I've been browsing  through the archived posts for the past few days, looking up anything and everything I could on modding. The information I gathered is great, but I'm left a little uncertain about one thing in particular.

Do-it-yourself painting.

Is it really a good idea? I've seen two possible outcomes. The good and the ugly. The good came from GSResources....the ugly actually came from here (won't mention names). My biggest fear is investing all of the time, effort, and money into turning my bike from the '01 navy blue to a nice, glossy black (with a few flat black elements, possibly), and ending up with something that really looks spray-painted...cloudy, uneven, and just plain unpleasant to see.

I guess the main question I have is: Is a high-gloss, professional looking result a real possibility for a do-it-yourselfer? The GSResources site shows it as being possible with hard, detail-focused work. Anyone here have a good experience with it? Got any pics to reassure me?

here is a comprehensive guide to spraying

http://www.gs500e.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?s=607468b7afde15726568041a2758281e&threadid=1440

here is an image of the authors freshly polished tank



and my first attempt at a respray using this method , my paint is waiting to be cut and then polished to get that deep gloss finish , all this from good old fashioned rattle cans





Lev

Lev.....



Well I'll be damned...I think you just put my fears to bed. Thanks for the pics....and the link.

Beautiful paint job, btw.

Anytime and thanks   , just remember the 2 golden rules , preparation and patience , dont rush it , my tank took 3 days spraying ,sanding and drying with a further week before cutting ( not at this bit just yet ) and an eventual polish , might be worth grabbing an old panel or even small sheet of metal to practice the stages to polished finish , before starting on your pride and joy  



Lev

I think the scrap-metal suggestion is one I'll be taking advantage of. I may even give it a shot on my computer case What kind of paint did you use?

I'm gonna give an attempt this week of rattle can paint. It should be relatively easy, though. I'm trying to do a flat black scheme, a-la Ducati Monster Dark.

Anyone have any suggestions or tips?
I'm just going to do the sanding (rougher to finer grit), Primer (One day to dry), sand again, satin flat black (2 layers?) and then a clear coat.

Ah, I'm a bit confused about the "cutting paste." Is that simply a car wax paste, like Turtle Wax?

Also, How'd the plastic part turn out?

Quote from: shundaroniAh, I'm a bit confused about the "cutting paste." Is that simply a car wax paste, like Turtle Wax?

Cutting paste is a waxy type material but it actually contains a very fine grit , i am not sure if this goes by a different term stateside , if you ask for the paste and refer to it as the material used for cutting back new laquer prior to polishing im sure a motor factors will understand , alternatively ask at an Auto resprayers they will be able to tell you

QuoteWhat kind of paint did you use?

Just standard cellulose rattle cans , i got them from Halfords ( a UK Auto factors ) dosent Walmarts do paint ?..been a while since i was in the states so i forget  

QuoteAlso, How'd the plastic part turn out?

Just the same







Lev

DAMN thats a sexy bike!!

Damn! That's probably THE nicest looking GS I've seen on this site. Great Job!    

That's TIGHT!!!   I love the dual lights and cans...  Was it hard to get your carbs to run right with two pipes?  Looks killer      :guns:

very very clean bike....great job Lev

Damn Leveller... You are one smooth dude... that bike is super sweet, and looks like it came from the factory... yea the factory of our dreams... where GS'es have RGV front forks and aluminum dirbike bars... honestly take off that silly chest pillow bar that's going across... unless you guys use it over in europe to hang stuff... OK that's for the compliments...
Here is my skeptical side talking...
The rattle can paint that is available in europe is different from US paint I am sure... why... I have never had paint available in US harden up at all... and its not just me... My welder rattle canned the handlebars and 2 weeks later still sticky, the paint I got on the bling bling bike... sticky after 2+ years after painting and worse... all the paint seems to run when gas is spilled on it. the only paint I have been OK with... are appliance epoxy and those dont finish as well and run easy... and have a ton of conditions when you can re spray and what you can do with it. But about a month after I did it... it looked great and was tough enough to stand up to daily use. Muffler high heat paint hardens up well too but it looks and feels flat and dull... eveything looks like a muffler... I would really go the compressor route... professionally or not. Rattle cans just aren't good in US. Further... The paint you have to paint plastic with is different from paint you paint metal with... Plastic paint has to be flexible enough to bend with the plastic... when you pull the tabs off or something the plastic bows a little and that should not allow paint to crack off. The paint for metal can be laquer or enamel... but plastic needs urethane... and I dont know of any cans urethanes come in. I am just trying to learn and paint stuff... and buying a sprayer and compressor is the only home made way. urethanes are caustic and will eat your lungs with high exposure... so you'll need a booth and respiratory equipment. Which is one reason I have not gotten into it yet...
Cool.
Srinath.

Just a quick reply to thank everybody for the positive comments , ive spent the best part of two weeks toiling over the GS , its getting to the final stages and im over the moon with the way the bike is looking , its really reassuring to get positive feedback, somehow it makes it all worth the hard work , there a few more mods to do ( and a bloody good clean )just to finish up along with some gold graphics and then im all set for Summer  

ill try to post a few images when the bike is complete , with a little bit of a breakdown explaining the mods themselves

Thanks again people



Lev

Wow- That is a fantastic looking bike! Love it.

Laura