How to Paint Your Motorcycle Parts for Restoration
During the process of motorcycle restoration, you will be faced with various challenges. A major challenge which you will face includes surface finish of different parts with the various motorcycle paint colors. Deciding on which part to paint or not to paint is another major challenge, whether plated, painted or powder coated. The final decision will have a hand to do with the cost and reliability of the component.
A tough decision you will have to make is to decide whether to have a frame powder-coated in replacement of painting. However, in case the cost is a major consideration, you will have to decide on whether to paint the frame yourself.
You can access different mounting brackets to use for your old bike. The brackets to mount horns, batteries, seats are very common.. During the restoration process, the total costs incurred can be lowered through painting small items yourself.
There are various auto stores which stock a broad range of spray paints which can be accessed through pressurized cans. However, there are various types of paints which are limited at various outlets but are acceptable inclusive of brackets.
During the preparation process, most painting experts argue that it is the core part of getting a good finish. The level of work needed for applying the final paint finish is little when compared to the needed preparation. You should start by cleaning your bike. Taking pictures of the various parts when you disassemble can simplify the process.
During the preparation phase of spraying a component, you should wear the latex gloves. It is important to protect your hands from the oils in hands and natural greases in the different parts. You can encounter skin irritations when the spray products come into contact with your skin.
A decreasing tank should be used in cleaning the different components of the bike. A brake cleaner is advisable at this stage since it does not leave behind greasy residues.
In case your component has rust or old paint, you can using grit basting. With a dry paper, you can wire brush the various items. You can blast the different components using baking soda which is less aggressive.
Before applying the filler material, you should consider spraying the area with a primer especially an etching primer. It is also highly recommended to powder the coat the components before sealing the components before applying any filler material.
Painting is the final process for applying topcoat. It is essential to follow the common rules which regard spray painting for non-experienced painters. You can begin with practicing on other scrap material of similar composition to the component you intend to paint.