Masking for Stripes....

[tkent02]

Try to loosely copy this paint job:




Except without the stripe connecting the side cover to the tail piece, just want to taper the stripe to a point from both ends. Also it will only have one red stripe, because there's no chance I could get the gap between two stripes perfect.






Problem is, Just cannot get the tape on straight.
I am patient enough for sanding, and good at spraying, but alas I am not much of an artist at masking. I can't see to get them straight but I can see that they are not.

Any techniques to easily get nice looking straight stripes?

[80GS1000]

Can't help you on painting technique but you can get decals that are identical to the original GS stripes here: http://www.reproductiondecals.com/suz_content.html

[Mike_H]

You could mask off your tape section, then cut the tape out of the middle. Thats usually what I do. In other words, I would slap some tape (like 2 rows of 2" painters tape) in the general vicinity of where you want your stripes. then actually draw your strips in position. Now, Take a SHARP hobby knife (No 11 X-acto blade) an gently trace your lines. If you use a very sharp knife and do not press very hard, you will cut the tape, and not the paint below. You could use this method to get a double stripe too. It might take a couple of tries, but once you get the hang of how the knife feels cutting through the tape, it should turn out pretty good for you.

[bonanzadave]

10 points for effort. 0 for that mask job. I also know nothing but for what its worth go to a autoparts store that caters to the autobody guys and ask someone some dumb questions. Its a free seminar in painting 101. Start with fineline tape, adheasion promoter and some of the other basic but necessary things to make your paint job something to be proud of.

[madjack57754]

You can get 3M fine line tape in sizes all the way down to 1/16 wide - very flexible This stuff is the way to go. leaves a very sharp edged line when you peal it off

[tkent02]

Got a plan...

Going to lay out a bunch of carefully measured "points" on the tank and other pieces, strategically located so that putting the tape the same on both sides will be possible. Fineline tape, and a fresh start when my eyes are working good in the daylight should get better results. Going to wash off the tank again first and use nitrile gloves too, the surface got pretty greasy after handling the tape too much today. Thanks for the help. Any other ideas keep them coming.

[beergood]

Sometimes I find it easier to paint the whole general area of the detail (in this case your stripe) with its color, then I apply masking tape over the area that I want to keep. When I have that done I paint the rest of the object. With certain stripes I think it is easier to get a uniform stripe out of a single piece of tape than it is to try to create something from both sides. It depends on the design and the piece.

[Tom MLC]

These stripes are painted on. I took the easy way out, and had a shop do it. Hardest part was masking to get the two stripes to taper to a point. I helped a little...held the roll of tape for him.

[tkent02]

Thanks for the help guys!!!

I think it turned out alright...




Another week while it cures, some sanding and polishing, I think it will look fairly nice.
The fineline tape is the ****z!!

[t3rmin]

Looks great!

[80GS1000]

Nice job, looking good! Are you going for a flat, satin, or gloss black?

[Tom MLC]

You're doing great so far. C'mon, challenge yourself. Go for the second stripe!

[beergood]

Very nice. And I am sure it was quite rewarding.

[tkent02]

Gloss, gloss, gloss.....

Are you going for a flat, satin, or gloss black?

It just looks flat in the pic because it was wet sanded after the last black coat, I am letting each coat dry a week before adding the next this time.

It takes longer this way but I have another GS to ride so I'm holding up OK.

The last one I did I painted the clear when the red set up, about twenty minutes or so. Wet sanded it only after all the paint was on and polished the next day, it looks good. The bike was only off the road a couple days.

Hoping this one comes out shinier.

The three pieces without any stripes have been cleared and polished a little, they look pretty good.

[tkent02]

Better try not to screw up a good thing...

C'mon, challenge yourself. Go for the second stripe!

Think I will leave well enough alone.





The more I mess with it the uglier it will become.