Painting my own tank.

[ZachDDill]

I was thinking about painting my own tank, I have found on websites where you can get Ducati Red paint and I know somebody with a paint gun, My question is.. Should I try to do this myself or pay and get it professionally done?

[dennisd]

I'd say go for it.  Worst case, you don't like your work and have it redone professionally.

[ZachDDill]

You're right, I just need to get a summer job so I can pay for paint, I have so much money I want to put in my baby... Too bad I have none.

[dark_duc]

Personally, I would pay a pro to do it.  First paint jobs rarely come out as nice as you would like (I know from experience).  There is a lot more than paint and a gun...You need a good compressor, air dryer, and a booth to keep the dust off would be a huge plus.

[m1moto]

Try and do it yourself. You can even get a pretty decent finish with rattle can paint. Take your time with the prep and every step along the way. This will be an exercise in patience. Crappy prep and rushing through the steps will ultimately show in the final finish. Unfortunately we can't help with your cash flow problem but there's a lot of free info on the web, your public library and this forum.  Look at it this way; at the end of the summer all your mates would have played their asses off but at least you can show a sweet paint job on your bike and a new set of skills.

[Langanobob]

Here is a link to a long "DIY Painting" thread over on the Tech forum:

http://www.ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=29.0

If you read through it (probably take too much time) or skim through it there are lots of questions and answers.
I've painted several tanks, cars and trucks and my suggestion is to go ahead and do it.

Preparation is the biggest part and it doesn't pay to cut corners and  use cheap primer or paint. It's expensive to pay someone to paint your tank and if you do it right it's also not cheap to do it yourself.  But you get to learn a lot and have the satisfaction of doing it your self.  

I'd stay away from rattle can paint for a tank - I  don't know if there is any rattle can paint that is fuel proof and no matter how careful you are, sooner or later you'll get gas on the paint.

Bob

[Z06C5R]

I was between doing mine rattle-can or trucking out to my grandparents house for several days to use their spray-gun rig and "real" paint.  I went with the rattle-can option figuring if it didn't come out well I wouldn't have really lost much other than the time spent doing the job, and in the end, it came out way better than I ever expected a rattle-can job could - You'd never know it was done in my basement with $60 worth of spraypaint unless I told you.  

Try and do it yourself. You can even get a pretty decent finish with rattle can paint. Take your time with the prep and every step along the way. This will be an exercise in patience. Crappy prep and rushing through the steps will ultimately show in the final finish.

+1.  Do everything exactly as you would with a "real" spray-gun job - just substitute the actual spray-gun for a rattle can.  And use high-quality paint - I used the Duplicolor "automotive laqcuer" line and can say it's a cut above most of the other crap I've shot over the years, and it's held up beautifully where I used it on the lower-valence of my 240Z 5 or 6 years ago.  No fuel spillage to worry about there though...

Just as a final thought on rattle-can jobs, here's how mine turned out:  Much deeper / brighter in person, but you'll get the idea.  A single-stage color would be even easier to get looking good.

[The Mad King Pepe']

Congrats, looks nice!

I'm sure a pro could point out issues with your work, but for what it's worth and considering you did it with rattle cans, it looks great! Damn, now I'm tempted to give it a shot as well...

[Z06C5R]

It's easier than you think.  Patients it really all you need (I have no real painting skills, just knowledge of the process).

[ChrisH]

If you use spray paint, pony up the money to have it professionally cleared with automotive grade clear. That will prevent fuel or other liquids from bubbling up the paint. Good luck.