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Re: NC35 Anyone repainted their original fairing?

Posted: Mon Feb 22, 2016 4:43 pm
by Foxy400
Don't know how useful this extra info about painting is to you but..

Aerosol paint is relatively thin so you may well end up using more than you anticipated if you want more than one or two coats, especially if you're flatting it down (sanding it with wet'n'dry) between coats to give a smooth finish, which you should be. You will also waste a lot in overspray.

A better way to do it is with a mini HVLP (high volume, low pressure) spray gun. These are on eBay for not a lot of money (under £20). You'll need a compressor. Hire a small one for a weekend. Make sure you get the correct attachments to link the spray gun to the compressor hose (take it with you).

Practise with the gun using water onto a piece of wood (or similar) so you get used to it's field of spray (much narrower than an aerosol - therefore less paint wasted in overspray) and how to make smooth sweeps left and right, as well as how far to hold it from the surface. You can also experiment with the pressure of the compressor.
Start with 2PK primer, followed by paint (it's called Solid Colour). The minimum amount of paint you can buy is probably 1/4 litre. The amount you need obviously depends on how many panels you're painting.
You will need Hardener. This is mixed with the paint in a ratio of 2 paint to 1 hardener. You can get a measuring stick from the paint supplier, which makes this simple. Only mix a small amount in a paper/plastic cup at a time. If it seems too thick you can add a tiny drop of Thinners. I know this is beginning to sound complicated but it isn't and like all these things, you need to practise.
You should buy Thinners anyway, to clean out the gun.
You need a minimum of two coats, possibly three. You are best doing this in a garage (move the car out), with the door shut to minimise draughts (and dust movement), so you must wear a mask and goggles, don't try holding your breath! Keep the panels vertical if possible, rather than horizontal, so less chance of dust settling.

That's the basic idea. Other people will give alternative advice and yes, check out YouTube. But you will get a better finish than using aerosols (stick with the cans for the subframe).

Re: NC35 Anyone repainted their original fairing?

Posted: Sat Feb 27, 2016 5:57 pm
by Coley
Whilst the above is good advice, if using 2K paints make sure you use an air fed mask (feeding from clean air) and wear a full set of overalls. 2K paint contains isocyanates which can be incredibly harmful to your health.