Painting Motorcycle Frames - Help!

[KoryB]

Hi Everyone,

I'm an airbrush jockey, only a small amount of experience with a "real" gun, but I'm getting requests to paint some chopper frames from the metal up.

I've been soaking up the great info here for a couple months, and I've got an experienced painter to help me with the bodywork and making sure I'm using the right paints, etc, but he's from "flatland" (auto body panels) and has never painted a chopper frame.

I've heard that painting a frame is a completely different animal from painting a car, and it makes sense that it would be with all the tubes and joins, etc.

Anyone out there willing to share some tips on how to approach spraying a chopper frame? Where do you start? I know Kosmoski recommends knowing what your spray pattern is before you start, is there a spray pattern that you recommend for a bike? What are the biggest traps to watch out for?

I've got an Iwata RG-3 touch up gun, can that be used for painting the frames, or should I buy a bigger gun?


Thanks in advance, any help is much appreciated!

Kory

 

[Jim]

As long as your not useing a regular gun,you should be fine.I'd jamb it, get all the joints real good then start anywhere you like.Keep the pattern small as to not run it and you'll be fine,Jim

 

[KoryB]

So you're saying just use my touch up gun, take my time, do all the joints first, and use a small pattern. I think I can do that

Thanks Jim!

 

[Jim]

Sounds good,Work fairly quick to keep it somewhat wet and you'll be fine,Jim