How To Paint A Custom Motorcycle?

The craze of custom motorcycle among the young generation is very high. It gives the bike a unique and exclusive look. You can paint it yourself or need to find a  custom bike painter to paint it. It will lead to a lot of fun doing the job and you can add some personal touches to it.

If you want to paint your custom motorcycle on your own, you just need to do it correctly. But, it needs a lot of money to give your bike an excellent and unique look. Moreover, the painting process is quite different compare to normal painting.

But, not to worry about it. Here, I will give you a clear guideline on how to paint a custom motorcycle on your own. In the writing, you will know about motorcycle painting process, the tools it requires, and how to protect it from damage.

A Detailed Guideline On How To Paint A Custom Motorcycle

First, you have to make a detailed plan about the full process of painting. You will also need some automobile tools. Everything is given below with a clear description:

Tools Required

• Scotch Brite
• latex gloves and safety goggles
• Safety glasses and drill
• Sandpaper and sanding blocks
• Wire wheels
• Nitrate and putty slick should
• Dust mask and air blower

1.Creating a Paint Booth:

Before starting the painting, you have to build your paint booth first. It will make your painting process easily. Moreover, you have to set the right filters, fans additional lighting, etc.

Choose A large Area: 

At first, you have to choose a large area for painting. Public area should not be chosen for any type of paint work. A storeroom or garage would be the right place for a paint booth. You have to protect the walls with plastic sheets otherwise the paint will destroy the wall.

Set up a variable speed, oscillating fan, and additional lighting:

Then, you should set up a fan. The fan should be an oscillating fan which has variable speed. You need to set the fan in the place where there is enough air to exhale the smoke from the house or place of the painting motorcycle.

2. Preparing Your Motorcycle

i). Remove and set aside the parts of the bike you plan to paint:

You have to remove different parts of the bike to make it easier to paint. But, first you need to decide on where should you start the painting. It can be started from the tank. It is very easy to remove the tank of the bike and then you can paint it. After that, you need to remove all the parts you want to paint.

ii) Sand down the surface you wish to paint.

It is a very important step and it takes some time. You have to sand down the surface properly. The old paint must be removed completely. If you finish the task properly, then you can paint the bike perfectly and paint will last long. Then you have to remove all residual dust and particles from the surface.

iii) Smooth a layer of body filler over the newly sanded surface

This process ensures the smoothness of the body parts. You have to mix the filler very well before applying on the body. And, you need to apply it in layer by layer. The layer should be 1/8 inch thick. Generally, it will be dried too fast, so you have to repeat the process of filling quickly. You can divide the process into some small batches to make it simple.

iv) Re-sand the surface when body filler has dried completely.

You have to ensure that the filler has dried properly. You should wait about one hour for the filler to dry completely. After drying, if the surface is not perfectly smooth, you can apply another layer of filler again. When you find the surface properly smooth, you should start re-sanding. Then, it is ready for the next step.

3. Painting Your Motorcycle

i) Apply two coats of epoxy primer:

Two coats of epoxy primer should be applied to the parts. The primer will protect the metal from rusting and moisture down. The primer and hardener should be mixed up properly. Take a stray gun and take the solution into it. Then you have to apply one coat and then wait for drying. Finally, repeat the process.

ii) Lightly sand down the primed surface

After drying the second coat completely, you have to sand down the primed surface lightly. Most of the epoxy primers make the surface a powdery texture. It makes it more powdery, when you do multiple coatings. You should use dry sandpaper. Then you have to strip the primer with thinner. Lastly, you need to wipe down the sanded surface for better result.

iii) Mix the paint with the thinner

You need to mix paint with the thinner. You can use chrome spray paint for that. Firstly, you must follow the ratio which is recommended by the packaging of your chrome spray paint. You must mix the products properly, otherwise you will never get perfect paint. If you mix the paint with the thinner as the right ratio, you will get a smooth coat on the motorcycle.

 iv) Use the spray gun to apply three to four layers of your chosen paint to the motorcycle:

Before applying the spray gun, you have to clean it properly. You must apply at least three-layer layers of coat on the surface. You have to spray on the surface properly at the same pace. You should dry the layer completely after finishing the first layer. So, you have to wait for some time and let it be completely dried. Now, start to paint the second layer and keep drying it like previously. Then you have to sand the surface again with sandpaper. After starting the final coat of paint, the surface must be wiped down. You have to clean the spray gun again after finishing the final coat of paint too.

v) Apply two coats of clear coat lacquer to finish and protect your paint job from the elements

You can start a second coat, if you are not satisfied with the product. The packaging instruction must be followed for the second coat. Before you start the second coat, you will get an idea of how long the surface should cure. Now, start the second coat at the first one. After finishing, let the surface wiped down. Finally, you will get a unique look at the motorcycle

Conclusion

Painting the motorcycle is great fun and joy. You can paint the bike as a professional, if you follow the criteria properly. Here, you have got enough idea of bike painting and know about how to paint all the area perfectly. I hope that you will try it on your bike and get a new look at your motorcycle.