Paint job prep advice?

[jjr_vw]

So I found a place (1 Day Paint) that will transform my 2001 Midnight
Blue into a 2001 Kawi Green bike... and they only ask $200 hundred for
two color coats and a clear one....

I didn't want to offend the guy's sensitivity or make him revise the price,
but I get the idea that the prep job won't be thorough... so being that
the case, how can I prep the bike myself as best I can, so that their
crappy prep job does not affect the final result?

The bike's paint is in excellent condition (lives garaged in dry AZ weather).
I figure I need to sand the tank, tail and front fender with a fine grit paper.
But I don't know what grit to use, and if I should use my nifty little $30 orbital sander... of if this is an elbow grease job...

Of course, I'm disassembling everything and taking it to them l in
the car...  

Thanks in advance

[natedawg120]

To rough the surface up I would use a 300 grit sandpaper.  I would also find out exaclty what the shop was going to do for that price,  it sounds awfully low for prep and paint.  If it is just paint rought the surface up with the 300 grit and then prim the surface with a good rattle-can primer and smooth it with a 320-350 grit sandpaper.  If you do have to do or want to do all the prep work, sand it thoroughly but lightly with the sander, no need to take it to metal if the paint is still in good shape and prime it.  Then do the same after 3 or so light coats of primer.  Never done a bike but I have done three cars that way and they all came out great.

[raylarrabee]

if you're going to use rattle cans for the primer, I highly recommend Duplicolor brand paint.  They sell it at AutoZone and the like.  The nozles are good quality for a cheap can and the paint goes on nicely.

good luck!

[NiceGuysFinishLast]

$200 hundred

$20,000 seems a little steep for a paint job? I'd just buy a new GS      Hah.. I have nothing of value to add to this post, sorry.. good luck with the paint job though, we want before and after pics...

[raylarrabee]

$200 hundred

I have nothing of value to add to this post, sorry.. good luck with the paint job though, we want before and after pics...

Not true...snide comments have intrinsic value.

[natedawg120]

$200 hundred

I have nothing of value to add to this post, sorry.. good luck with the paint job though, we want before and after pics...

Not true...snide comments have intrinsic value.

:lol:  :lol:  :lol: Duplicolor is a good primer though, used it 2 out of the three times.

[average]

to my knowledge, it probably wouldnt be a good idea to use a sander on the plastic. Just grab a can of aircraft stripper(for plastic) and go to work.

[jjr_vw]

Thanks for the tip about the Aircraft stripper, will certainly use that on the
plastics...  I guess the stripper will leave the black plastic bare...  good.

I will stop by the paint shop again and ask how much prep work will be done
on the tank.  But is a primer layer necessary if the previous paint is not
entirely removed?

[pantablo]

isnt the stock bodywork integrally colored, not painted? when I did my screen I sanded it with 600grit paper dry then wet.

if they prep before they paint it wont matter what you do beforehand. they're crappy prepwork will prevent the color coats from being good.

[NightRyder]

I usually ask them if I can prep too, but that is to bring the price down.

[raylarrabee]

BEWARE the aircraft stripper.  The kind meant for stripping metal will MELT/EAT your plastics.  I'm talking instantly here.  The stripper will turn the plastic into mush.

The aircraft stripper (for metal) worked wonders on the tank, though.  Spray it on, wait 10 minutes, and wipe the paint off with a rag--all done in 20 minutes.  It's quite caustic, though, so be careful.  Wear long sleeves, gloves, eye protection and at least a dust mask.  Be careful not to spray into the wind (I got some blown back on my bare forearms and got a nasty chemical burn.

[Slowe30]

take all the parts to be painted off your bike so they don't have to, or so they're not tempted to shoot it with it still on your bike.  remove any stickers.  

i would not strip down to bare metal/plastic if your paint is good... original suzuki paint will hold up better under your repaint than spraycan primer.

before you ever sand a painted car/bike, you need to strip the wax, adhesives from the stickers, and grease off the finish so it doesnt get pushed into the pores/scratches in the finish and ruin your final coat.  use dishwasher (liquid) soap or a degreaser/adhesive remover.

if you have any scratches/chips, sand with 320 grit dry on a flexible (foam) pad to smooth it out, then re-prime the spot if you have to.  then do 600-800 grit wet (on a flexible pad) until all the surfaces are uniformly "flat"  (no glossy parts).  they should be able to shoot directly over your old paint.

oh yeah, and remove anything you can so they don't have to tape it off and screw up (gas cap, petcock, brake lights, key hole, whatever)

lemme know if you have any ?'s.

[KYGS500E]

Use this link... its very useful


http://www.gs500e.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?s=6fb47cfa8cf9efffe2612872a96932f2&threadid=1440//