My experience was with the regular Bondo off the shelf stuff; not the ultimate.
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Griffyn
Guest
If you have a NAPA with a good bodywork section near you, go there and look around. Ask questions. Be friendly. The guys behind the counter usually know what is good for which job and can point you in the right general direction. The guys at the NAPA near me know a lot more about body work than I do, hope it's the same near you.
Since the blemishes are only visible with a gloss coat, I'm guessing that a finishing mud is what you're looking for. That's the really thin, quick-drying stuff. Make up very little bits of it at a time, and put it on a larger area than the blemish itself so that you get the smoothest possible transition from putty to metal. And be ready with the wet sanding, because the thin, soft mud will show scratches if you quit at just 400 grit before laying on the primer. Thankfully, because it is soft you only been a bit of rubbing to make it smooth. One typical noob mistake with mud is to sand it like it's Bondo and then you end up having to make up another batch and pretty much re-do the job up to that point. Think of this stuff as sanding balsa instead of pine.
Hope that info helps you out. Good luck on it and I look forward to seeing the finished product. As this is a learning experience, expect some incredibly frustrating flaw the job that you see every time you look at the bike, but is invisible to everyone else until you point it out. Seems like it happens that way to everyone.
Since the blemishes are only visible with a gloss coat, I'm guessing that a finishing mud is what you're looking for. That's the really thin, quick-drying stuff. Make up very little bits of it at a time, and put it on a larger area than the blemish itself so that you get the smoothest possible transition from putty to metal. And be ready with the wet sanding, because the thin, soft mud will show scratches if you quit at just 400 grit before laying on the primer. Thankfully, because it is soft you only been a bit of rubbing to make it smooth. One typical noob mistake with mud is to sand it like it's Bondo and then you end up having to make up another batch and pretty much re-do the job up to that point. Think of this stuff as sanding balsa instead of pine.
Hope that info helps you out. Good luck on it and I look forward to seeing the finished product. As this is a learning experience, expect some incredibly frustrating flaw the job that you see every time you look at the bike, but is invisible to everyone else until you point it out. Seems like it happens that way to everyone.
S
StubbornDutchman
Guest
Thanks for the great info guys.
I don't have a good NAPA near me. But I do have an ok sized PartSource and Canadian Tire. I'll check them both tonight. Partsource seems to have smarter employees than most Canadian Tire's do so I'll start there. I'm sure I'll come up with something good. I'll post pics of the side covers tonight if I can remember. and the tank and helmet as soon as they are worth looking at.
Thanks again!
I don't have a good NAPA near me. But I do have an ok sized PartSource and Canadian Tire. I'll check them both tonight. Partsource seems to have smarter employees than most Canadian Tire's do so I'll start there. I'm sure I'll come up with something good. I'll post pics of the side covers tonight if I can remember. and the tank and helmet as soon as they are worth looking at.
Thanks again!
S
StubbornDutchman
Guest
Update pics. I'll post a write-up of what I did with the finals.
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S
StubbornDutchman
Guest
Still have to put the Suzuki symbols back on the tank. And I don't have a pic of the side covers right now. Everything is 100% done with rattle cans though.
Steve
GS Whisperer
Now you know why a good paint job is not cheap.
Be VERY CAREFUL at the gas pump. :-\\\
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S
StubbornDutchman
Guest
Not worried. Used a Spraymax 2K clear with a hardener. Auto body supplier told me it's safe with fuel drops.
T
TowPilot
Guest
Crinkle in paint
Crinkle in paint
Check the instructions on the paint can. If you use Duplicolor it has very specific instructions on spraying multiple coats and they must be followed. Either come back with multiple coats within xx minutes or wait 6 days before you put on additional coats. Wait 5 days and you will see the orange peel results. This was my experience. Once I read the instructions, and believed them, everything worked out.
Crinkle in paint
Check the instructions on the paint can. If you use Duplicolor it has very specific instructions on spraying multiple coats and they must be followed. Either come back with multiple coats within xx minutes or wait 6 days before you put on additional coats. Wait 5 days and you will see the orange peel results. This was my experience. Once I read the instructions, and believed them, everything worked out.
S
StubbornDutchman
Guest
Thanks Tom. Not gonna lie. I'm sittin pretty proud right now. Hopefully it doesn't chip and peel and knock me off my high horse. It's been two weeks and its holding fantastic.
There is some very slight orange peel in the clearcoat. I'm debating whether to sand it with 2000 and buff it or just live with it and be happy.
There is some very slight orange peel in the clearcoat. I'm debating whether to sand it with 2000 and buff it or just live with it and be happy.
Do it.
It will look great. Don't wet sand all the way through the wrinkle, just until it's 90% gone. That keeps you from going too deep, you can see to get it all the same. Like a guide coat. When you buff it out the last of it goes away, it will look incredible.
Use a lot of water. If the sandpaper is whistling, there's a rock under it, stop and rinse it off. Do the fender first, save the tank for last. By then you will be pretty good at it.
It will look great. Don't wet sand all the way through the wrinkle, just until it's 90% gone. That keeps you from going too deep, you can see to get it all the same. Like a guide coat. When you buff it out the last of it goes away, it will look incredible.
Use a lot of water. If the sandpaper is whistling, there's a rock under it, stop and rinse it off. Do the fender first, save the tank for last. By then you will be pretty good at it.
S
StubbornDutchman
Guest
Thanks. It's General Motors Quasar Blue Metallic. The pinstripe is Nissan Frost Silver metallic. And the black is Universal Black metallic.
You're inspiring my confidence Tom. Maybe I'll give it a shot sometime.
G
Guest
Guest
+1 Nice Job !
That is awesome. Let us know how it holds up.
S
StubbornDutchman
Guest
Couple more pics. Yes I know those are 550 side covers. But nothing else was available. And these came up for a good price. I'm modifying the mounts so that they fit.
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StubbornDutchman
Guest
I wish I did but it may be a week or two still. My wife and I are sewing a new black leather seat. And I need to finish the new mounting points for the side covers. As soon as I have a pic I'll post it on this thread. Just not sure how long it will be.
U
UTgws
Guest
Another word of caution for you. I did mine just like you have done. When I put the tank badges back on, the screws caused the paint in the screw hole to fracture. Filled my tank full of gas after a ride in the Texas heat, parked the bike, had the vent hole on the tank neck plugged and gas expanded, overflowed the tank, ran down the side to that fractured paint under the screw and...
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5505/9241215310_e637f62b46.jpg
So be careful there.
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5505/9241215310_e637f62b46.jpg
So be careful there.
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GateKeeper
Guest
Man that sucks.....
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