TOPIC:

I managed to get most of the rust off the front and rear fender, instrument covers, and headlight but the metal is so pitted and scratched that I don't know if anything will help it. I'm thinking about just painting it if I can't find good enough (cheap) replacements.

On that note, I have a pretty handy compressor and if I'm going to paint I might as well go paint gun instead of spray can. Assuming I have the compressor and plenty of hoses, what else will I need? I'm going to end up painting things on four different bikes anyway so I might as well get a good setup. Practice on the junk one and work my way towards my favorite.

You'll need some masking tape to cover the tires and seat. That's about it, after those items are masked, just spray away and it will be "beautiful".
Actually, a motorcycle may look really neat if even the tires and seat were painted, so just spray the whole thing.
Sorry.

I would suggest Featherfill primer or similar product to get rid of pitting and/or scratches. Several coats and a lot of sanding. Will need to use regular primer over this as it seems to soak up first coat.
Harry

yeah you can get 10 gallon buckets of paint pretty cheap ive heard, but make sure you pinstripe some people dont like all one color screaming at them!

What sort of equipment will I need? How much would a basic setup run (ballpark)?

storysunfolding wrote:

What sort of equipment will I need? How much would a basic setup run (ballpark)?

How big of a compressor do you have? I know many people (myself included) who try to run paint guns from small compressors and it just doesnt work. You have to look at the SCFM rating of your compressor at about 40 psi and then find a gun that will use less than that. Example, if your compressor is rated (it should say in the owners manual, or on the unit itself) at 4.5 SCFM @40 psi then you want a gun that requires 4.5 SCFM or less.

If you purchase a gun, get a Gravity fed gun, Labelled with HVLP (HIGH Volume - LOW pressure) then you wont have to have a High pressure compressor and you will be happier in the end.

youll also use less paint .

So all I will need is a HVLP spray gun thats rated for my compressor as far as equipment goes? Where do you find the paint for it?

How does something like this look www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=47016

as far as paint, look for body shop supply places, they will have paint, you need to look at doing some prep work on the chrome so the paint will stick, it will need to be scuffed up a lot, and a good primer to make it stick

if you go to Harbor Frieght, get the better one 9around $30+) its gravity and HVLP.