How can I setup my tiny bike shed for painting a bunch of parts?

[JimVonBaden]

I TOTALLY get you! I just think the average guy would not go to the lengths you are!

I am not average, so I can see doing what you did. I am very interested in your spray rig and "compressor".

Jim

[Zagando]

Originally Posted by rick danger

... Nothing like proper automotive quality urethane enamel. Just spill some gas on it after you've gone through the same parts removal/sanding/masking/wet sanding/polishing/reinstallation/admiring. And it never looks as good IMHO......As an aside, I painted a lincoln town car I had once in my old garage. It was coming out pretty good till I noticed some "haze" on the hood. turns out it was solvent popping. Poor ventilation. Live and learn. Shouldnt be a problem for you with your "super non-restricted ventilation fan". Just make sure you dont get yourself a dust cyclone going as you paint. ....Good luck. Looking forward to the results.

Roger, roger, Rick... I'm glad I redid the exhaust fan. Yesterday I cut most of the rest of the plastic pot off as it was still constricting the airflow a tiny bit. I also took off one of the two furnace filters I had over the front. That helped a bit more but it still seems not quite as powerful as when I first installed it. That might be due to the 600-watt dimmer switch/rheostat I installed in lieu of the on/off switch---or maybe it's just my imagination, as I've set it to the "wide open" position which shoudn't reduce the current flow.

Turns out I don't need to turn the fan speed down as I originally thought I would as far as I can tell. But I don't think I'll have a problem with dust cyclones, either. Can't really "feel" the suction until you get really close to the fan but it's there. I'll be spraying fairly close to it as much as possible.

I set up a barrier with a bunch of odds and wrapped a plastic-mesh fence around the outside of the fan to keep the cats from getting too close should their inherent curiousity get the better of them. Still plenty of unconstricted ventilation otherwise.

In the last hour I also ran a test of my infra-red heat lamps inside the booth.

In 32 minutes time they reduced the humidity from 72% to 64% and raised the temperature from 74* to 83*---while my next electric bill will skyrocket (1000 watts for these; 1500 watts HVLP, 800 watts respirator turbine,550 watts fan, 700-watts dehumidifier) they will come in handy for curing the primer/paintclear after it's sprayed (will only run the heat lamps once all solvents/cans of paint are out of the booth and it's safe to do so).

Might leave them on all night, too, as the dampness really comes up as soon as the sun goes down (maybe I'll unscrew one or two bulbs so it's not going full-tilt). That way everything will be good and dry the next morning and ready for the next coat.

I'm running everything on heavy-duty extension cords plugged into separate outlets all around the house (far from ideal but don't have much of an alternative). Since I'll usually be running at least 3 of the five big current drawers at any one time I'll also unplug our refrigerator, tv and electric water heater before I'm spraying so I don't blow a fuse/breaker in the process.

Thanks for wishing me luck; every littlle bit may come in handy

[Zagando]

Originally Posted by JimVonBaden

I TOTALLY get you! I just think the average guy would not go to the lengths you are!

I am not average, so I can see doing what you did. I am very interested in your spray rig and "compressor".

Jim

Cool, Jim; I'm probably also considered a long ways from average (and am even farther from Timbuktu)

[rick danger]

Originally Posted by Zagando

That way everything will be good and dry the next morning and ready for the next coat.

not sure what paint you're using ,but any of the stuff I've used has a less than ten minute flash time between coats. Unless you're refering to the primer which usually gets dry sanded before the color so overnight is fine. I think most two stage paints can have the the clear coat go on in a half hour or so. I think if you wait to long you need to scuff up the color and shoot another coat. I havent googled this up, but I think thats what I remember. You can usually get a materiel spec sheet from the autobody supply where you get the paint. Handy to have . For me anyway. Different paints/manufacturers have different mix ratios for hardeners and what not. And flash times. I was looking at these , and still may get them. http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/w...age-_-Products

[Zagando]

I'm using the PPG Deltron line: DP90LF primer (10-15 min between coats, 60-90 minutes or up to 7 days until topcoat without scuffing or sanding), DBC base coat (5-10 minutes flash, 15 minutes to 24 hrs. to clearcoat) and DCU2021 Concept clearcoat (10-15 mins. flash, 16 hours air dry time).

Printed out all the spec sheets already. The DPLF is a non-sanding type primer/sealer and I'm planning to do one stage per day, more or less. May start spraying today although not sure what the weather is going to do---it's overcast and may start raining later (rained here last night). Will check the forecasts and decide after breakfast...

[Zagando]

Egads! Just checked the forecast on my NOAA weather radio... "Severe weather warning in effect for the Big Island today through Thursday night..."

Possible t-storms, heavy rain and even significant snowfall on the summits of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa. Flash flood warnings for our island Wednesday through Thursday night, too.

Although it's pretty tranquil around here this morning I can imagine the rain will begin in several hours and get heavy late tonight.

Am reluctantly going to have to postpone my spraying until this approaching storm has moved on---bummer. My only hope is a resumption of some dry, sunny days like we had last year well into December (although most of November was pretty rainy also). I'll keep watching the forecasts and see if it is clear by the weekend where I might have a better chance of drier conditions. Fingers crossed but basically pretty bummed out for now...

PS: to RickDanger; you might want to read about the paint I chose in my "PPG non-sanding primer, etc." thread now on page two of this forum, too.
The main reason I'm not planning to shoot everything (primer,base & clear) in one day is that I have 23 pieces to paint---and can probably only do them one or two at a time (except for half a dozen tiny bits like the rear seat handles, lug nut cover and so on).

I believe waiting for the pieces to tack dry before I remove them from their jigs or hooks after the second coat will require plenty of time. I sure don't want to try to rush through this, either.

If I'm lucky I may manage to basecoat and clear them in one long day but we'll have to wait and see how the primer goes on first.

Hang in there folks, I really want to get things painted sooner than later--- but will have to hold out for drier weather now.

[rick danger]

I just bought this. It looks like it might be handy when I paint a bike. It has a bunch of hooks that you can adjust and rotate. May be good for small parts, side covers etc. At the least it'll be a place to hang the part after its been painted. http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=66245

[Zagando]

That HF mount's pretty cool, Rick. I can see why you're so interested in this thread. I think a good mounting system will be very helpful in getting good results.

Here's a few recent shots of my setup that include:

two goosenecks that swivel around (mounted on a 2x4 arm that also turns 360 degrees)---borrowed these from my Diamond Pacific Genie lapidary unit upstairs. Theu can be quickly unmounted and set aside if they're in the way of spraying something else. Those are the rear handles, fender flap and a lug nut cover currently clamped or bolted on them in this pic.

small plastic "painter's pyramids" I found at Home Depot and hot-glued into position for an important part (rear cowl); can also use them for the radiator screen pictured.

a small home-made stool to which I've C-clamped another pipe mount for use with a couple of wooden jigs (that fit the undersides of my saddlebag halves/top-case lid)

and the big rack and extra loose shelves I can prop up for doing both sides of the wheels

The other rack inside the booth will be used for storing the parts before/after spraying and for drying.

I remounted the dehumidifier to compress the ducting inside the house so to have a shorter path into the booth. Just like my recent fan modification it works much better now---and puts more warm, dry air into the booth. It actually dropped the humidity from 76% to 48% in a 45 minutes test!

Before anyone asks; No, I won't be spraying the wheel and all the parts pictured at the same time---I have been arranging them various ways to devise a flexible procedure when I actually am painting. I may be able to spray the four smaller pieces at once but after that I'll be taking them on and off the mounts one at at time.

Thank goodness for ultra-wideangle lenses!






Oh, yeah---put together a barricade around the exhaust fan to keep the critters from getting too close...it's funky but effective. I threw this together in no time and I'm also going to put a lot more of that plastic screening around it before I'm done for good measure.

[rick danger]

I hope the paint job comes out nice, after all you've gone through.

[Zagando]

Thanks, Rick; I hope so, too.

Due to the onslaught of very heavy rains (that always indicate the beginning of our nearly endless rainy season) I have decided to go to Plan B (see the last page of my MOA thread for the full scoop)