Metal preping and painting

[somekidwithanm4]

I and probably many of the other noobies here, would like good preping and painting tips. Be as detailed as possible. Arguments against others preping tips are ok i guess :crazy: this should help people bring some of the old sitting trikes back to life :TrikesOwn

[Erics350x]

Beadblasting is the best way to go imo

[somekidwithanm4]

I need mostly prep

[Daddio]

Strip the tank to bare metal. You can use chemical stripper, sand blasting or what I prefer a DA sander.
After it is down to bare metal it's time to smooth out the tank. If there are any large dents you may want to have a professional remove it for you. I use Rage Extreme body filler.
Then it's time for a good quality self-etching primer followed by a good quality urethane primer. I use Sikkens products.
After the primer has been properly sanded it's time to apply a quality topcoat. I wouldn't recommend anything less than a single stage Urethane automotive grade paint.

Sounds easy right?
As a autobody repair tech I have seen my share of amateur repairs . Some aren't too bad others are so bad that the repaired panel is actually ruined and needs to be replaced.

[somekidwithanm4]

Would you recommend using a wire brush daddio? I used it to strip my footpegs and skid plate to bare metal and it worked good.

[Daddio]

It would probably work but may be a little tedious. The main thing is to get it down to bare metal.

[somekidwithanm4]

Yep it may be tedious and it is. But i have extremely limited money and i already have a wire brush to put onto my dewalt drill, so i'll use that and then use all the other primers and paints and such.

[Daddio]

I actually started a tank today. I have pictures and I will start a thread on it tomorrow night after work.

[somekidwithanm4]

Ok i'll look at that. What kind of primer is rustoleum?

[Daddio]

Ok i'll look at that. What kind of primer is rustoleum?

Very cheap. I think it's enamel based.

[somekidwithanm4]

Yeah well like i said, i don't have the money for expensive paints

[greythorn3]

Very cheap. I think it's enamel based.

post up your tank work.. i use rusoleum also on my vehicles i like to brush it on so i can do a section at a time.. looks ok from a few feet too.

[somekidwithanm4]

http://3wheelerworldforums.com/showthread.php?t=99948
The first part is my tank and other work. if you go a little further down you'll find the foot pegs that i did with it. I used XO-Rust industrial strength paint.

[somekidwithanm4]

BTW spraypaint works ok and does a good modest job.

[Saul]

Heh, if Daddio is giving out free painting tips bookmark the thread or copy and paste the info. Daddio has had his hands on some mean engine builds - but - I think his paint work even surpasses his engine builds.

[somekidwithanm4]

Yeah. I didn't mean to sound like i was arguing. I guess i sorta didn't state the purpose of this thread.