paint idea

05c50 · Posted: Sun Mar 06, 2011 7:33 am Post subject:

Ahhh, live and learn. That's the best thing about working on these old bikes, it's not life or death. Why don't you try your hand at fixing the cover while you look for another one. You may learn a new process in the end. What do have to lose?

.........Paul

jvandyke · Posted: Sun Mar 06, 2011 3:44 pm Post subject:

Yep, I decided to do just that this afternoon. Took a day to "get over it". Just starting over is all, with more prep work then the first time. I scuffed my hard won clear job with coarse grit paper and applied a layer of bondo to fill the 4 "depressions" caused by the "drying lights". I can try for a slightly more OEM shade of root beer although it would have to come cheap as I'm pretty happy with the $5/can Testors , small can but enough for two covers and the tank if you don't screw up, maybe need two cans for the three to be safe. It's mostly clear coat and elbow grease anyway. I probably won't go after the tank for a while, needs to be warmer for this work when you don't have a heated garage.

jvandyke · Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2011 6:58 am Post subject:

Second time around. Lots of quality time with filler, sand and primer mostly made it smooth again. Base coated yesterday and it looks acceptable again. Not as nice as the first time around. I'm starting to think the color might be closer to OEM then I think, the spots on my bike that don't see too much sun (the tail of the tank where it tucks under the seat) are about the same shade as the Testor's Rootbeer. Anyway, no clear yet and maybe won't be for a while. I should shoot a picture some time.

jvandyke · Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2011 6:13 am Post subject:

Update.
Decided to just do tank and both side covers. Rattle can Duplicolor bronze wheel coating. Looks really nice so far. Buddy will clear it all for me and hopefully it doesn't look too crappy.

jvandyke · Posted: Mon May 02, 2011 11:01 am Post subject:

Off to get clear'd today. I redid the black on the tank (dent and some rough areas). I taped off the white stripes and used good 3-M Thin Line tape and that turned out great. There's a few defects, bugs in the finish and some spots are a bit light. Biggest downside is the orange peel, it's pretty bad so I'm hoping the clear gets laid on nice an thick and I can smooth polish it out a bit. I don't think it's easy to rattle can without orange peel, I sure tried.

jvandyke · Posted: Thu May 05, 2011 6:32 am Post subject:

Back from clearing. Look really really nice, certianly no pro job but I'm pretty happy with it. I'll post some pics when it's all back together, really like the color.

jvandyke · Posted: Fri May 06, 2011 11:10 am Post subject: tank painted

I like it. Hope it looks good on the bike in the sun, going down some cool road with nothing more important to do than ride......Heck at that point, who cares what it looks like?

719frontier719 · Posted: Sun May 08, 2011 9:35 pm Post subject:

I just got a cheap '72 sl100 to mess around with. The tank was a little rough, so I got a tube of cheap bondo, some "Banner Red" Krylon, some left over tan paint from a previous project, and a can of clear. sanded+bondo+sand+prime+sand+prime+sand+prime+sand+5 coats of red+wetsand+two 1/8 inch parallel pinstripes down the sides of the tank and the fenders+4 coats of clear = best D*** rattlecan job ever! All at a cost of $6.
--but the bronze idea sounds cool too!

butch8231 · Posted: Sun May 08, 2011 11:37 pm Post subject:

NICE COLOR!!!!!

jvandyke · Posted: Mon May 16, 2011 5:30 am Post subject: back together

Repainted the badges. Reassembled. Couple quick test rides. Hope to clean it up and get some shots in the sun. Color is a bit weird, almost color shifting. At some angles it takes on a more ruddy/burnt orange tint. I like it.