Tank painting

[Poot]

I know of the methods posted on the site, about doing your own paint jobs , with the spray bottles, and getting a pretty good looking result (if you dont botch it)


I want to know if it would be possible using these methods, to paint with more than 1 color in the design....


i.e.... I would like to use orange/black, or orange/green with metallic flake.

The design would not be too intricate, but I'm wondering if its even possible? could I tape the line between the two colours, and do each colour seperately before putting on the clearcoat?

[Anonymous]

You probably could do it that way. I think the easiest way would probably be to paint one color. Then wait for it to dry and then tape out where you want the other one and lay that down, then spray your clear.
To me it seems like the easiest solution, because if you tape it out before you lay down any paint, it will be extremely hard to match up the lines exactly once you go to put the second color down.
I just woke up not long ago, so if any of this isn't clear, then I offer my apologies.
Good luck with the painting!

[debby]

Doing two solid colors probably isn't too hard. Metallic is easier to mess up. You might want to practice on something first.

The real work is in the preparation. All of that old paint has to come off and every little ding has to get filled in or the results won't look good. DAMHIK. I haven't done a tank yet, just some small parts, but they were a lot more work than I expected.

I was thinking about repainting mine but I like having it original. It has some chips and scratches but still looks very nice when it's washed and waxed.

Debby
77 GS550B

[Anonymous]

I think the easiest way would probably be to paint one color. Then wait for it to dry and then tape out where you want the other one and lay that down, then spray your clear.

This is the best way to do it. You don't need to completely cover the tank in one color, but it is often easier than masking portions off. Especially if you will have one color as the base for most of the tank, then add an accent or trim color. It also helps to wet sand (carefully!) the ridge between the colors before spraying the clear, it leaves a super smooth finish that just screams attention to detail and looks awesome.

I have seen the rule that you should paint the light colors first, then the darker colors, because if you mess up and get overspray onto the base color the dark color will show less on the light than the other way around. I have never tried it this way since most of my painting has been a base color with trim, but it makes sense if you have a color scheme that would work this way.

Mark

[Anonymous]

Figure out which color there will be more of on your tank and paint the whole tank in that color. Let it dry. Tape off the part you want to do in the other color. Paint it. Let it dry. Apply your clear. You could tape and paint each section seperately, but it's more work. The tape isn't that hard to line up if you do it that way, just don't be surprised to spend an hour or two taping. When you tape off your first color make sure to use good vinyl tape. Thin and blue usually. The cheap white stuff will bleed paint under it and will wrinkle when making curves (which will bleed big time). The good stuff won't. After you've laid the vinyl tape you can put regular masking tape over that to make it easier to tape your paper on. Good luck.

[Jay B]

Dont get yout tape anywhere but a paint supply house. Most of the stuff from Wally world or even a parts store wont be good enough. Save yourself some time and pay a little estra for it.

[DMPLATT]

Sorry to Hijack the thread, but this brings up a couple things I was wondering. Didn't want to start a new thread.


When painting, I know that you put on numerous coats of clear. Do you still use a Gloss paint? How many coats of the paint?

When putting the Decals on, do you do that before or after the clear coat?

Thanks.

[Anonymous]

When painting, I know that you put on numerous coats of clear. Do you still use a Gloss paint? How many coats of the paint?

When putting the Decals on, do you do that before or after the clear coat?

If the paint is gloss or not will depend on the type of paint you use. It might be. It might not...It's not really that important, though. I would always put 2-3 coats of paint minimum before adding clear.

Decals go on after the color, before the clear. It is wise to test the clear on a scrap bit of decal if you can, as the solvents in some paint will eat some decals. You can get around some of this by applying the decals, then misting on a couple of LIGHT coats of clear (kind of a "dusting" of clear) to protect the decal from the heavier coats. It does not always work perfectly, though.

Mark

[Anonymous]

Ditto to what everyone has said. Get GOOD tape. I used to use masking tape from the hardware store and it caused mucho problems!!

(As always, Mark is right on.) Get good paint, especially if you are going to use metallic, make sure all of your paint will work together without one dissolving the other. Do your main color first, let dry, then mask off for the other color(s).

When you do several graphics like that, the edges of the pattern will be noticable ridges and you will have to carefully wet sand before clearing. Otherwise it will take more clear to bury those ridges.

Ask me how I know ;>(

mike

[80gs1000e]

The gloss and shine comes after the wetsanding and rubbing compounds....and a lot of sweat.

[DMPLATT]

Well, after I've been doing several upgrades, ie... new exhaust and painting engine. I've notice 2 things.

The previous owner, or the one before him, did a wonderful paint job. No clear coat and it looks as if the Decals were from Home Depot and just put on as good as he could get. Ie...the letters are kinda inline.

So, now I know that if I do a rattle can job, with clear coat and decent decals, I'll be about 1,000 times ahead of where I am now.

[Anonymous]

When you do several graphics like that, the edges of the pattern will be noticable ridges and you will have to carefully wet sand before clearing. Otherwise it will take more clear to bury those ridges.

Ask me how I know ;>(

mike

Make sure the base coat can be sanded. Many newer paints have waxes in the base paint (I believe paraffin waxes). These can be sanded, however the final coat CANNOT be sanded before applying your clear coat. Just ask someone at the paint store where you bought your paint.