remove any clear coat.

Truth be told, all that sanding can be wearisome. So once I am through all the clear coat and most if not all the paint and primer, it's hard not to just call it a day.

[Flyboy]

No, as I recall, the color on the side covers was black.
Its all in the prep work, 90% prep 10% painting ability, when I think the part is ready for paint, I run my finger tip softly over the surface.
I have a rule, if you can feel it, you will see it.

Here is one of the side covers being sanded showing the black below the primer.

[DevanJones]

Thanks guys. During resanding tonight I'll see about the red.

[gripweed]

I've often thought about doing this, but I'm too scared it'll come out looking like Tammy Faye on a bad, or is it a good, day.

Plus I'd have to take the gas tank off to do it right, right? That's over my head.

[tkent02]

I've often thought about doing this, but I'm too scared it'll come out looking like Tammy Faye on a bad, or is it a good, day.

Plus I'd have to take the gas tank off to do it right, right? That's over my head.

CAn we have Tina Fey instead?

[EvilEnfield]

CAn we have Tina Fey instead?

I completely agree.

[DevanJones]

So my side covers were re-sanded well and then primed and left in a good environment to dry and in an hour I'll add another layer of primer. This time I plan to do it right.

[DevanJones]

No, as I recall, the color on the side covers was black.
Its all in the prep work, 90% prep 10% painting ability, when I think the part is ready for paint, I run my finger tip softly over the surface.
I have a rule, if you can feel it, you will see it.

Here is one of the side covers being sanded showing the black below the primer.

So when you sanded what did you use and how did you use it? If you wet sanded, could you explain how to do that? My primer isn't turning out well.