How much paint.

[Man Of Kent]

Evening all,
I am considering spray painting my 400/4 tank and side panels and wondering what quantity of Varnish Blue paint I would need.
I am thinking of getting the paint from RS Paints, are they okay or are there better suppliers around?

Cheers in advance
Dave

[Nurse Julie]

RS Paints are great. How much do you need?.....I haven't a clue but someone who knows will be along soon I'm sure.

[Menno]

It depends on how you paint but I guess 250 mil should be more than enough for a tank and 2 panels.

With that you can do easily 3 thick coats of paint.

Maybe you can get paint from RH in the UK or buy it at ebay:
https://www.ebay.de/itm/Honda-CB-400-Four-F-F1-motorcycle-color-colour-laque-paint-varnish-blue-375-ml/362161587050?hash=item545283436a:g:xVgAAOSwlptaDtee

This colour is a good match.
You will have to top it with 2k clearcoat.

[Lobo]

Dave... I’m not here to ‘dis’ RS paints - but take care to (1) ensure the 2K clearcoat overlaps the base colour, (2) consider not painting the tank neck, (3) don’t brim fill your tank & (4) use the centre stand wherever possible. My tank professionally painted at significant cost - made me bloody weep.
Good luck, I’m sure Menno / Julie can chip in with better knowledges.
Simon

[Nurse Julie]

Dave... I’m not here to ‘dis’ RS paints - but take care to (1) ensure the 2K clearcoat overlaps the base colour, (2) consider not painting the tank neck, (3) don’t brim fill your tank & (4) use the centre stand wherever possible. My tank professionally painted at significant cost - made me bloody weep.
Good luck, I’m sure Menno / Julie can chip in with better knowledges.
Simon

Oh Simon, that is a shame, I bet you were gutted.

[Clem2112]

A body shop local to me sprayed my side panels in blue.

They found a colour on a "paint chip" that was a perfect match for the tank (which is all original). Pretty sure it was an old BL or BMC colour.  They ordered enough to do the tank and panels - about the same size as a std small can or 500ml.

[Man Of Kent]

Lobo, thank you for the advice but I am not doing it myself. I know a professional painter who is doing it for me. I am just supplying him the paint.

[Menno]

Just realised.....(!)

I will look in the shop tomorrow...
Varnish blue is also used on a Isuzu jeep.
That is an easy code which you can actually order about anywhere.
Because it is for the Isuzu converted into a new code.

[Lobo]

...yea Dave... I didn’t do that one myself either, it was done by a professional, who kindly re-did it at no extra cost, using a different cellulose based paint. (My guess is he didn’t overlap the clear coat at the top of the filler neck). His comment was that modern paints are now water based, which make them less user-friendly / more of a pain. I dunno - Menno to comment.
Agree, you have to avoid treading on toes with your painter... perhaps simply show him my pic and ask, “what went wrong there mate, just interested?” (!).
Give some thought to the filler neck area, the higher the colour coat paint the more likely issues?
Good luck.
(I did actually have a go myself a year later - different tank / rattle can / but used a gun for the clear coat. Quite pleased... a minor bit of orange peel tbh, and will revisit this soon in light of another tank I’ve just sprayed. And if anyone’s wondering just why I want 2x Parakeet tanks etc... well so am I. Bugger. Wish I’d done it in the Candy Antares and given myself “2” F2s to play with. Another job - another day)
(Julie - they could hear me wailing in the next county 😫!)

[Menno]

So the code for Varnish blue:

ist5001
Dark Blue
ABP
26-02-2007


A small comment on the rest of this topic:
don't use waterbased paint for a motorbike tank.

If ever the clear gets damaged or scrached and you spill gasoline the gasoline will spread under the clearcoat.
And no; a painter is not always obliged to use waterbased paint.

Furthermore: (very important) If you do a paintjob yourself be very careful with waterbased paint.
Wear gloves, wear breathing protection, wear eye protection.
Because your body is also water based it will not be able to get rid of any paint that contacts your body.
Even worse it will absorb the paint. So don't get it in your lungs or eyes or wherever.

Yeah thinnerbased paints are not the best either but your body will try to get rid of that through normal bodyfunctioning.

[Man Of Kent]

Okay, so is RS Paints paint water based or thinners based?