Curious on BASICS of Painting My Plastics

[Hempfieldhunter]

So, just got an air compressor and I'm intersted in painting my plastics. I have a WHITE 03 firebolt.

The plastics are in good shape, just ugly white.

I have done a bunch of research but nothing on painting with an HVLP gun. I know I need a DECENT gun.

So, something like sand with 220? Can I use a pnumatic or random orbit sander?

Then Prime with just rattle can primer x2 or x3 lightly.

Then Where do I buy the paint I need to use? And do I "wet sand" in between coats?

Put on a few coats... Then what? How do you scheive a PROFESSIONAL look?

Just want the basics or a place to find the info. Thanks in advance!

 

[cyukon]

http://www.buellxb.com/Buell-XB-Forum/Do-It-Yourself-Buell-Mods/How-To-Paint-your-Buell-at-home

http://www.buellxb.com/Buell-XB-For...50-Helpful-Links-for-Buellers....and-Growing.

 

[klan52]

sand my hand, or with a DA sander for larger areas, and really only have to hit it with 600grit wet if everything is already pretty smooth, only have to go lower grit if there are chips, pits or other imperfections you are trying to blend.

I wouldn't prime with rattle can if you are going to spray automotive lacquer paints over it, go to any automotive shop that mixes paint get your primer and paint there, try to stay with the same brand to prevent any unexpected reactions in the paint, and since you are doing plastic its good insurance to have them add a Flex additive to the paints, same with the clear coat.

but generally i prime, 2-3 coats wet coats then let dry and wet sand with 600, then color coat 2-3 wet coats let dry and wet sand with 600, then clear 4-5 wet coats let CURE (24 hours without baking) and wet sand really lightly with 600, then switch to 1500 down to 2500. be extra carefull sanding on any hard edge or bend in the surface, no matter what the paint is going to be thinner there and easy to cut right through when sanding.

after the clear coat sanding (make sure to use alot of water and keep it wet or you will make really light scratches and make the work look dull or hazy) buff the whole thing out with 3m rubbing compound or meguiars mirror glaze by hand or with a DA buffer. and thats it.

thats about it, just practice with your gun on a scrap peice of metal or plastic, (something smooth and non porous) until you are comfortable using it and see what its going to do, then get after it, if you screw it up you can always sand and repaint.

 

[jeepin79]

You should trade me those white plastics for the blue ones on my 03 XB.

 

[Hempfieldhunter]

Jeepin, got any pix? [email protected], not the color I was thinking but if ya have a pic on hand shoot it over to me.

Klan Thank you! Where would be a place to buy that paint? And maybe to buy a decent but not super expensive HVLP gun?

 

[klan52]

my local napa store mixes paint, but you'd really have to call around to shops in your area and find one, you can always order paint online, but I never like doing that, cant return and no direct service to talk to someone. as far as a hvlp gun, I started out with one from lowes that I got for like $80, worked pretty good, not the best but if you take care of it and clean it properly it will do what you need, I actually still use a smaller hvlp that i got from lowes for bout $40 for touch ups and shooting clear on helmets. start out with a decent gun, nothing Chinese or that generally looks lowend, but don't go buy a $300 gun before you know what you're getting yourself into, you're going to learn to hate sanding and fixing screw ups, and cleaning you're guns the first few times is a hazzle. but you get used to it and it all becomes easier.

I've recently moved into airbrushing, which is a whole other beast, but definitely makes doing graphics and other detail work alot easier.

anything I can help you with i'll be happy to try.

here's some pics of some recent work I did last week

and yes, thats a riding tractor hood and fenders I did for a guy, odd request but still a intersting project.

 

[klan52]

one thing i forgot to mention before i get off here for the night, after you wet sand wash the part with dishsoap and water (dawn works the best because it removes oils and residue), then wipe down with windex, the ammonia helps to prevent "fisheyes" and "scaling", and wear rubber or latex gloves to keep the oils in your hands off the part. a finger print can ruin a beautiful paintjob.

 

[jeepin79]

Jeepin, got any pix? [email protected], not the color I was thinking but if ya have a pic on hand shoot it over to me.

Check under my profile on here, there are a couple picts of it there. I have always liked the white XB's. If you want more I can email them to you later when I get home from work.

 

[Hempfieldhunter]

Klan those are AWESOME! Is one of those a lawn mower hood?!?!? lol

Can you suggest a gun to get or where to go ask to look at some? Pep Boys? Or have a specific gun to look at online?

 

[Hempfieldhunter]

Klan Did a little shopping around.

Cheap, but includes 2 guns, some good reviews-
http://www.harborfreight.com/professional-automotive-hvlp-spray-gun-kit-94572.html


No as cheap, but says good for base coats and top coats, nothing about a spraying a primer? Can I use a primer in this?
http://www.amazon.com/Sharpe-SHA289222-FX1000-Mini-HVLP-Spray/dp/B0019COWN4

 

[klan52]

honestly I'd give the harbor freight set a shot, looks like a decent set up, and the reviews don't seem bad, other than the plastic cups threads wearing out, but seems the cups are cheap to replace. the amazon gun looks like its a detail/touch up gun, and would be fine for small projects but for doing an entire bike, or getting into cars or other larger things I wouldn't use it, too much stopping to fill paint back up. but for the money I would defenetly try the harbor freight set, especially sine you are just starting into it, hell I might order a set for myself for my friend I am teaching.

but as far as a gun that you can use with primer, color coat and clear, any gun that will shoot your base coat, or color coat can shoot primer too, when they say they are rated good for base/color coat they mostly mean that they have a good smooth spray and tend to lay flat coats, if used properly, just make sure you have the air pressure set to manufacturer specs and your air compressor can keep up, I can easily out run my 30 gallon compressor with my touch up gun, but have used my touchup gun on my 4gallon compressor aswell, just have to put up with it kicking on and waiting a few for the pressure to build back up.

and yes, that is a lawn mower hood and fenders lol, i thought it was an odd request at the time too.