Spray Bomb Paint Job

[XS1100_OEM4ME]

Here is a new pic of my bike with my latest "spray bomb" paint job. I haven't rubbed it out and waxed it yet (needs to cure a while 1st) I use a two part spray can clear (activator is built into the can and you add by pushing a valve on the bottom of the can) so it will harden and resist fuel spills. And yes, that is a paper towel wraped around the P-cock, waiting on the new O rings Just thought I would share

http://i955.photobucket.com/albums/a...0-26-11006.jpg

[Cobia]

Looks very good, Lon. What kind of paint/coating did you use?

[XS1100_OEM4ME]

Speed Clear

Looks very good, Lon. What kind of paint/coating did you use?

Its called Alsa Speed Clear. It is ridiculously expensive, $40.00 a can + S/H but it is tough as nails after it cures. Once you activate the spray can, you only have a few hours to use it before it starts to harden inside the can. 24 month shelf-life before activation. I had some left over from my "employed" days

Here it is:
http://www.alsacorp.com/products/kil...speedclear.htm

[xs11lover]

Wow, that's really nice. I suck at painting. I'm sure I'd have $120 into it and it still wouldn't be that nice.

[XS1100_OEM4ME]

Thanks

Wow, that's really nice. I suck at painting. I'm sure I'd have $120 into it and it still wouldn't be that nice.

Thanks, it still has a little haze, but when it hardens (I give it about a month to be sure it is totaly cured), I will buff and wax it and it should look like glass

[crazy steve]

If you use a modern two-part paint and supplies, it's actually fairly easy to get really nice results. I shot my SG with a single-stage (no clearcoat) urethane, then wet-sanded with 1500 (just until the orange peel disappeared), followed up with 2000, then 3000, then used some Meguires 'pro' rubbing compounds. The 3000 paper leaves it looking almost as good as what you'd get with 'regular' rubbing compound, and the rubbing-out process with the 'pro' stuff was no harder than applying a paste wax and gave me a super-smooth finish. Results here...

[IMG][/IMG]

[XS1100_OEM4ME]

Nice

That looks nice! Lots of steps / work. I walked out out back, shook a rattel can, held up my tank and sprayed Still, I am happy with mine

[crazy steve]

...Lots of steps / work...

Actually, it's not a lot of work; I sanded/rubbed out the tank and sidecovers in about 6 hours total. I'll never go back to 'regular' rubbing compounds again... Don't get the idea I'm a pro; I shot this in my garage, and had numerous bugs commit suicide in the wet paint. I'm using a cheap HF HVLP 'detail' gun ($50 in a 2 gun kit) and as long as you avoid any runs, it's almost impossible to screw this up. I've found that once you've got the gun, it's as cheap or cheaper than using spray cans. But even if you're using rattle-cans, you can still get this finish with the fine papers and compounds. Mine probably didn't look as good as yours before I rubbed it out...

One nice thing about using the super-fine papers is you can see the progress you're making and it's pretty hard to sand though the paint as they're not that aggressive. The rubbing compounds I used are Meguires 'MirrorGlaze' 105 Ultra-cut and 205 UltraPolish. You have to buy these at an auto-body supply (not available in most parts stores) and they're not cheap ($30 per bottle, but I've got enough to do a half-dozen bikes), but well worth the money IMO.

[XS1100_OEM4ME]

Actually, it's not a lot of work; I sanded/rubbed out the tank and sidecovers in about 6 hours total. I'll never go back to 'regular' rubbing compounds again... Don't get the idea I'm a pro; I shot this in my garage, and had numerous bugs commit suicide in the wet paint. I'm using a cheap HF HVLP 'detail' gun ($50 in a 2 gun kit) and as long as you avoid any runs, it's almost impossible to screw this up. I've found that once you've got the gun, it's as cheap or cheaper than using spray cans. But even if you're using rattle-cans, you can still get this finish with the fine papers and compounds. Mine probably didn't look as good as yours before I rubbed it out...

One nice thing about using the super-fine papers is you can see the progress you're making and it's pretty hard to sand though the paint as they're not that aggressive. The rubbing compounds I used are Meguires 'MirrorGlaze' 105 Ultra-cut and 205 UltraPolish. You have to buy these at an auto-body supply (not available in most parts stores) and they're not cheap ($30 per bottle, but I've got enough to do a half-dozen bikes), but well worth the money IMO.

Hi Steve, I was just kidding around I owned a AutoBody shop in my youth. I have done the kind of paint job you are talking about. Here is a pic of my 68 Z28 (and, yes, I did extend the mufflers to over the axle after the pic was taken) It was primed, sealed, top coated with PPG black Lacquer (Ah, the good ole days when you could buy / spray Lacquer), debur-sanded between 5 coats, PPG gold Lacqure stripes, gold micro sequins in clear on top, then 5 coats of PPG clear Lacquer, debur-sanded between coats, then 1000 sanded, 1200 sanded, 1600 Ditzler power buffing compound, Ditzled pollishing compound then finishing compound then wax then off to the car shows But that was a $100,000.00 show car, this is a $1,900.00 bike, and I am getting old

My Z28:

http://i955.photobucket.com/albums/a.../camaro001.jpg

[XS1100_OEM4ME]

Compound

Actually, it's not a lot of work; I sanded/rubbed out the tank and sidecovers in about 6 hours total. I'll never go back to 'regular' rubbing compounds again... Don't get the idea I'm a pro; I shot this in my garage, and had numerous bugs commit suicide in the wet paint. I'm using a cheap HF HVLP 'detail' gun ($50 in a 2 gun kit) and as long as you avoid any runs, it's almost impossible to screw this up. I've found that once you've got the gun, it's as cheap or cheaper than using spray cans. But even if you're using rattle-cans, you can still get this finish with the fine papers and compounds. Mine probably didn't look as good as yours before I rubbed it out...

One nice thing about using the super-fine papers is you can see the progress you're making and it's pretty hard to sand though the paint as they're not that aggressive. The rubbing compounds I used are Meguires 'MirrorGlaze' 105 Ultra-cut and 205 UltraPolish. You have to buy these at an auto-body supply (not available in most parts stores) and they're not cheap ($30 per bottle, but I've got enough to do a half-dozen bikes), but well worth the money IMO.

I am going to try those compounds you mentioned, you cant get Ditzler 1600 anymore (not for about 20+ years now) I have been using 3M 39002 and its OK, but culd cut faster / better, Thanks

[bikerphil]

After wet sanding 2 part clearcoat, Mothers chrome polish works pretty well to bring back the gloss, YMMV.

[crazy steve]

I called Maguires tech line and asked what would be the best way to finish motorcycle parts. They're too small to machine-polish easily, and they were who recommended the 3 steps of paper and compounds. I gotta tell you, those Maguires compounds flat-out amazed me..

I do remember the 'old days', of careful wet-sanding then hours of rubbing to bring back the shine... Try 'em, you'll love 'em too....

[XS1100_OEM4ME]

I called Maguires tech line and asked what would be the best way to finish motorcycle parts. They're too small to machine-polish easily, and they were who recommended the 3 steps of paper and compounds. I gotta tell you, those Maguires compounds flat-out amazed me..

I do remember the 'old days', of careful wet-sanding then hours of rubbing to bring back the shine... Try 'em, you'll love 'em too....

Yea, back in the day, 1200 grit had just been invented Will try the Maquires

[crazy steve]

http://i955.photobucket.com/albums/a.../camaro001.jpg

Hah! Those were the days... header mufflers and slapper bars, yeah baby!

[XS1100_OEM4ME]

Nice bike

Hah! Those were the days... header mufflers and slapper bars, yeah baby!

Although, I am a OEM fan, the wheels, turn lights, bars, mirrors and with no sidecover emblems of your bike has a nice clean look It kinda has a KZ look, which was a great looking bike in its own right, one of the 1st bikes that caught my eye as a young lad