Airbrush Paint Motorcycles
Using an airbrush to paint a motorcycle enables you to portray any kind of style on its surface, allowing you to develop very unique rides. Simply having the right tools, such as an airbrush paint gun and an air compressor, gives you the capability of creating a professional paint job that's worth thousands. In addition, you can easily airbrush paint high-quality designs using stencil decals.
Instructions
1. Remove the existing paint on the motorcycle. To do this, use 80-grit sand paper to release the paint from the motorcycle's surface. Apply consistent pressure onto the paint while rubbing the sandpaper in a circular motion. Only sand small sections of the motorcycle at a time. The paint will begin to chip off, and the metal will show through. If you have trouble removing all of the paint, you can perform a task called wet sanding that helps remove stubborn paint. Sand the painted areas just as before, but wet the surface you will be sanding before you attempt to sand the paint away. Use warm water, and the paint will come off much easier as well as bring a shine to the metal of the motorcycle.
2. Wash the motorcycle. Make sure you wash away all debris and muck so that it won't show underneath the paint. Once you have finished washing the motorcycle, hand dry the surface with industrial heavy-duty paper towels. It is important to use paper towels rather than a rag, because it is essential not to leave any particle of dust or cloth on the surface of the motorcycle. New paint enhances any debris left underneath it.
3. Prepare the motorcycle for paint. You will need to cover any part of the motorcycle you don't want painted, such as the seat, mirrors and handlebars. To do this, you can either use plastic sheets found at most hardware stores or heavy-duty plastic bags. Use masking tape to tape off the very edges of the plastic. This will allow you to paint freely, which will result in no paint buildup.
4. Prime the entire surface of the motorcycle that is being painted. Primer protects the metal of the motorcycle from rusting and creates a surface for the paint to properly stick to. Hook up your air compressor to your airbrush paint gun. You will need to read the manufacturer's guide to see properly hook up your specific gun. The air compressor will force air through the paint gun, allowing paint to be sprayed from the gun in an even, consistent manner. The airbrush paint gun is trigger-activated and will only spray paint when you pull the trigger. Fill your gun's paint compartment with primer. Apply primer across the entire surface of the motorcycle using long, side-to-side motions. Never stop a stream of paint directly on the surface of the motorcycle. Always end the paint either on the plastic or in mid-air off the motorcycle entirely, to ensure no paint buildup. Allow the primer to dry for six to 10 hours before moving on.
5. Paint the base color onto the surface of the motorcycle. The base color is the predominant color of your motorcycle aside from the colors that may be used for any designs. Paint on the base color using your spray gun in the same fashion as you applied the primer. You will need to apply six to eight layers of the base color. Wait two hours between each layer of paint before applying the next. While applying each layer, make sure to switch the direction of your paint strokes between each layer, going from left to right and then up and down. Allow the final coat of base paint to dry for six to 10 hours.
6. Apply decal stencils onto the appropriate areas of the motorcycle's surface. Decal stencils are simply stencils that stick in place, just as a sticker would, to give you the shape of the design you'd like to accomplish, such as flames. If you'd rather, you can apply plastic sheets and masking tape to additional areas of the motorcycle to now apply different colors in different areas.
7. Paint the secondary color/s onto the appropriate positions within the stencils or around the newly marked-off areas. If you're using decal stencils, it is recommended that you use plastic and masking tape around the stencil to further ensure you don't spread unwanted paint. Apply three coats of secondary colored paint, waiting two hours between each coat before applying the next. Allow all of the paint to dry for 10 hours.
8. Wet sand over the entire surface of the motorcycle. Remove all of the decals, plastic lining, and masking tape. Wet sand the entire surface of the motorcycle with 1500-grit sand paper, which is very fine and will not wear down any of the paint. Doing this will smooth out even the smallest obscurities and give your paint extra shine. Just as before, sand small areas at a time, using circular motions and applying water often.
9. Apply the final clear coat. Clear coat paint protects the motorcycle's new paint job and will ensure that the paint lasts longer without damage from extreme weather. You may use high-gloss clear coat if you'd like extra shine. Apply three coats of clear gloss, and allow the final coat to dry for 18 to 24 hours before using the motorcycle.
