Topic: Anyone with a little rattle can experience?

[Slayer]

This weekend I plan on starting the paint job on my gas tank. Since I am "not economically viable" I have to do this on the cheap, but I want to do as good of a job as a backyard rattle can can do. I have painted metal before but not to this degree. I would like to paint it grey or dark grey but don't want it to look like a #$%*ty primer job.

I have gone in auto parts stores and paint shops and I can't seem to get a strait answer out of anyone. It always ends in "You are going to need a spray gun." If this is so, stop me right here, but there is always more than one way to do it and I have seen pretty decent rattle can paint jobs. I do not mind sanding for hours if it pays off.

I have read plenty of posts that recommend against Duplicolor, since gas eats it. There has got to be a spray can out there that is gas proof that is sold at a auto store that comes out of a can. If you know what this is please give me the brand and type. I would like to stick with the same brand for the primer, base, and top coat.

After stripping and using metal based body filler on dents what kind of primer do you recommend? I understand I need a self etching primer and then a sandable primer. What exactly is a sandable primer?

I am also not sure about the top coat. I have read lots of different kinds. I want to go with a more of a satin finish, not too glossy. It is grey after all. Sanding grit sizes in between and polish recommendations are much appreciated as well. 

[mlinder]

There really isn't any 1 part rattlecan spraypaint that isn't eaten by gas.
However, you COULD do a nice rattlecan spray job (I've done some surprisingly good, smooth ones) and use that clearcoat you can order that's fuel resistant on top of it.
Now, I can't remember the damned name of it, but SOMEONE will.
It's not cheap, but, that's better than ruining the paint job you just did first time you go to fill up.

[Slayer]

I agree, that sounds like a solid plan. I am willing to pay a little more if it prevents me from ruining the tank because of some gas dribble. I know eventually I will get gas on the tank.

[Triffecpa]

I prefer to use Duplicolor's rattle can paints because they have a nice spray tip on their cans.  It give a nice smooth fan pattern and makes it easy to get even, shiny coverage.  The paint will actually take a buffing after it has been allowed to set up for a week or so.  If you get several good coats of wax on it after buffing it, it can actually resist minor gas spills.  they will somewhat discolor the paint, but not bubble it up, and then you can buff it back to a nice shine again.

Several brands of rattle can paint do not go on that smoothly, mostly due to their spray heads in my opinion.

TR

[blackhog02]

Here is a pic of my 71 CB 750 Tank and frame are dupliecolor rattle can, primer, color, and clear.  I did wet sand it b/4 putting on the clear.  The key is to let it dry a few weeks b/4 you start to abuse it and yes you have to be carefull with gas

http://www.mptrackclub.com/photos/whcm_09/DSC07660.JPG

[Slayer]

So those people who have not put a proper finish on it are the ones who have gas corrosion problems? What kind of wax is that? Having a nice tip would help out a novice like me. I knew a guy who was a graffiti artist that had all kinds of different sizes, maybe I could find a good tip and replace them.

[mlinder]

Here it is.
http://www.repaintsupply.com/pd_2_part_2k_aerosol.cfm

18 bucks.

Cheap for real, fuel resistant clearcoat.

[Qingdao]

This is my rattle can with a clear coat (on a high humitity day) on my car...Yes I am a cheap @$$ student!



The bumper hear came out good.





I just use Dupicolor clear enamal paint, but I REALLY would sugest on such a small project investing in some laqure paint.

[the technological J]

ived heard good things about rustoleum ive used it and would recomend put it on thick  let it cure ( one week) and wetsand it (800 1000 1500 2000) do them all then buff it out with  some rubbing compound and wax it... i tried the rustouleum (tips and tricks thread) thinned out half with mineral spirits and think it was a waste if u got the time to let it cure... just take ur time with the  800 thats the most important in my opinion... heres the bike i did it on
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=56525.0

heres the rustoleum thread i was talking about
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=52336.0

[MJL]

So those people who have not put a proper finish on it are the ones who have gas corrosion problems? What kind of wax is that? Having a nice tip would help out a novice like me. I knew a guy who was a graffiti artist that had all kinds of different sizes, maybe I could find a good tip and replace them.

It's not that the gas corrodes, it's that it eats and discolors the paint.   

For a good rattlecan paintjob, there will be a lot of thin coats and a lot of sanding. 

[mlinder]

Here it is.
http://www.repaintsupply.com/pd_2_part_2k_aerosol.cfm

18 bucks.

Cheap for real, fuel resistant clearcoat.

Again, this will do the trick.

[Slayer]

Here it is.
http://www.repaintsupply.com/pd_2_part_2k_aerosol.cfm

18 bucks.

Cheap for real, fuel resistant clearcoat.

Hell yea, there it is! Is duplicolor a laquer or enamel?

[mlinder]

Here it is.
http://www.repaintsupply.com/pd_2_part_2k_aerosol.cfm

18 bucks.

Cheap for real, fuel resistant clearcoat.

Hell yea, there it is! Is duplicolor a laquer or enamel?

Can't remember
I have brain damage.

[Slayer]

Shoulda used a respirator 

[mlinder]

Shoulda used a respirator 

They had me on a respirator for a month, due to the brain damage

[Slayer]

Oh man I was kidding, now I feel like a dick...

[mlinder]

No worries, man. I'm all better now.

Wait, what? Who are you? Wait, who am I? Do you like alligators? 'Cause I do. I think they're awesome.

[NickC]

Just a FYI, I've had much better luck with rustoleum compared to duplicolor when it comes to resisting fuel/scratches/etc

[super pasty white guy]

check out this thread to see what's possible...

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=32283.0

spwg

[Slayer]

So I ordered the two part clear coat and bought the rest of the paint from Pep Boys. I got

Dupli-Color:

1 can "self etching primer"
1 can  "sandable primer"
3 cans "truck, van, and SUV" storm grey

Bondo glazing and spot putty
Plastic spreaders

I still need sand paper, a soft sanding block and prep wash solvent. Could I use Acetone for that?

[Popwood]

If you are back to totally bare metal you can proceed with whatever you want so long as you stay in the same brand of paint. If you move from one brand to another you are inviting trouble since NO ONE in the paint/finishing business tells you what's in the can. Finishes are all about chemistry and one brand uses one kind of solvents, etc. and the next brand uses another. Put one on top of another and it's a crap shoot. Sad, but true. You just might end up with a "crackle" finish.

[shizzomynizzo]

after doing a rattlecan, it turned out ok. not anything special for all the money invested in primer, 10, paint, 10-15, sandpaper, 10...etc etc.....

my advice is go to a junk yard that fixes up cars in your area. I found one a few miles away and the guy is going to spray it with a 2 stage, base and clear for 50$. i have to do all the dent repair and prep, and he is going to spray it for next to nothing.

just call around and tell them what your lookin for. the worst they can say is no. i told this guy i dont care about color that much, i gave him a few color choices i like, and when he has his gun out spraying a bumber or fender or something, he will hi my tank. it'll take a few weeks, but for 50 bucks I cannot complain. (i have an extra tank so i can still ride)

The cost of painting is mostly set up of equipment and cleaning. if he already has the gun out and ready and has to clean it anyway, why not pour a little extra paint in and make an extra 50 bucks on the side.

Just my 2 cents

[bucky katt]

Just a FYI, I've had much better luck with rustoleum compared to duplicolor when it comes to resisting fuel/scratches/etc

i used the paint shop system line of paints from Duplicolor. theyre NOT even a little fuel resistant.

[hymodyne]

Here it is.
http://www.repaintsupply.com/pd_2_part_2k_aerosol.cfm

18 bucks.

Cheap for real, fuel resistant clearcoat.

Again, this will do the trick.

+1 on the spraymax 2part clear. Its not going to match the quality of a professional or a HVLP job with a compressor, but it does work well. I used it on my bike (go to gallery , look under Dr. James S. King) with a duplicolor laquer underneath. This bike was stripped to bare metal on frame and tank and painted with spraycan self etching primer. frame was shot with spraycan epoxy enamel (refrigerator paint) All fiberglass fairings and seat pod were shot in high build up duplicolor grey primer before paint and spraymax clear coat. And do use a respirator they don't call self-etching primer "green Death" for nothing...

hym