pancake compressor and a touch up gun for paint work?

I'd like to give painting my moto a shot. I actually just spent a lot of money to pay someone else to do it, and wasn't impressed and didn't really like the color I chose in the end. I've painted some in the past with legit equipment, but now I'm in an apartment in the city so I have to downsize. I'm wondering if I can get away with a 6 gallon pancake compressor and a touch up paint gun. Seems like the moto tank and fairings are small enough that I wouldn't need continuous air, just enough to put one coat on at a time. Anybody had success with a similar setup? I did find this reddit post which was encouraging -

www.reddit.com/r/motorcycles/comments/3l...ir_compressor_for_a/

I don't think there is enough airflow to drive the gun for anything other than small contrast color work. At least the pancake I used to have. When you go to clear the tank you need enough air to fog the tank all over and keep the paint wet or it's orange peel city. If you don't have an air compressor now would be a good time to invest. I have a large compressor which I normally use but I also have a California Air Tools 1.0 HP jobby that I've used in a pinch when painting a bicycle frame. These compressors are awesome; so quiet, and seals up well too. After charging the pressure doesn't drop for more than a week.

I have a system for painting away from mains power.
I have a scuba diving tank and a regulator with a PCL valve on one of the regulators low pressure ports.
NOTE YOU MUST ONLY CONNECT THE GUN TO A LOW PRESSURE PORT.
Depending on the size of the cylinder you can paint a full motorcycle twice over .
There is no moisture in the air and no oil.
The only thing to be aware of is that the air will be colder than from a compresor.
I run a long hose through warm water or keep the cylinder in a vehicle with the heaters on when its cold outside
My local dive shop fills the bottles for a small fee and I can also use the bottle as an air feed for a mask.
many dive shops have seconhand regulators and bottles for sale

You could use a Preval kit and Spraymax 2K clear.

Kidkawie wrote: You could use a Preval kit and Spraymax 2K clear.

Oh, interesting. I've used the spraymax 2K clear. Very nice product. Never tried a Preval kit. Why not just spray clear coat with that kit as well?

oldzed wrote: I have a system for painting away from mains power.
I have a scuba diving tank and a regulator with a PCL valve on one of the regulators low pressure ports.
NOTE YOU MUST ONLY CONNECT THE GUN TO A LOW PRESSURE PORT.
Depending on the size of the cylinder you can paint a full motorcycle twice over .
There is no moisture in the air and no oil.
The only thing to be aware of is that the air will be colder than from a compresor.
I run a long hose through warm water or keep the cylinder in a vehicle with the heaters on when its cold outside
My local dive shop fills the bottles for a small fee and I can also use the bottle as an air feed for a mask.
many dive shops have seconhand regulators and bottles for sale

That's kind of genius

Nessism wrote: I also have a California Air Tools 1.0 HP jobby that I've used in a pinch when painting a bicycle frame. These compressors are awesome; so quiet, and seals up well too. After charging the pressure doesn't drop for more than a week.

Does look very nice. I particularly like how quiet it's supposed to be. That may be the winner. Thanks!

OK, I think I have a plan. I'll get a low volume paint gun (3-3.5 SCFM) and the California Air Tools 1.0HP compressor. That compressor is small and quiet enough that it won't drive my neighbors crazy. That set up should be fine for base and color coats, since it's not as important that those all go on at once. I can use a Spraymax aerosol 2K clear for the top coat which will avoid the issue Nessim brought up, where I need to keep the clear wet to ensure a smooth finish. Boom!

Thanks all!

If you find the right gun that compressor should be okay for shooting the clear. I'd do that over Spraymax.

Nessism wrote: If you find the right gun that compressor should be okay for shooting the clear. I'd do that over Spraymax.

What's your hesitation with using the spraymax 2k clear? Quality of the paint? Application issues? (or both or neither?)

sidenote - found these guys who offer a huge selection of premixed House of Kolor paints in aerosol cans, including HOK 2k sealer/primer:

www.66autocolor.com/house-of-kolor-paint-s/151.htm

you can get a decent paint job with aerosol cans but it will never be as nice as a job you do with a gun. the advantages of the cans is ease of use and low barrier to entry. the quality of the paint is better before its mixed and re-formulated to work with an aerosol.

Zaddict wrote:

Kidkawie wrote: You could use a Preval kit and Spraymax 2K clear.

Oh, interesting. I've used the spraymax 2K clear. Very nice product. Never tried a Preval kit. Why not just spray clear coat with that kit as well?

Spraymax already has the aerosol, 2 cans will do a bike. I used 1 but would have liked another 1/2 can for mine. I used the Preval kit to paint the trunk and door jambs on a Cuda I restored. The tank below is Color Match aerosol and Spraymax. The final finish depends on how good you knock down any peel and polish it.