Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums Custom Corner Paint

Call me insane but my new America is gonna get a satin black paint job pretty soon. Probably done at home. Maybe with rattle cans. Fact is I'm not a big fan of the green and silver finish but it was a month or more wait for a black one.

So I figure worst case is I'm up for a new proffesional paint job anyway so why not have a go at it myself first. Also cause it's really only the two guards and the tank that need painting so it's won't be a big job. My mates have been painting their own bikes for years with pretty good results so we have some knowledge to draw on.

The big question is prepping the surface. With the bike being new the existing surface is smooth as a button. I just want to take the top off the gloss to ensure good adhesion.

Suggestions ? (Besides "don't do it", "you're an idiot" etc ).

wet sand using 600 grit paper and a sponge between the paper and your hand. this will make sure there are no finger marks and it will be smooth as silk. the 600 is not to gritty where it will leave deep scratches but will be enough for the paint to stick. could prob even use 800 if your nervous. make sure there are NO shiny spots. oh and a soap and water mix is good because you can clean and sand the surface at the same time. make sure u get a nice surface cleaner (preps all) before you paint. and of course tack cloths. that should be enough to get you started.

Frank

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Call me insane but my new America is gonna get a satin black paint job pretty soon. Probably done at home. Maybe with rattle cans

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Not calling you insane. I am a big advocate of 'Do your own thing' But if you are going to do it at home, probably with rattle cans does it really matter what the surface is?
Just tape and spray. It should give you that authentic rat rod/ rat bike look. Just my .02 cents

If you really want a nice satin black finish without paying a lot of money. Have the tank and rear fender powdercoated flat black then paint the front plastic fender yourself. It would be a very nice look.

Fryguy

oh i missed the rattle cans part. no matter what you do at best with cans it will look mediokre(spell check) at best. but goodluck with it and take some pictures when your done

Frank

Good luck - I'm planning to do the same thing myself - you saved me having to ask the same questions. I think a rattle can should be OK. Worth a try at least.

I'm planning to try my hand at painting a little cartoon character on the side cover. I figured I could make up a paper template/mask and spray through it. Anyone got any advice on that?

Cheers,

Chris

Hmmm. I wonder if it would be possible to trade your green tin for someone's solid black tin. Then if you still really want satin black, you might be able to lightly sand the clear coat, being VERY careful not to break through to the base coat. I wonder if that would get you the matte black finish you're looking for. Or, you could sand down the black and have it re-clear coated professionally with a satin finish clear for an affordable price.

Dunno. Just kicking out ideas. I'll ask my painter if sanding a clear coat to get a satin finish is a good idea or not. I didn't sand mine down when I had it painted a few years ago, I had it professionally stipped bare. So I have no idea how thick the factory clear is.

Yeah well just made some calls and a pro bike painter here in Brisso can do satin black on the tank and guards for $300. I *might* be able to justify a short term rattle can job if it was $1000 but at $300 I'm thinkin' it would be money well spent.

Thanks for the advice regardless.

T.

Yeah, $300 is a steal, even for one color. I'd go for it.

If you decide to do either let me know... I've got a brand new front fender sitting here that's red, and I wouldn't mind your green one in exchange since my green one's got a few marks I'd rather it didn't have. Figure it won't matter what colour you start with if it's going black.

Matt

WHAT??? Painting a beautiful fast red fender black??? Blasphemy!!!

(Just kidding)

Oh, I've got to agree with Piper. Never, ever do anything to Cardinal Red paint surfaces. That will really mess up your chi.
As far as the green paint, I love it! But it doesn't go with silver. First try to cover the silver with cream/white/pearl white. I think the cream will set of the Green color. Maybe I am wrong, but that is seldom. Wait! I was wrong back in the seventies, I think.

I painted My KZ w/ rattle canns and trust me, if you use the 1000 grit wet sand between coats it will be pimp! then for the final 2 coats use the 2000 grit. at the end use 3m hand rubbing compound. since you arnt going for the shiny look, you wont need to worry about the hand glaze.

!!!!!!!!! WORD OF CAUTION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ANY RATTLE CAN PAINT NO MATTER IF ITS AUTOMOTICE IE: DUPLI COLOR OR PLASTI COAT, WILL BURNA ND STRIP WHEN GAS HITS IT. if your quick you can only get a shadow of where it hits by cleaning it quickly. it is only fuel resistant.

find a POLLY BASED rattle can.

or get a cheep gun and buy the 2 part epoxy kit.

for 300, let the pro do it.

first off there are more pigments in red paint then black,so by my math the paint weighs more therefor adding unsprung weight to the bike transversley slowing the top end performance of the bike.. In other words RED=BAD lol..

NBow for painting the bike,,hey man its your ride and if you want it pink with purple poka dots go for it.. First pull the parts off ot be painted,and wash them,and then wash them again,and when your done wash them one more time. Use Dawn dish soap,this is the best to use cause it will strip the wax.I use it befor any paint job I do..Next since your covering it with rattle cans,dont expect a show quality job. I would start with wet sanding using a 600 grit paper as stated above using a sponge block going in straight lines. Followed by 800grit paper. then you guess it wash it again,let it dry then wash it again..once it drys use some kind of fast drying qil,grease,blah blah removed desgined for painting. this will pretty much get you a good surface to lay some color on. once it drys use what ever brand of paint you choose,and color you want,remember light coats do much better then heavy coats.. The first one should barley cover,wet sand with 800 grit,wash dry wash dry wipe,next coat. The sanding between coats ensures the paint that was just laid down has a tooth to hold the new paint. then clear it if you want.. See laying down paint is not hard,its the prep work people dont get.. B uy if you have someone willing to paint it for 300.00 and does good work your are happy with,it is well worth it..


Now for painting the cartoon dude on the side of the tank someone talked of.. Tbhere are many stencles out there.. The good ones are multi layerd ones.. Onblt draw back is you need a air brush to do the work.. Pretty much put the decal on,paint the open spots,let it dry,pull the next section off paint that,and so on.. I have used one to paint a Garfeild on a tank.. More of a PITA then free handing it.But hey I am just the idiot with the air brush..If you want and have the down time.Tell me what you want and how big and colors and so on,I will try a few on a old fender I play with to see if it is something you like.Then we can paint it on your bike..

Thanks for your suggestions re. a stencil for a cartoon character. Can you clue me in where I would look for such a thing?

Thanks!

Chris

I would try eastwood,house of kolor,or any of your local custom paint shops.. A lot of places do the stencil's most claim they dont,but I know better lol.. My buddy owns a sign shop so I have him make me up some if needed..Be carefull having a sign shop do it tho.. If they dont know how to properly layer the thing it will come out way wrong.

Hey Ditch - thanks for the suggestions.

Chris

You know, HD is offering just such a paint on one of the '06 Dyna models. Naturally, they would charge 3X for it, but it may be worth it if it gives you exactly the look you want.