Custom Graphics Video, Great info or Scam?

[deepugh]

Hello, my name is Dee. I am new to the site. I have a 2002 Yamaha V-Star Custom and I want to put a custom paint job on it. I have no experience in painting but have come across some information in "Street Chopper" about do-it-yourself. You can purchase video's by "Bob Kovacs" who claims to give anyone "5 Simple Steps To Killer Graphics". He claims that "anyone can learn (even if You can't draw a straight line and have never customized anything in your life) ". Also that equipment is inexpensive. Anyone that has information on this subject or knows exactly what I'm talking about ,please advise. His charge for the videos is $102 with a money back guarantee. Is it worth the time and money or is it a scam?

 

[DenB.]

Unless you've got ALL the right equipment you won't save any $$$. Is this a hobby or is it something you'll be doing on a regular basis? There alot more question like this to ask yourself. I'd be one of the last ones to discourage anybody. Just click on the topics on the flame board and you can read most all the posted questions and answers and then you'll be able to make an informed decision. good Luck and don't think there are any dunb questions "ask away"

 

[rex]

I've never heard of the tapes so I really can't comment on them.As DenB said this can get expensive quick to learn.If you have friends with a compressor and maybe even a suitable gun it would save you around a grand.I too wont try to turn you off but it is frustrating starting from scratch and learning with your own hard earned moneythrough the mistakes without a mentor to be there helping.While we can't be there this is the best place to be for help.Search through the site and read alot of the more basic stuff to get a feel of things and ask away,there's alot of people that are willing to help.

 

[DenB.]

along with this sites search sites, i'd suggest if you have a Boarders book store or barnes and noble go there and get a drink and read, then buy a referance book to keep in the garage on hand . Like Rex wrote Friends are a big help how about a night class at a tech school? good luck to ya and remember--- there's no dumb questions

 

[DenB.]

Originally posted by DenB.:
[QB]along with this sites search sites, i'd suggest if you have a Boarders book store or barnes and noble go there and get a drink and read, then buy a referance book to keep in the garage on hand . Like Rex wrote Friends are a big help how about a night class at a tech school? good luck to ya and remember--- there's no dumb questions

 

[deepugh]

Thanks guy's! I really appreciate the response. I thought that it sounded a little shady. He claimed that you only needed 2 pieces of equipment and that it would be cheaper than most dates you have been on. He also claims that it is so easy a chimpanzee could do it. Oh well, I'll continue to browse the site for more info. The Tech School sounds interesting. I will have to check into that. Thanks again!

 

[Burton]

Deepugh,

Hello! I’m fairly new on the paint scene as well and I still have a lot to learn. I don’t know about the video but if you are looking for a new hobby you have found an extremely frustrating and rewarding one. I started with Scott’s how-to page and an old video from House of Kolor (Custom painting). I have a V-star 2002 as well. There are also some minor body work techniques you will want to learn, specifically the removal of the stickers under the clear coat. Not hard but something else to think about. I’ve done a few Vstars since then and if you have any questions about removal of the parts are anything just let me know.Also I suggest you go to your local motorcycle pick a part or wreck yard or even eBay and buy some cheap metal fenders! Good to practice on and chances are you’ll get to use some bondo. And best of all if you don’t like, hey it’s not your bike! Also if you want paint is smaller quantities check out www.coastairbrush.com and www.innate.com, they also have some how-to videos. You might want to try the (The Complete Video Guide to
Painting Motorcycle Gas Tanks) by Vince Goodeve. Hope this helps.

 

[deepugh]

Burton,

Thanks for the info. I'm still not convinced that this is something that I can do. I would like to give it a try because I think I might enjoy it. However, I don't want to screw up my paint job! My bike has the factory decals underneath the clearcoat and I don't know how to get them off. The color out of the factory is the deep purple. I would like to keep that as the base and maybe do some neon green flames or yellow flames with red tips. Any tips or helpful information would be great. Also what type of gun, compressor, ect. would be advised. Thanks for your time and response.

 

[Burton]

Deepugh,

If you are really worried about messing up the stock tanks I would get onto eBay and just piece together another set (almost all years are the same). If you wait for the deals you can get a hole set including shipping for around $350.00. If you want to use your stock parts, this is what I would do. First get your paint color matched at your local paint shop. PPG or Dupont will probably be the brand they will provide. Since it’s such a new tank and if it’s the purple with the logo on the side and the silver grey scallop stripes on the front, I would proceed with a razor blade and scrape the scallops off with the blade as flat to the tank as possible so as not to gash the paint. You can do the same to the logos. Once the decals are off you will have to sand down the parts you scraped to smooth out any scratches or take off any leftover sticker fragments or residue. I would use a good grade 320 then 400 wet sandpaper with a little no detergent dish soap, this make take a little longer then a harsher paper but you don’t have to worry about sanding through the clear on the rest of the bike. Make sure the sand paper is of good quality some off brands idea off 400 is more like 220! I learned that the hard way. This also helps to smooth out any lip that was left by the clear around the sticker. This is very important, you don’t want that lip showing up later in the project or its back to sanding and a lot of !@%#$$&#^@%!&#*!. A good primer coat and guide coat will help get rid of any minor imperfections but don’t plan on primer making up for a bad prep job. For tools I started out with a Devilbiss Finish II kit with two nozzles. The 1.4 I used for paint a clear and the 1.6 although a little small I used for primer. I don’t remember how much I paid but I believe it was around 125 -150. You can find them any where, also check EBay. I would not skimp on the gun; a good paint can get a $50 gun to do that same as a $500 dollar gun but not the other way around. The only off brand I would suggest and I have is a pneumatic from harbor freight. What ever you get make it a HVLP (High volume low pressure) so you don’t need a huge air tank. I also have a 30 gallon Craftsman electric air compressor (made by devilbiss). It would struggle on a car but if your only doing a tank and some fenders! You could probably could get away with a 20 gallon as long as it’s a good quality compressor and you don’t work all the time. I would recommend the Vince Goodeve (The Complete Video Guide to Painting Motorcycle Gas Tanks) DVD it covers the removal of the decals and prep of a tank all the way through the paint. If you need to contact me here is an addressbvanderp78@netscape.net . Good luck!

 

[Kelly Ruble]

I have the Kovacs tapes and they have been very informative. If you plan on doing more than just your tank and have the money buy them.
Kelly Ruble