Painting my 83 gs1100e

[dorkburger]

Yes it would be Sandy. Gotta tell you driving from Arizona back to victoria was a pretty special time with my dad. He has had health issues in the past and you really have to take advantage of these moments.[/QUOTE]

Exactly right. Enjoy your time with your father......
Looking forward to see the finished bike.

[trevor]

Made a little progress today...went out and bought some 8ft 500 plastic to make a little paint booth.
I had an oil leak form my oil cooler so we JB welded that up and I cleaned the front my engine form all the oil and hoping I don't have any other leaks.
Also took all the velcro off the grommet holes that had been there to hold on my side covers and installed my new grommets.

Front fender had been painted by a PO at some point so dad gave it some special attention


Dad really likes this primer...


Yeah new grommets!! And added some silicone spray to them...



I had purchased these side covers from a gsr member over a year ago in anticipation of the paint job.



JB Weld on the cooler



Dad cutting in the inlets on the covers



Ready for black paint...just going to use plastic paint for that.

[trevor]

Going to repaint the exhaust while I'm at it too...







This will be our paint booth...going to drop the plastic from the edge of the shelf and go around it and it should be big enough. Will have a exhaust fan in the window...I will post pics of it when we have it up tomorrow...



Our extra help today...

[GateKeeper]

Hey Trevor....

not sure if it's too late or perhaps not something you want to get into, but here is a DIY paint booth, I am sure you have seen it before, but just in case......

http://www.wikihow.com/Create-a-Paint-Booth-in-Your-Garage

it is something I was going to do in my garage, save me the trouble of having to cover everything up, and it would minimize any dust or what ever getting on the parts while they are drying...

ohhhh and just a quick question for the expert (your DAD), what is the final grade of sandpaper used just before laying the paint....

If you were only closer, I'd bring my parts over from my FZ for a shot of paint.....and a case of beer to ease the painting process......

.

[spyug]

There is an easier and cheaper DIY paint booth. Unfortunately I don't have a picture of mine.

Get some 1X2x.5 strapping (lath) or similar low grade wood, lay out and assemble a 3'X3' or 4'x4' square. Make 4 of them or even just 3. Take a large size trash bag for each, slit them open to make a sheet and staple one to each square to form a panel.

Now take 3 panels and form them in to a C shape. At each corner use a small block of 1X1" and screw into these to join the panels. The forth panel forms a roof but you can also just drape another bag across the panels and attach with spring clamps.

Now using the small table you have there, perch the "booth" on it and use a C clamp to attach to the table. Done.

Easy to assemble and break down for storage and all for under $10.

Good luck with the project. Looking forward to the finished bike

[trevor]

There is an easier and cheaper DIY paint booth. Unfortunately I don't have a picture of mine.

Get some 1X2x.5 strapping (lath) or similar low grade wood, lay out and assemble a 3'X3' or 4'x4' square. Make 4 of them or even just 3. Take a large size trash bag for each, slit them open to make a sheet and staple one to each square to form a panel.

Now take 3 panels and form them in to a C shape. At each corner use a small block of 1X1" and screw into these to join the panels. The forth panel forms a roof but you can also just drape another bag across the panels and attach with spring clamps.

Now using the small table you have there, perch the "booth" on it and use a C clamp to attach to the table. Done.

Easy to assemble and break down for storage and all for under $10.

Good luck with the project. Looking forward to the finished bike

Thanks, sounds like a cool booth and cheap too!

Hey Trevor....

not sure if it's too late or perhaps not something you want to get into, but here is a DIY paint booth, I am sure you have seen it before, but just in case......

http://www.wikihow.com/Create-a-Paint-Booth-in-Your-Garage

it is something I was going to do in my garage, save me the trouble of having to cover everything up, and it would minimize any dust or what ever getting on the parts while they are drying...

ohhhh and just a quick question for the expert (your DAD), what is the final grade of sandpaper used just before laying the paint....

If you were only closer, I'd bring my parts over from my FZ for a shot of paint.....and a case of beer to ease the painting process......

.

Thanks GK, I have looked at that booth before and thought it was pretty awesome. Lol...my dad does like beer...and rum.lol...

I think the structure (shelf) I have in my garage should make the perfect starting point to hang plastic for a booth and having the window right there is a bonus. I will be sure to post pics of the booth. Thanks again guys for all the encouragement. This has been fun so far.

[glib]

If your dad is able to get the clear coat to lay down without leaving orange peel, would you please explain that part in some detail when you get to it? I get varying degrees of finish but never perfectly smooth. Always have to wet sand and polish to get the mirror finish.

[GateKeeper]

sorry have to ask once more...

ohhhh and just a quick question for the expert (your DAD), what is the final grade of sandpaper used on the primer, just before laying the paint....

Edit....Thanks....400 grit....now I know...

[trevor]

If your dad is able to get the clear coat to lay down without leaving orange peel, would you please explain that part in some detail when you get to it? I get varying degrees of finish but never perfectly smooth. Always have to wet sand and polish to get the mirror finish.

To answer GK Dad will be using 400 for the final sanding before putting on the base. He does not sand between coats. As for orange peel he says there can be several reasons...temp, quality of paint (we are using RM) or mixed not properly...and he says a lot of people get nervous putting on clear coat and as a result don't enough on because it's hard to see.

[nvr2old]

The only way to get the finish glass smooth is by a systematic sanding process and a systematic polishing process. If you can lay down the clear coats wet enough that it flows out well, you can attain a nice enough finish for most people, but if you want zero orange peel, it has to be sanded and polished.

[glib]

To answer GK Dad will be using 400 for the final sanding before putting on the base. He does not sand between coats. As for orange peel he says there can be several reasons...temp, quality of paint (we are using RM) or mixed not properly...and he says a lot of people get nervous putting on clear coat and as a result don't enough on because it's hard to see.

I've never had any training--just trial and error and research. I do get nervous with clear because just when I think I have it--there appears a sag. I'm thinking about setting up a rotisserie to hold the tank!

The only way to get the finish glass smooth is by a systematic sanding process and a systematic polishing process. If you can lay down the clear coats wet enough that it flows out well, you can attain a nice enough finish for most people, but if you want zero orange peel, it has to be sanded and polished.

OK that makes me feel a little better but it never seems to get back to that really wet look from before the sanding. Is there a tutorial somewhere for the "systematic process" of getting that level of finish? (Assuming you've sanded down to 2000 grit)

[Fjbj40]

The only way to get the finish glass smooth is by a systematic sanding process and a systematic polishing process. If you can lay down the clear coats wet enough that it flows out well, you can attain a nice enough finish for most people, but if you want zero orange peel, it has to be sanded and polished.

I must get awfully lucky then. I can lay down clear coat with zero orange peel.

I final sand with 600, base coat then clear coat. No sanding in between, it comes out glass smooth. I spray with a high end devilbiss gun in a proper booth. I put on about 4-6 coats of clear.

here is a sample. http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...ghlight=Fjbj40

[posplayr]

This is PPG clear that flowed out very well. However it is still not as smooth as it turns out after 2000 grit sanding polishing.

[glib]

This is PPG clear that flowed out very well. However it is still not as smooth as it turns out after 2000 grit sanding polishing.

That looks great. I would be very happy with that as a pre-sanding polishing result. I've been using PPG's Omni. It's not their best but I wouldn't expect it to be the problem for me. What air pressure do you shoot with?

[posplayr]

That looks great. I would be very happy with that as a pre-sanding polishing result. I've been using PPG's Omni. It's not their best but I wouldn't expect it to be the problem for me. What air pressure do you shoot with?

I shot with this gun. The reason it works so well is that the tip is only 0.7 as I recall so it takes a bit longer to spray but there is less chance of runs. You have to try to make it run. As long as you have the correct activator for your weather the stuff flows out so well .

I'm guessing I used a regulator at the gun to about 35-40 psi with the trigger pulled.

http://www.harborfreight.com/adjustable-detail-spray-gun-92126.html

Before anybody starts to naysay, look at the HF review at 4.1 of 5.0!!! And if this black tank is proof enough, then my other GS750E was also painted the same way without any polishing.



The funny part about this is that when I last sprayed by ED, I had bought a $100 "nice gun" and I sprayed it in the colder winter months with teh case activator as you would use for summer. It laid out beautifully, but when I came back 5 minutes later there were runs everywhere because it just didn't go off fast enough to avoid the runs.

I have 5-6 of the HF guns and keep them clean but keep the older ones for primer, the next for he color layers and the newest and cleanest for the clear. This gun is really pretty fool proof and it does NOT require a lot of volume and a 220V air compressor. The pros might wince , but if you have never painted before or have a small compressor this thing works very well.

The only thing I have had to do is wrap two large rubber bands around the cap to cover the small vent hole. One would be OK but two is insurance in case one breaks.