How To Paint A Motorcycle Tank With Spray Paint/Rattle Cans Full Tutorial

Have you been wanting to give your old motorcycle's tank a face lift? Look no further! This is a full tutorial of how to paint a motorcycle tank using spray paint or rattle cans start to finish. I hope this tutorial helps, if you have any questions or comments let me know!
2k Clearcoat high gloss- (WEAR PAINT MASK) amzn.to/4bCHR4n
Type of mask required for the clearcoat (you can find others) - amzn.to/3T2Cvaj
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[@donkeeton7897]

1975 Yamaha RD60 had one identical was my very first bike got it in the summer of 1978 I was 10 yrs old its great to see this one being restored and repainted absolutely beautiful!

[@octanerestorations]

Thank you very much!!

[@samreed5618]

The chicken is the star! Great video!

[@octanerestorations]

Haha thank you very much!!

[@ddavexn]

Amazing finish! Thanks for the info and the demonstration. Top job!

[@octanerestorations]

Thank you very much!!

[@Mr.Innovator961]

I find Rustoleums “ etching primer” in spray cans to give worry free results. It dries to a light army green color to show even coverage-excellent adhesion. On a humorous note: at least you found a safe use for those HF jack stands.

[@octanerestorations]

I will remember that, thank you! And no kidding haha, about all they are good for!

[@69Busa08Nova]

Thanks for the great video! I’ll be painting my ‘81 Wide Glide some time over the winter in a very similar fashion..except I have a couple dents to repair so I’m excited about that!! Really fun taking old bikes that have seen better days and make them see better days.

[@octanerestorations]

Thank you for the comment! I agree, it is satisfying bringing them back to life! I Guess bondo will be your friend!

[@Punkerage]

this turned out awesome. great job!

[@octanerestorations]

Thank you very much Punkerage!

[@desjustdes939]

Well put together video and commentary. Spot on.

[@octanerestorations]

Much appreciated!

[@mikeopenshaw9128]

Excellent job - thank you for sharing!

[@octanerestorations]

Thank you very much!!!

[@VektorHaus]

Shout out to the chicken! It was so intrigued lol.

[@octanerestorations]

She really is a good one, more like a dog than a chicken Haha!

[@Jay-vr8it]

your neighbors truck got a nice overspray paint job too ! just kidding appreciate the video

[@octanerestorations]

I was careful on where the wind was blowing haha, Thank you!

[@BineyT]

I like the pet chicken cameo.

[@octanerestorations]

Haha thank you! She is a good bird

[@markhooper5824]

Ace job mate.

[@octanerestorations]

Thank you very much!!!

[@dennishillman6205]

Buy a real respirator-30 bucks or so. Your lungs will thank you.

[@octanerestorations]

Thanks for the comment! I use one now.

[@ShortyTW867]

nice job

[@octanerestorations]

Thank you very much!!

[@mondl5344]

Awesome work man! How did you deal with the bumps the coat made over the vinyl?

[@octanerestorations]

Using this high gloss clear coat with a few coats was thick enough that you cannot feel any bumps! if i had any though I would have sanded it smooth with 3000 grit wet sandpaper!

[@nmpan-shovel]

Lovely job. I'm fixing to do a '71 Bonneville tank, so would like to ask whether you did end up doing any color sanding or clear coat sanding? Thanks very much.

[@octanerestorations]

I did not have to! I normally would cut and polish clear coat if I had some orange peel but this tank turned out well enough I did not need to! Thank you!

[@mehrdadmehrbani3190]

Thank you for your great and fully detailed video. May I ask you to leave the link for the paint and coating please? Much appreciated.

[@octanerestorations]

Hello! Here is the clear coat www.amazon.com/dp/B0082LJMC6?tag=bravesoftwa04-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1&language=en_US Here is the paint I used! www.homedepot.com/p/Rust-Oleum-Stops-Rust-12-oz-Protective-Enamel-Gloss-Cherry-Spray-Paint-248568/205585923 Here is the primer! www.homedepot.com/p/Rust-Oleum-Stops-Rust-12-oz-Flat-Light-Gray-Automotive-Primer-Spray-2081830/100169179

[@TonyMontana-lh2zc]

Greate vid! What type of color (color code) is this? I am looking for a color called 28V Marble Italian Red for a Suzuki. This one looks very similar. Can't find that color code in a regular paint store.

[@octanerestorations]

www.walmart.com/ip/Cherry-Rust-Oleum-Stops-Rust-Gloss-Protective-Enamel-Spray-Paint-248568-12-oz/17011127?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=0&wl13=861&gclsrc=aw.ds&adid=2222222227717011127_117755028669_12420145346&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=501107745824&wl4=aud-2225087347827:pla-394283752452&wl5=9028549&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=8175035&wl11=local&wl12=17011127&veh=sem_LIA&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwyo60BhBiEiwAHmVLJcsxcJQI810XNRwuOxIa0HYi6E29chOGfsilzoqGschaYC8ZWdA1HhoCTBUQAvD_BwE There is a link to the can I used!

[@robsim4692]

I like to paint on super windy days and dtand back 8 to 14 feet

[@octanerestorations]

Normally doesn't work well!

[@daveco1270]

That looks awesome.. What would happen if you put the decals on shortly after the paint had dried? I'm doing a 1964 Triumph tank right now and part of the color scheme is a 4 inch 1/8' stripe that separates two colors. (If you google 1964 Triumph 650 you'll see the paint scheme I'm talking about.) I'm planning on using a pin stripe decal rather than painting it on (one less thing to worry about, and the decal pin stripe looks pretty good). I'd like to try to paint the tank and then do the clear coat on the same day, but now you've got me thinking about that decal going on too soon. It's a peal off pin stripe decal that doesn't use water to go on. I don't want to mess up my paint messing with that decal. I've purchased that same brand of 2K clear coat. I suppose I could wait a couple weeks for the paint to fully cure then do the decal and clear coat. This is my first time doing this, so Ive been taking my time prepping the tank. It needed a little filler here and there.

[@octanerestorations]

My only issue with that is if you have to move the decal at all, theirs a very good chance that the pinstripe will pull up your paint! Another issue is if the clear coat if you spray the clear coat after 1 hour and before 48 hours the paint won't be fully cured for the clear coat to adhere to. Before the hour, the paint is "Wet" and laying the clear coat goes on like another layer of paint. After an hour and before the 48 hours the paint is trying to dry (the solvents are leaving the paint) which will cause bubbles in your clear coat. The solvent (which is the propellant/cutting agent) doesn't really start leaving the paint till the 1st hour. Just my two cents on it, i would wait till the paint dries (48 hours) then lay the decal, then lay the clear coat!

[@daveco1270]

@@octanerestorations Thanks for the advice. I'll wait 48 hours then lay down the pin stripe decal and then the clear coat.

[@octanerestorations]

@@daveco1270 Anytime!

[@geezitscold]

awesome job...what is the name of the final 2 part clear coat?

[@octanerestorations]

2K glossy clear coat by spraymax! www.amazon.com/SprayMax-Glamour-Gloss-Aerosol-Clear/dp/B0082LJMC6/ref=sr_1_4?crid=P7YE50GWXWUU&keywords=2k+clear+coat&qid=1697492946&s=automotive&sprefix=2k+%2Cautomotive%2C104&sr=1-4

[@gabrielgratil7360]

How long can I tape over a spray paint layer so I can do double tones???

[@octanerestorations]

Normally you need to wait for it to fully cure! Most of the time at least 48 hours, I prefer for two weeks though

[@shadowzMR2Turbo92]

Do you have a link for the ceramic coating you used?

[@octanerestorations]

Yes I do! amzn.to/45NIy8l

[@richardbartlett4075]

That's a beautiful tank. I use the same paint as you did. Oil based, but I used gloss black. I don't even get close to the finish you do after the spraying of the Rust oleum. My painted parts look like I mixed sand with it. Do you sand after each coat of paint or primer? If so do you wet sand with 3000? I have been restoring a 1976 Yamaha RD 400. I have a shop in my garage and I do my own boring, porting and I also have a SuperFlow machine on & on. This bike will be high performance, but I can't paint worth a shit! I'm 68 years old and you would think I should have figured it out by now, but oh no. You did such a fantastic job on that tank! Thank you and I subscribed to your channel.

[@octanerestorations]

Thank you very much richard! And no sir I did not. I sanded my tank down with the wire brush, then used acetone or rubbing alcohol to get fine dust and particles off. I used the rustoleum automotive sandable primer, and sanded the primer after applying. I never sanded after the primer! I waited a few days for the primer to fully cure, then used the high gloss spray paint. After letting that cure I did the decals, then the 2 part clear coat, then ceramic coating. How new is your paint? if it isnt mixing properly I could see how suspended particles could look like sand. And also is your shop dust proof when you're laying the paint down? Thank you for subscribing!

[@richardbartlett4075]

@@octanerestorations Wanted to thank you again! The RD400 started with an auxiliary tank and now I'm going to paint the tank and fiberglass body kit. Now I'm 69, so I better get on it. LOL. Thanks for the info, I'll be following your directions, except the Gtechiq. I'll be using Turtle Wax Ceramic - so much less money $15.99 + tax. I'm already way over my budget, couldn't cheat on the mechanical - I'm the one who will be riding on the drag strip!🤕

[@octanerestorations]

@@richardbartlett4075 Anytime! Glad it is going well and hope you continue to see good progress! And believe it or not I actually really like turtle wax brand. It won't last as long as the Gtech but the price is really hard to beat. Yep, better not skimp out on the mechanical aspect🤣

[@richardbartlett4075]

Hello again. I’m always full of questions and hope I’m not bothering you. Could you feel the edges of the decals after the final top coat? Thank you very much

[@blakeepperson3902]

Should I sand the decals before clear coat for better ashesion? I’ve seen some ppl do it but it makes me nervous bc the vinyl is expensive. Also, how many cans of paint did you use for the whole job?

[@octanerestorations]

I would not personally sand the decals! Same here, these vinyl stickers were over $150. And around 6 cans total, 2 primer 2 color coats and 2 clear coats! But that was painting other pieces too, with a tank you could probably get away with 1 of each!

[@blakeepperson3902]

@@octanerestorations Awesome thanks for the response. I've got only 3 cans of custom color for a tank, 2 fenders and 2 side panels and am not confident it'll be enough, but I'm about to find out.

[@octanerestorations]

@@blakeepperson3902 Haha I would imagine if they were regular sized rattle cans it would be enough, like the spirit! Best of luck Blake!

[@JJ_on_B6]

Didn't u block the fuel cap hole from paint getting inside ?

[@octanerestorations]

You can! There really isn't a reason to though in my opinion, the amount of paint getting into the tank is so little as long as you're careful!

[@JJ_on_B6]

@Octane Restorations fair enough final product was bang on though 👌

[@octanerestorations]

@@JJ_on_B6 Thank you very much!!

[@adasdas0]

Heres a question. Did you sand it after the base coat but before putting the decals on? And then Clear coated it?

[@octanerestorations]

No sir I did not! I waited more then 48 hours for it to cure, then applied decals, then waited additional time and applied the 2 part clear coat. I have not had any adhesion problems, but some people recommend always sanding to help the layers adhere.

[@Mark-cs2qd]

Wouldn't a 2K clear be better?

[@loganboyer8816]

That is a 2k clear...it's a urethane based clear coat with a hardener and activator.

[@octanerestorations]

It is a 2 part sprayable clear coat!

[@octanerestorations]

Exactly! Thank you!

[@georgesaint4417]

Tip don't get your paint from DIY car shops, go where the Pros go and get their paint.

[@octanerestorations]

Professional paint will last longer!

[@robsim4692]

Well if we are DYI and not paint pros how are we supposed to know where the pros go?

[@octanerestorations]

@@robsim4692 We have stores like NAPA that will mix paint colors for us. Some companies online will custom mix colors and put them in a spray paint can!