Topic: spray paint brands (restoring on the cheap)

[gregwaits]

I know this has been touched on in earlier threads, but what are the best brands/types of commercially available can spray paints for use in painting tanks and side covers. It's all about budget around here.   

[xtalon]

A couple months ago, someone had really good results with a two part spray paint that's mixed while spraying.  If memory serves, I think it was Staphcar (member name, not paint name), but don't hold me to it.  I don't remember the brand.

--xTalon

[cafehonda]

Krylon acrylic lacquer is my choice if you like plain colors. Rustoleum comes out in big droplets that don't flow out well. Whatever you do, don't spray enamel over lacquer unless wrinkle paint is what you are looking for. Whatever you spray, let it cure well before masking and shoot thin coats of clear in between colors. It helps when wet sanding before polishing. Good luck.

[el kabong]

the krylon spray paint is very nice...very easy to apply and looks very good.

i've been looking for a two-part spray can of paint myself in the last few days (a gloss black and a semigloss black), but no luck so far.

www.colorrite.com has a nice two-part spray can of clearcoat, but not the paint.

spraymax is another (german) company that offers two-part spray cans, but i haven't found much info on their product line or north american distributors.

[Gordon]

www.towerpaint.com sells automotive paints in spray cans with better nozzles than what comes on most spray cans.  I've never done a total re-finish job with their stuff, but I did a touch-up paint on the roof of a Honda Accord with good results.

[xtalon]

Spraymax was the brand name of the 2 part paint that was used in the thread that I mention above.  El Kabong's post reminded me of the name.  Thanks!

I emailed them once regarding distributors and they asked where I lived, so I gave them the info, but never heard back.  Oh well, I moved on to other options.

--xTalon

[el kabong]

i've been happy with this krylon paint.  as soon as the weather warms up, i'll be spraying this colorrite 2-part clearcoat kit (6 oz clear/2 oz catalyst):

http://img404.imageshack.us/my.php?image=paintar8.jpg

the clearcoat is available in gloss or eggshell.  personally i prefer the eggshell with the weathered aluminum engine.  (i'm too lazy to buff up the engine to match a gloss clearcoat    )

[74cb750]

so el kabong, do you have any pictures of the results?

[lrutt]

You can get a gallon of Acrylic enamel, reducer, and hardner off the net for $70. And I can guarantee the quality of finish with that will be way better than rattle can. If you have a compressor it would be worth it to you. I've done both and for body type items I'll never rattle can them again. As a matter of fact I think I'll likely not use rattle can on frames any more either. This new place I found on the net is so cheap and their product is excellent. And a gallon will likely do 3 or 4 bikes, frames and all.

[el kabong]

so el kabong, do you have any pictures of the results?

there's some pics here:

http://groups.msn.com/mykwakas/paintphotos.msnw

the kz1000 has a DIY paint job using the krylon paints, semi-gloss black with a gloss stripe.  i like the look, but the semigloss chips easily w/o a clearcoat.   as soon as the weather warms up, i'll add the colorrite clearcoats.

the kz550 is gloss black that was just professionally done.  the gloss black seems out of place with the dull engine.  i've asked around about easy ways to dull the gloss finish, but i don't think it's doable.  seems the only way is to scuff the surface and spray an eggshell clearcoat on it.  most people suggest  buffing up the engine to match the paint, rather than the other way around.

BTW, spraymax rattlecans are available at amazon.com, but it seems to be just primers and clearcoats....no paints.

[xtalon]

El Kabong,

Both bikes look great.  I really like that two-tone black on the 1000 tank!

--xTalon

[bill440cars]

El Kabong,

Both bikes look great.  I really like that two-tone black on the 1000 tank!

--xTalon

       Ditto on that! Both jobs are great looking and a credit to your talent!

                                                 Later on, Bill

[Peterbylt]

Just as an experiment I tried using a Minwax Spar Exterior polyurethane clear coat out of a spray can that I had purchased at Home Depot on my gas tank and side covers.
 
I know it is supposed to be used as a finish on wood but I tried it anyway.
 
I applied it over a base coat of blue metal flake Dupli-color Lacquer that I had applied a couple of months earlier.
Even with buffing and polishing the lacquer was quite dull and never looked very good.

The results were Quite spectacular and the finish came out very glossy and deep looking. As an added bonus its gas proof.
 
Currently the finish is 8 months old and I have had a couple of spots bubble in the clearcoat where I did not clean and prepare the lacquer underneath good enough. Truthfully I did next to nothing to prepare the lacquer except wash it. If I were to do it again I would clean it with mineral spirits to remove the old wax.
 
When I was spraying on the the polyurethane it would not go on evenly, it ran and puddled badly.
Frustrated I went up to the Home Depot to get some solvent to remove it. When I came back much to my surprize it had smoothed and leveled itself out and hardened nicely.

With the appropriate preparation I think this could work out very nicely.

Before Clear Coat


After Clear Coat

[el kabong]

El Kabong,

Both bikes look great.  I really like that two-tone black on the 1000 tank!

--xTalon

       Ditto on that! Both jobs are great looking and a credit to your talent!

                                                 Later on, Bill

thx guys.      the idea for the two tone black came from the HD VRSCDX night rod special:

http://tinyurl.com/2n89mk

[gregwaits]

Anyone tried this krylon paint? It seems that it would be durable enough since it is designed for outdoor use (farm equipment, tractors, etc).

[Gordon]

Anyone tried this krylon paint? It seems that it would be durable enough since it is designed for outdoor use (farm equipment, tractors, etc).

I have a feeling the only thing "special" about that paint is that it comes in typical farm equipment manufacturer colors.

[gregwaits]

But since safety yellow is one of the colors I have been considering it isn't an issue. I may experiment on my extra tank to see how it works,

[Vatch]

I actaully sprayed an old helmet with John Deere yellow a few years back.  It was, well, yellow.  Can't say I noticed the paint was any different than any other rustoleom product.  Although I tossed the helmet before it rusted, so it seemed to do its job.