Spray Paint/Ghetto bodywork Qs

[BAMF]

First off I'd like to say my rollcage is done up in nothing but spray paint base and clear and it looks pretty damn nice, so none of that in this thread.



Now, here's the issue. I bought a bargain motorcycle - it runs great, but its a goddamn eyesore. Its a 1983 Midnight Virago 750 - the paint is either a gloss or satin black. There are several areas that could use a good respray and 2 places that need to be filled (after I find some way to get as much of the rust out of the metal as I possibly can).

Questions:

1. I'm not too famillar with using filler, but I'm sure the directions will tell me the basics. Anything I need to keep in mind when using this gunk to put a thin smooth layer on the paint?

2. What kind of spray paint have you had the best/worst experiences with? Getting a professional paintjob for this bike is too pricey and I don't have the tools or the drive to make a huge mess with my own paint gun, so it MUST BE SPRAY CANS. I had awesome experiences with the Krylon stuff from Discount but I've never sprayed something thats going to have to stand up to this kind of abuse like the tubing of a bike. I'll be laying down primer, base, and clear all from spray paint cans. Just want to get the best spray paint for the job.

3. What grit do I use after every step? The way I see it my steps are:
1) Sand/chip/blast out the rust
2) Apply filler and sand
3) Apply primer and sand
4) Apply base
5) Apply clear
6) Get pissed off that it looks like shit and ask my brother to detail it.

Please let me know if I'm leaving anything out, also. I realize this is pretty backyard redneck type stuff...but what better way to learn, right?

[CHUPA_CABRA_2.0]

all I can say (since I a m not a painter) some paint places will put automotive paint in cans for you. So you could have the color from any car on the bike. In Kansas when my Prelude was painted I built a box for my subs and had them put the same paint in cans for me to match the car

[Ahhhh Nick!]

I didn't sand or prime anything on my car and it's descent... That's about it, I'm happy for the $10 I spend on paint/tape. I painted the car in my sig. haha

[BAMF]

Well, I got my supplies. Anyone know if Rustoleum paints are good? They seem it. Anyways, my supplies are as follows:

1 can Rust-oleum Automobile Primer
1 can Rust-oleum Flat black enamel
1 can Rust-oleum crystal clear enamel
1 can Rust-oleum black plastic paint
1 bottle Acetone
60 grit, 36 grit, 320 grit sandpaper
'000' Steel Wool pad

[LongFellow]

I usually use the High temp engine clear. It holds up pretty well.

[BAMF]

If I didn't clear it as much as I wanted in one spot, but did in all the rests, and its been well over 3 or 4 hours since the paintjob...what do I need to do to fix the clear?

[suprapimpa]

wetsand, polish, wax

[OneBlueSi]

This thread comes to mind 50$ long ass thread
i saw a post on KZrider and the bike looked good after it was done.