Need advice on body & paint $$$$$

[Cuprum-74]

A shop offered me to pay 4000 to paint my bike. But then I figured I can do it myself for cheaper. I bought a paint gun, had a retired painter who now works at a paint supply store mentor me.

Epoxy 2 stage primer set (Qt): $45
Iwata paint gun set: $125 (used, but only a few times)
HOK Tangelo Paint quart: $65 (on sale)
HOK Medium reducer: $29
HOK UC1 clear (no longer produced, replaced by UC35: $68
HOK KU100 Catalyst: $31
Sets of 600-800-100-1500-2000 grit wet/dry sandpaper: $30
Water/air drier: $20
Borrowed my buddies compressor: But it is $600 if one was to buy that kind
Already had a set of block sanders Paid ($35 years ago)

Total: $448 ($1048 if you include the compressor)

Not bad compared to $3-4k quotes I was getting, but then again bikes are easy to paint compared to cars.
I'm going to attempt to paint my own car here soon when it warms up.

 

[barbee6043]

its a wonder ya could get the bike painted for a mere $4000! LOL but then getting that tank and fender just right! why it would take weeks, months!!!!! ha and thousands in materials! Ha

 

[toplscuda]

The major problem is that the materials are getting out of hand. rotest:

Yes they are. The last time I had to paint one of our work trucks was 6 years ago. I just did this one last Friday and all I painted was the brownish color. Materials ran me $1,000
Turned out ok though and the boss is happy. Thats all that matters

 

[Cuprum-74]

its a wonder ya could get the bike painted for a mere $4000! LOL but then getting that tank and fender just right! why it would take weeks, months!!!!! ha and thousands in materials! Ha

I think I did an OK job myself... Pearls and metallics can be a pain in the butt to work with.
BTW this picture was after the tank went through a 2nd repaint. The first attempt sucked, it had a mottled effect as I didn't evenly paint the surface.

 

[toplscuda]

That bike did turn out nice