New Yamaha Black

[mack]

Anyone have a source for the powder coat paint?

[crazy steve]

Mack, if you're looking for this to refinish your sheetmetal bits, I wouldn't recommend it. Powdercoat, while an excellent finish in the right places, on large-area parts (like fenders and fuel tanks) it will micro-scratch and tend to dull rather quickly. Great for things like frames, engine covers, and brake calipers where durability and chemical resistance is more important than surface finish (it's got to be best thing going for battery trays..).

As far as color selection, it's limited. Powdercoat can't be 'mixed' like paint, it has to be manufactured in a specific color. Solid colors are the more durable; anything with a metallic content or clears will mar/discolor much easier.

[mack]

Head

Thanx Steve, I always pay attention when you chime in. I have to redo my head to match from my jugs down. Long story but excessive head caused the paint to flake off. Looks like sh..t. Going tp bead blast it and want to get a close match.

[crazy steve]

Mack, don't scoff, but my black paint of choice for barrels/heads is any quality oil-based paint in a can. Yep, I brush it on. I've never had any luck with spray paint, as no matter how hard you try, you just can't get it into all the nooks/crannies with even coverage. With a brush, you can get a good coating into those places if you work at it, and if cured right, is very durable. And touch-up is a snap... because it's oil-based, any slight grease/grime will get 'brushed' into the paint and won't cause an issue with it lifting.

I've done this multiple times, and have always been happy with it. I did my XS2 650 this way, and with occasional touch-up, after six years it still looked great when I sold the bike.

If you go with powdercoat, try to find the exhaust-rated powder, otherwise you may get discoloration.

[WMarshy]

Also, touch ups are impossible for powdercoating. With paint you can always put a dab on a chip, with powdercoating you cannot.

[crazy steve]

Also, touch ups are impossible for powdercoating. With paint you can always put a dab on a chip, with powdercoating you cannot.

Yep, there's alway that. But properly-applied powder is nearly bulletproof; but if it does get flaws, the only fix is a strip/recoat. And getting it off is a major PITA... BTDT

[mack]

found one

Found a close match, it's a powder and the color is called mirror black. I looked at it on a set of aluminum rims and it is very very close. Going to give it a try, if I don't like it, I'll rebead the darn thing again and go with your tip on oil base. Did the exhausts with ceramic and I hate the result, they're black but dull and have a grey hue to them. Going to bead that off as well, and go with expense of black chrome dipping.

[Incubus]

"Excessive head?" I did not think that was possible....

If you need to remove powdercoat, Aircraft paint stripper takes it right off. I used it many times during my "learning how to powdercoat" period.

Patrick

[mack]

Nice catch

Nice catch Patrick. Your absolutely right. No such thing.