bead blasted handle bars and side covers

[yamahansolo]

hey i over the last two days bead blasted my side covers and my handle bars. they looks incredible! i will probobly clear coat them to keep them looking fresh!

[Stralya]

side covers

What was the original colour of the side covers and did they stay the same colour? I'm scared stiff of bead blasting mine because they're so rare and expensive but I want to paint the tins high gloss black.

Dan
Fraidy Cat

[mro]

they're so rare

Think he's talking about the engine covers,
not the plastic side covers


mro
___________

Hey yamahansolo,
it's just teasing to post such a comment without a pic or two

[fredintoon]

"it's just teasing to post such a comment without a pic or two"
Hi 'solo,
or, indeed, to not say what bike you did it to. Until I read MRO's reply I thought you'd bead blasted your chrome handlebars & plastic body covers. OK then, you bead blasted the engine side covers and the aluminum 'bars of an SJ, right?
Yes I bet it looks incredible right now but bead blasting's matte finish is a major dirt & grease magnet. As you say, clearcoat will keep it clean but it also really degrades the look.

[79XS11F]

If you can get some crushed walnut shell for your blaster you can now polish them by blasting with that.
Glass beading does a GREAT job eh.
Rob

[yamahansolo]

ok it's an xj maxim so my side covers are metal not plastic but they do have plastic inserts. i poped out the inserts and bead blasted it and the handle bars look really good.
i do intend on clearcoating them because they seem to get fingerprints worse than the chrome did... i'll try to see if i can upload sopme pics.

[malber]

this thread is useless without pictures

[yamahansolo]

i have the pics... i just don't have a photobucket account yet but i put them on myspace.... plus i am at work so i don't have any time to fool with the bucket. i'll try to take a look and see if i can other wise io could email someone the pics.
i have 3 kids so i don't have alot of time to play plus i work nights...

[yamahansolo]

http://s240.photobucket.com/albums/f...icture0591.jpg

[yamahansolo]

hhmmm

[yamahansolo]

[IMG][/IMG]

[olebiker]

They look great. My XJs PO sanded the covers and used clear coat on them. They don't look as good as those but they are Ok.

[Ken Talbot]

Yes, glass beading does a nice job on aluminum. Here's a bunch of glassbeaded parts ready for powdercoating:

[petejw]

just curious,
when blasting either bead/glass etc,
does it pit the alluminium,
after blasting, would the parts polish straight up
or would u need to rub them back and smooth them up.


All the parts look really good.

[yamahansolo]

thanks ken for stealing my thread...
i will now have to take the whole bike apart and bring it to work to bead blast it...