New paint orange peel problems!

[Manitou HT]

Painting my Al Carter bike frame. Primed it rubbed down the primer with 1000 grit then painted. Got some orange peel and was after some advice on what to do now?

 

[REKIBorter]

There is a very good thread on painting bikes in the Bike FAQ section.

 

[Chute55uk]

Orange peel is the paint having high and low spots (a bit like a golf ball) to get rid you need a very fine wet and dry (use wet) say around a 1200 grit and with lots of water flatten it back until it feels smooth to the touch (tip. Don't use your fingers on the paper use your palm so it's an even pressure) when the shiny bits start blending into the dull bits ( shiny bits are the raised paint dull the lower bits) dry with a rubber squeegee I.e. get the water off and they wipe it with a sponge. When it looks even all over use a cutting compound such as t cut (I don't like t cut personally but g3 might be a bit too abrasive ) and finally use a good polish like super resin polish from auto glum or megiuers or similar.
Just go easy with the wet and dry your only lowering the high spots not digging for gold so very light pressure and make sure it's dripping wet at all times or you will grab the paint and burn it

 

[Manitou HT]

Orange peel is the paint having high and low spots (a bit like a golf ball) to get rid you need a very fine wet and dry (use wet) say around a 1200 grit and with lots of water flatten it back until it feels smooth to the touch (tip. Don't use your fingers on the paper use your palm so it's an even pressure) when the shiny bits start blending into the dull bits ( shiny bits are the raised paint dull the lower bits) dry with a rubber squeegee I.e. get the water off and they wipe it with a sponge. When it looks even all over use a cutting compound such as t cut (I don't like t cut personally but g3 might be a bit too abrasive ) and finally use a good polish like super resin polish from auto glum or megiuers or similar.
Just go easy with the wet and dry your only lowering the high spots not digging for gold so very light pressure and make sure it's dripping wet at all times or you will grab the paint and burn it

Thanks for that just one question,
Can I still put lacquer over the polish or will it react?

 

[Chute55uk]

God no! Don't do that, flat it back for a key and then lacquer it then polish so everything up to the polish stage do, then panelwipe to remove contaminants then tack cloth to remover dust ect then lacquer remember thin coats and lots of them leaving to dry in between coats. It dries real quick like 20 mins quick key between coats with a scotch pad and light pressure and when your happy you can use a good finishing compound and then polish for that 'glass' feel