[HOW-TO] use spray paint (with pics)

[The Radness]

FIRST OFF- the example pics are only off the top of the fork leg, i just sprayed the top with intentions of showing you how to do it. Don't pay attention to the bottom fork leg or anything else.

Always shake the paint before using, throughly, a full minute at the least!
Why do you shake the can?!?
This is the easiest way to explain it. The aerosol in the can is oil, the paint particles in the can are water. How do you mix oil and water? You shake it!
you need to coat the aerosol particles with paint particles!

Ever had a can of paint that was half full but just wouldn't spray anymore??? It's because you didn't shake it enough! you sprayed all the aerosol out and now the paint is sitting in the bottom of the can, wasting away and lonely. Aerosol is lighter then the paint, less dense. So it floats on the paint until it's mixed.

so yah SHAKE THE CAN!

Everyone paints
that's how it works

this is gonna show you how to do it well, so that it doesn't flake, rub off or look like hell

1. What you need!


your going to need some sand paper (i like it fine, 150 for me) your primer, paint and clear and some painters tape

Now a few things you should know about the above

Sand Paper- the rougher you use the more coat you'll need for a smooth finish

Primer- Primer does affect the final outcome of your frame, so if you want a bright finish, use white primer, if you want a dark finish use gray.

Paint- just now how much you need, if your really after a certain color grab something and spray it, of course spray it with primer first

clear- here's a big one, first off you need to know what your buying. I almost never buy high gloss because it makes stuff look like crap. It will show every bump, even dust that has landed on your part. Satin is my favorite because it has a shine but it doesn't make it look horrible. Don't buy the cheapest can you find, this is the final coat and your paint job will only look as good as your clear

tape- i like painters, sticks to the part but doesn't leave any residue

I really like spray tops like this

with these tops you really have to try to spray to much in a spot, just really sprays in a good thin mist that covers well but evenly.

Alright lets go!

2. Sand (SKIP THIS IF RAW)- Go over the whole part, you don't really want to dig into it, just kinda rough it up. Give the paint something to grab on to.


3. clean the part!- if it has grease on it your going to need a degreaser of some sort. I like rubbing alcohol for grease. If it's just dirt and dust some soapy water and a paper towel. Make sure to clean the part with a paper towel to get off all the moisture.

4. Tape- Your going to want to tape off some of your part to make life easier. On these forks it's the steerer tube and the fork race. On frames it'd be the brake lugs, the bottom bracket and the headset cups. With bars tape of the knurled part, a stem where the bars rest and where the steerer tube is.


5. Hang it- find a spot for it to hang while you paint. Cleaner the better, and i if it's in the spot where you can let it sit for awhile that's even more betterest. Less time you touch it the better. I just put mine in my bike stand.

HOLD ON!!! You're thinking about spraying arn't you? Without even considering what you're doing????? Ok first things first you need to be around 6 inches from the object your painting, and keep the damn can moving! If there is a tight spot you can't get, well just do more coats, holding it on the spot will only create runs!

6. Primer- ok at this point we need to make something very clear. You need to do small coats. Your not going to cover this part in one coat. not two coats. maybe not even three, it depends on the color your covering, and the color your using.

Coat 1- should look something like this

WAIT 10 MINUTES

Coat 2- should look something like this

WAIT 10 MINUTES

Coat 3- now i happened to fully cover my part in 3 coats, you may or may not, just continue doing so until it's covered.


WAIT A HALF HOUR BEFORE COLOR AT LEAST!!!!

7. Color- Now your shit is primer and pretty. The steps for color are the same as primer. The difference is once your part is full covered you probably want to do a couple more coats for good measure.

Coat 1- close to this

WAIT 10 MINUTES

Coat 2- close to this

WAIT 10 MINUTES

Coat 3- close to this

once again it may cover faster then me, or slower, just keep at it, be patient, i covered black with white, so it's going to cover it really fast.

Now that it's covered give it an hour before clear

8. Clear- Clear is the same as the above 2, your going to need at the very least 4 coats. The more the better, but make sure you give it time to dry in-between coats!

9. Go to sleep- dont touch it for 24 hours, let it sit somewhere and just forget about it. If it's cold it may need longer, if you didn't wait between coats it may take longer. Just give it time. Do you really want all that work to be wasted because you couldn't wait!!

10. Done and done- here are some examples of my finished paint jobs








Wrap up!
Don't paint if anything if you don't have time to do it right, or if you don't care about what it's gonna end up looking like.

In the end make painting fun. If you don't want to do it, well then don't. If you're going to be really picky about your paint, you may want to pay for it instead. In no way is rattle can anywhere near the same quality as the paint you will pay a pro to use. It's going to chip, rub and fade faster then any other paint. It's so cheap though that you can just respray when it does!



Now go rip off whatever paintjob is being run by whatever pro is cool!

[BreakOut]

Very nicely done Sam!!! Gonna be painting some things this weekend now. Thanks man!! +Rep!


EDIT: I need to spread some rep around before i can give you some but im gonna give you some dont worry about that.

[Paul1311]

how did you spray the bama frame like that?

+rep

[The Radness]

tape, primer, color, remove tape, clear

[ellb123]

Very Very helpful, REP+

[Arch Enemy]

Nice guide, really helpful and full of pictures!

[CodyPrince]

nice as article sam, i will use this next time i need to paint, soon......

[fluorescent]

sweet, nice one sam.

[Gr0mm3t]

very helpful

[Irish]

spraying in a well ventilated area i think is an important point too.