Ask the Editors: Painting My ATV’s Frame
Dear ATVC:
I have a ’05 Honda TRX400 (yellow plastics) and I’ve been wanting to paint or powder coat the frame. I was thinking flat black would look good, any suggestions? Also, any helpful hints or parts I may need to replace would be great.
Loki1699
ATV frame painting can indeed be an affordable means of freshening up a tired-looking quad. You describe two very different processes in your query; painting and powder coating.
When it comes to liquid painting a frame, we’ve had success using variations of the following technique:
Strip the ATV down to the frame
Run 200-grit sandpaper along the frame to roughen up the surface/ remove the stock paint
Wipe the frame down with a quality liquid paint stripper
Clean thoroughly with lacquer thinner
Apply an even coat of black etching primer & let dry
Begin applying sprayed coats of enamel paint (we prefer PJ1 Frame Paint)
Apply in smooth, even coatings careful not to focus on any individual area/ cause running
Make certain each coat is fully dry before applying the next
Use your discretion based on how well your given color is covering but we recommend at least two coats
Finally apply spray on a single, evenly applied clear coat (available from most automotive stores) to protect your fresh paint
Powder coating, on the other hand, is a form of finish applied as a free-flowing, dry powder. The main difference between a conventional liquid paint and powder coating is that the powder coating does not require a solvent to keep the binder and filler parts in a liquid suspension form but rather the coating is typically applied electrostatically and is then cured under heat to allow it to flow and form a new surface. The powder may be a thermoplastic or a thermoset polymer. It is usually used to create a hard finish that is generally tougher than conventional paint.
You never mentioned whether or not you have access to powder coating equipment but generally speaking this is the preferred method for “painting” an exterior surface of an off-road vehicle due to the fact that it’s typically harder and more durable. The downside of course is that it can be pricy if you have to have your frame sent off to a shop that specializes in the process. If money’s no object, go this route.
