Paint Prep

[BarePaw]

If I rattle-can paint my bike the same color that it was before (faded factory paint on now with minimal scratches), do I need to sand the old paint off completely? Do I need a primer coat? Can I get away with just sanding the scratches smooth, removing the decals, and painting the new color over the old? I still plan on wet-sanding and giving it a clear coat. I just wonder If I can take these shortcuts with the prepwork.

[nastynate6695]

if you are going to go through the steps to prep it by wet sanding, taking out the scratches, and taking off the decals then i wouldnt rattle can it and then clear coat.  For the money you are going to spend in spray paint you might as well go out and buy the good stuff and spray it yourself or have a buddy spray it.  Clear coating  a rattle can job rarely comes out looking decent.  When painting dont take shortcuts  it will show up in your work later. especially if you are going to use black.. Black shows off everrrrryyyyy..... imperfection. 

[RobTheTyrant]

I've rattle cleared plenty of things and if you wet sand, buff and polish it looks just fine    You shouldn't need to get ALL the old base coat off, as long as you get a good surface for the new paint to adhere to you should be OK.  Just make sure you have a clean area to paint in, little itsy-bitsy devris floating in the air that you can barely see shows up like MAD once there's clear coat over it.

[Chuck]

I've rattle cleared plenty of things and if you wet sand, buff and polish it looks just fine    You shouldn't need to get ALL the old base coat off, as long as you get a good surface for the new paint to adhere to you should be OK.  Just make sure you have a clean area to paint in, little itsy-bitsy devris floating in the air that you can barely see shows up like MAD once there's clear coat over it.

Ditto, ditto, and ditto.  Rattle can jobs can look great.  To keep costs down, I use cheap walmart primer and clearcoat.  ($1 per can), and nice $5/can color.  My fairing work is almost 2 years old now, and shows no sign of peeling or whatnot.  It cost me $40.

Your spraying can be sloppy, as long as you do many thin coats.  (Nothing thick or drippy EVER)  Your sanding has to be PERFECT before laying anything on top of it.  Sand your primer up to 300 or 450 grit.  Sand the color coat out to 1000 or 1500.  Sand the clear coat all the way out to 2000 grit  (All sanding by hand!  I know, you'll be sore) and finish with a rubbing compound, then some turtle wax, and you'll think a professional did it.