Fugly batwing fairing... A work in progress

Hmmmmm.... Slow progress.

First attempt at spraying the outer was disappointing. Dull colour, orange peel clear coat.

So last week I flatted it down with 600 grit then 1000 grit to remove some clear coat but leave the blue.

Then today I got another can of blue mixed up and had another bash.

I'd looked at a few tutorials online, and my technique was better.  Needs a buff, but it's coming along...

I'll bore everyone with a full write up when it's all finished, but here's a work in progress shot...

Looks good!   it's not the best weather for spraying for sure! when I did my mudguard, I just lathered the clearcoat on as thick as possible (6 coats) and then rubbed all the orange peel effect smooth with 2000 grade wet n dry till it was flat and smooth, then I buffed it up with rubbing compound and t-cut before a final polish, came out ok for a rattle can job.

ps. go easy on the edges if you do what I did and use plenty of lube in the water (soap)

Looks a monster job, but obviously turned out great Mal! I'd never have the patience for all that; I'm especially not good at painting!

Thanks for the feedback Barry, and cheers for the advice sim. Like you say this weather stinks! I've had my B&M bargain stores halogen heater cranked up to number three in the garage

That's coming along a treat Mal.  Looks much better than you described the other day.

Just read through this thread with my morning coffee.

Looking good Mal

Without teaching 'granny to suck eggs' you need a minimum of 20º to spray paint.

Yes I'm sure you're right Gary, and I'm not convinced my garage heater is bringing it up to that ....

Actually I'm pretty pissed off this morning... The artificial lighting is poor in my garage, and when I rolled the bike out today and held the fairing next to it, the colours not a good match. Far too much turquoise in it.

The shop isn't open today, and I'm out all tomorrow. But I'm going to give them a call and get them to make up another can. It's a bloody shame because the first can was a pretty good match... Just my technique wasn't!

What do you think chaps, will just a gentle keying of the clear coat be ok for yet another coat of blue to adhere? Or have I got to take it right back?

This fairing's going to weigh about 6 tons it's got so much paint on it!!

Someone tell me it's 8 weeks before we go to France..... I'm running out of bloody time here!!

Wet flat will be fine provided you don't break through the clear-coat. If you do and because the paint is new and hasn't been baked you will almost certainly have problems with the edges lifting where you have broken through.

If that happens it's better to take it way back and start again 

With regards to temperature when it's cold or damp, I have taken stuff indoors to get them nice and warm, then quickly in the garage to paint and, as soon as it's tacked-off and you think you can get away with the smell get the painted parts back into the warm of the house.

Yes, pillion Mrs just said (amazingly) "it's a problem in the garage, paint it in the house... ". I'm thinking kitchen with extractor hood on full blast!!

bigmal wrote:

Yes, pillion Mrs just said (amazingly) "it's a problem in the garage, paint it in the house... ".  I'm thinking kitchen with extractor hood on full blast!!

  You'll stink the house out!! do it in Summer when it's warmer and leave it for now. plus we'll be able to laugh at it in France

That's probably not a bad idea. But don't laugh too loud you bastards

John and debs will be leaving an 8 car gap between us on the ride down to Portsmouth, so they can pretend they don't know me

Good one Mal, coming along nicely.

bigmal wrote:

Yes, pillion Mrs just said (amazingly) "it's a problem in the garage, paint it in the house... ".  I'm thinking kitchen with extractor hood on full blast!!

Big mistake, you could ask how I know this 


One way to get a new kitchen, of course.

Ok, "how do you know this"?

Rainy November day, desperate to get some bits painted on a resto I was doing.

Utility room, loads of plastic sheeting all over floor and 'white' goods.

Spraying away until the air became a fog and SWMBO shouting out "christ, that stuff stinks" It was creeping under the door.

It worked though but never again. You could smell cellulose for days afterwards.

I ended up re-decorating the room.

Ouch! Lesson learned. I think I'll take Sim's advice and leave it for now.... I'll still complain to the body shop tomorrow and see if I can get a can of blue and a can of clear free of charge to sort it all out when it's milder..... Mind you it's only £12 for both, but it's the principle!

Coming along nicely Mal .... I won't offer advice on painting as I can't do it but IMO a crap paint job in blue looks miles better than a white one with pink lettering ( on a blue bike ) anyday and as long as its sturdily mounted and you don't end up worrying about it dropping off ( like I was most of the time I was riding last year ) then all's well mate !
Main objective is to get the fixings & buffeting sorted before France I reckon ... if you can't get the aesthetics right, its no biggie really .......

Sensible words.... But I don't think I've got the time to do a crap paint job on it.....

bigmal wrote:

That's probably not a bad idea. But don't laugh too loud you bastards

John and debs will be leaving an 8 car gap between us on the ride down to Portsmouth, so they can pretend they don't know me

Not true at all Mal ..... We'll be riding alongside, pointing and laughing


Until of course its pissing down and we are soaked through and you and Ali are relatively dry - then you'll be laughing at us.

Shouldn't it be "Broke-Batwing Mounting" ?

Barry

bagtoracer68 wrote:

Shouldn't it be "Broke-Batwing Mounting" ?

Very good!

So here's a funny thing... I was out all day Monday, so pillion missus went down to JTB with the funky can of turquoise paint and also my side panel to show them the mismatch. They were shut (but staff were there shipping out orders etc). So one of the owners took a look.... Said "that's ridiculous" and went off to mix a new can free of charge.

Just gave it a good shake (then gave the can a good shake ) and sprayed it on some white card.... Bloody turquoise again.

What the fuck is going on?!?!?

bigmal wrote:

Just gave it a good shake (then gave the can a good shake ) and sprayed it on some white card.... Bloody turquoise again.

What the fuck is going on?!?!?

  are they using a camera to match the colour or going off the paint code?

Both apparently... I gave them the code, and the bloke took the panel into his mixing room...
Very odd. I wonder if they've got an error on their database . The first can they mixed (fir my first attempt at spraying) was pretty damn close.... But it wasn't the same make of can as #2 and #3.

I think I'll go somewhere else :(

There is a place in Ashton, not too far from work.......

Oh dear, oh dear ......

Cheers Bugsy for priceless advice about waiting for a minimum temp before spraying. Now that we're in the middle of a mini heatwave in the uk.....

Flatted the shitty blue back down, applied fresh primer, as I suspect the colour works best over a pale grey.... Got a can of blue from a NEW supplier, and here it is after 4 coats of clear and a gentle buff. That's more like it

Now that is

Glad to help Mal, looking good 

Now that looks great! patience and prep are everything.
Hows the engine?

Funny you should ask.... Sorted see

https://www.suzuki800.com/t5971-aaarrrrgggghhhh-breakdown#120339

Looks great Mal 

Very professional Mal.  Looks good.  Can't wait to see it fitted and in all its glory!  Bet all that hard graft feels less of a chore now.

Looks professionally painted! 

Mal.