Finally Done!

ok, i just finished it. people call this process "rattle can painting" or "spray can painting" or whatever. it was a long 4-5 days of work. i wouldn't make a good painter and now i have a new respect for the auto body workers/painters.

steps are quite easy. getting it right is VERY difficult. and patience is your best friend. sand plastic with 60 grid sandpaper. get as much crap off as possible. next, i sanded with 100, then 220. getting it as smooth as possible. wash the plastic with soapy water and rinse well. once washed, DON'T TOUCH IT! place where you touched will not take paint well. dry the plastic well. put on primer. (i love this primer - it coats really well.) i put at lease two coats. then wet sand with 400. put on color coats - metallic blue and white. i put at least two coats of white and metalic blue. the wet sand with 1500. put on clear coats. (Dupli-Color Truck, Van, & SUV Clear Top Coat)i put at lease two coats. then polish with rubbing compound, polishing compound, and finish with wax.

it sounds very easy on paper, but getting it right is so difficult. i would give myself 80 points, a "B" grade, for this project. i am thinking of getting top fairings off ebay and take even more time and get them right next time.

p.s. i chose rust-oleum over krylon just because that is what homedepot carries, not because of quality. i never used krylon before on a bike, so i can not speak of their quality.