How does one make his paint job shine like that ?
Posted Jul 2, 2021, 4:25 PM UTC
30119
Can't answer your question, but that bike is gorgeous
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looks like a cb550 but I'm not sure.
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Lots and lots and lots of sanding and polishing
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I saw another bike photo on Reddit today that looked like matte or no paint at all and I thought if I ever get around to building a cafe racer, that’s how I’d do it. Now, you have me rethinking
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You have to start with a great paint job with a minimum 3 coats of high quality clear coat. Then standard show quality cut and buff.
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you can't make any old paint job look like that. it's a very specific process
most high gloss paint is custom done. requires a fair bit of talent, and material.
starts with a smooth tank. free of dents/scratches, imperfections that'll mottle a paint job. then prime, then base coat. typically glossy black if doing a reflective or candy main color. there can be layers of paint added. or ....second base layers of flake paint. then typically a candy coat, which is the "color" which is glossy/reflective. this can also be done in layers. "cherry red" or "blood red" tends to be a mix of colors. One the color layers are added, clear coat is typically added last. there are also sanding/ prep stages along the way.
if the pin striping is part of the paint job, that has to be masked, and added at some point as well. Typically it's done early, then left covered through to the end, or before the clear coat, but... smoky flames, or other graphical elements can be added in different techniques.
but... after clear coat. the paint job has to cure. then... sort of standard wax/polish to really bring out the shine.
have to be careful which paints/products you use. because if you don't protect a paint job, spilling a drop of gasoline on the tank, will destroy the entire thing.
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Now there is a lot of posts in the thread about how to get a paint job looking like that, when you have the option to start from scratch, have it professional painted etc.
If you are at home in your garage and want your preexisting paint looking as nice as possible, you can still do something about it.
First, get a dual action polisher. You can get it as an attachment for a drill (use a corded one): https://www.meguiars.com/automotive/products/da-power-system
Then cut with this:
https://www.meguiars.com/automotive/products/da-compound-power-pack
Polish with this:
https://www.meguiars.com/automotive/products/da-polishing-power-pack
Wax with this:
https://www.meguiars.com/automotive/products/da-waxing-power-pack
I linked some packs with pads/compound, polish assuming you have nothing. There are probably cheaper ways to get pads and materials and definitely other brands, but this will take you from zero to a nice deep looking paintjob. I wouldn't wet sand an existing paintjob unless it has orange peel.
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This is inspiring. I might try this.
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Using proper prep and materials, actual automotive paints. Wet sanding, cutting and buffing. Not picking up a can of Krylon and thinking that it’ll look good.
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Paying a lot for paint application and material and skill. Then keeping good care of it. And polishing until you could beat the karate kid.
Also a overcast day and a fancy camera.
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a good prep good paint and clean then polish
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Metallic flake. Its essentially really small metal glitter that you add into the color coat of paint. You can do some pretty chunky flake too
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You have to have your paint job " cut and polished " it's where you watersand the paint job after it's done( starting at like 1200 grit water paper) . To remove any imperfections and then you have use compounds to bring the shine back out with a electric or air buffer. I did it to my last bike( first attempt at cut and polishing). It's not hard to do yourself if you have an afternoon. A body shop will do it better then you. But sometimes learning to do it yourself is fun and rewarding.
If you do it right, your paint job will look like a mirror and it's amazing to look at.
Then you will have to use a really really good wax or have it ceramic coated.
A ceramic coating place will cut and polish your tank before applying the coating too I believe. So they do a great job.
And time of day the photograph is taken lol
Oh ya, but the perfect reflection line that has no waves in it won't look like that on a factory paint job. P
Electric or air buffer ? (I’m a total newbie but I’m trying to gather as much info or knowledge before I actually get to it)
Depending on the paint it can be very easy to damage the paint.
For instance, lots of paint shops will use "collision" paints. These lay pretty flat right out of the gun but they're VERY thin. On the other hand, a true "custom" clear coat paint has much higher solids content and will lay much thicker at the expense of a paint REQUIRING a cut and polish. Yet, that cut and polish can be done more easily due to the paint thickness.
Not saying don't do it, but take it slow and check your work often.
Usually electric, but it really doesn't matter.
If you have an air compressor I'd go with air, if you don't buy an electric buffer or rent one.