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quick question....to spray my kr1 frame and arm should I use a specialist bike paint sprayer or would a good car bodyshop do a good job?[/u]

Anyone can paint it, or you could get it powdercoated.

that's what I thought Wayne...but my mate thinks he knows it all and reckoned id need to go to a specialist bike sprayer...fool....rather have paint than powdercoat as it wasn't powdercoated as standard.

Ask around, get some recommendations.
There are so many different coating systems around these days, some will be better suited to a bike than others.
Never had much joy with powder coating, maybe down to bad prep work but it chipped flaked and peeled quicktime.
look for customer testimonials !

Powder coat is a funny thing. It's best to leave it a good few weeks after it's come back to fully cure. Trying to work with it straight away will make it chip etc. I like it meself as it's a good durable finish. Nowhere near as good as paint, but unless it's a concourse finish you're after, it's close enough. Prep is the key to a good finish whether it'll be paint, powder coat or metallic plating.

Interesting to hear others' thoughts on powder coating. I have had car wheels and children's bikes frames coated successfully but my BMW's centre stand, done by a different outfit was complete disaster. I put that down to poor preparation but I fitted it immediately so perhaps Will is right. Regarding sprayers, I get the impression, having had different quotations in the past that specialist bike sprayers charge more than car sprayers.

You should be able to work with powdercoating straight away, it's the heat in the oven that cures it. But as with all things, if it's badly prepped, and badly executed then no matter what you do it will be bad.

If you want to get the frame sprayed I would recommend using a 2k lacquer otherwise it will rub off where your legs are. 2K is carcenagenic (however it's spelt) so needs to be done by a professional (car or bike sprayer) as you have to where a full respirator. You can buy non iso 2K which is only as harmful as normal spray and can be done at home with the usual safety gear. This is what I'm going to try using on the project bike.

Lots of local auto paint places will do you rattle cans and usually have a proper spray pattern. Cost a fair wee bit though but cheaper than a compressor.
I done all my R6 panels in a cold garage. Don't be shy to get the wet and dry on it to smooth out the finish.

1) Send the frame to me so I can hand it to my painting friend for a price.
2)choose the colour
3) marvel in its splendour when you collect the frame

blinkey501 wrote:1) Send the frame to me so I can hand it to my painting friend for a price.
2)choose the colour
3) marvel in its splendour when you collect the frame

Does your friend spray petrol tanks? I've got a VFR750 petrol tank that I sent off to a place in Hartlepool to get it internally coated in an ethanol-resistant treatment. While they had the tank they offered to paint it externally and rather foolishly I agreed.

The tank came back several shades lighter than OE paint and with little or no masking done to threads or areas that shouldn't have been sprayed. I've sent it back and asked them to refund the cost of spraying and return it to me with all their external paint stripped and coated in etch primer.

If they agree I'll be looking for a man who knows how to spray a motorcycle tank...

mangocrazy wrote:

blinkey501 wrote:1) Send the frame to me so I can hand it to my painting friend for a price.
2)choose the colour
3) marvel in its splendour when you collect the frame

Does your friend spray petrol tanks? I've got a VFR750 petrol tank that I sent off to a place in Hartlepool to get it internally coated in an ethanol-resistant treatment. While they had the tank they offered to paint it externally and rather foolishly I agreed.

The tank came back several shades lighter than OE paint and with little or no masking done to threads or areas that shouldn't have been sprayed. I've sent it back and asked them to refund the cost of spraying and return it to me with all their external paint stripped and coated in etch primer.

If they agree I'll be looking for a man who knows how to spray a motorcycle tank...

He is not far from my mid year meeting point at stokeham graham

Guys,
thanks for all the input, turns out there is a powdercoater in Hemel Hempstead so i went to see him,, turns out he is an old mate i know from a few years back (i played football with him)
He gave me a good price to powdercoat frame, swingarm and a few other bits...but the best bit is he is happy to give anybody on this forum a discount, just by mentioning you know me from this forum
I'll post pics of his work up when i get them back.
The company is called maxpowder and the owners name is Kirk
http://maxpowder.co.uk/

Jay,

Does he do fairings? got a few lugs missing off mine but i do have an old belly pan he can cut up to use to repair?

robbier6 wrote:Jay,

Does he do fairings? got a few lugs missing off mine but i do have an old belly pan he can cut up to use to repair?

Yes he does. You have my phone number dude, giz a buzz

will do mate, thanks