Painting the backs of tanks & fenders

[AlxxNova]

Yet another question. When painting Harley tanks and fenders. Especially the 2 piece fat bob tanks. How do you handle painting the back and bottoms of the tanks and bottoms of the fenders? What I mean is do you paint them along with the tops? Or just primer and wait until the end to finish them off?

 

[ezrider]

For flat side tanks they really must be hung, weather from the celin or a fdabricated paint stand. As far as 1 piece tanks and fenders i spray the bottoms first and then after dry use one of the paint stands created by Scott ( see paint stand how to and the many posts on this subject )i havent gotten a complaint about paint on undet sides yet.

 

[Mac_Muz]

Oops! I jumped the gun! I just asked what you would be painting on your other thread!

I would paint the inside fenders first. Anyway that is what I did on my bike..... Since you don't ever see this I used a so-called rust preventing paint, after de-rusting the area....

I did more or less the same under the tank where you never see it.

I just taped off that area, and did not do the best taping off, as no one can see that area, and a bit of over spray does not matter much.....

By doing that I did not have to worry about getting "Bottom Paints" on the Art work after the art work was done.

When it was time to shoot clear, I shot it over all the art work and the bottom paint.

My bike is not HD and so the fenders are chrome, so these were a bit different, but still these were rusting on the bottom side next to the tires, so that was painted, as was the inside oif the head lamp bucket, the arms that hold the head lamp bucket, and any place you don't see normally that is steel and can rust...

My bike is 21 years old, and I don't want to rebuild it again body wise.... Mac

 

[rex]

I do it like EZRIDER.I'll black singlestage the the backsides.I try to mask the insides back from the edge to keep all that dry spray from building up in there.I prefer to see the bike before it's pulled apart to see what all shows.Sometimes you can see a little of the inside of the fenders and some you can't,it depends on the stance of the bike.For example I like to see the exterior color around a fatbob taillight opening and the rear inside of a Heritage style fender because you can see it just looking at the bike.Darker colors arent bad but I've seen a few that looked awefull with a light colored bike and the backsides were blown in black right up to the edge.Ruined it.

 

[DDG]

What I typically do is epoxy primer, paint and clear the uderside of the fenders first. Then go ahead and paint the rest. If you get any overspray
on the inside it'll be the same color. As far as tanks go, my stand allows room to paint in between, if not hang them up.

 

[rex]

Welcome DDG.That's the best way of course but there seems to be alot of people that want a better price.I can knock a few bucks off to singlestage the inside and blow color around the inside without losing any profit-which there isn't much to start since I have only a material bill and can pass on some savings.It seems once you give a great price and go that extra mile the ball starts rolling and the rest want more and more.Already turned a few down because they wanted to beat me up,but I got the last laugh when they showed me their new job and told me what they paid.Made them mad but they realized they shouldn't have tried to be a cheapskate with me.One asked me about redoing it and couldn't understand me wanting what they just paid.Some people just don't get it.Then again there are those that do get it and will pay for a job done right.I'm trying to get into this clientel now,but there's alot of compitition in the area.

 

[ezrider]

Rex, funny you mention customers beating you up over the price i had a guy call me tonight who 2 months ago told me he could get the same job done for half my price and turn around time was a week.Well this guy is now out of a tank and custom fender (old school chopper project) and his deposit. This guy who was going to do the job can not be found and neither can this customers parts or deposit. He wanted to know if i could do better on the price sence he took a loss with the other painter

He will now be out 150% of my original price and a tank and fender after i do the job. I dont know too many custom painters that have a 1 week turn around time , do you.

 

[rex]

One week?Easy-at least about 2 weeks ago when I had nothing to do

It makes me feel better when I hear these people aren't just here in Poor Podunk,USA.Gotta love the originator of 'Pay me now or pay me later'!