New-2-Me '80 GS750L

[pete]

Rain, rain, go away!
Day 3 of it, even if it does stop it will probably be too humid this week with all this standing water.... good news is we aren't butt hole deep to a tall giraffe like they are on the East Coast here in the states this morning!
DAMN!

So I guess that's "bugger" and "excellent" all in the one sentence hey?

I do feel sorry for them though, we just went through that earlier this year, thankfully it didn't hit us here at our house though...

[SVSooke]

Rain, rain, go away!
Day 3 of it, even if it does stop it will probably be too humid this week with all this standing water.... good news is we aren't butt hole deep to a tall giraffe like they are on the East Coast here in the states this morning!
DAMN!

Sound like winter here,or earlier this "summer".Finally getting a nice strecth of weather.

[Hoosier Daddy]

Well today (Sunday) didn't start out too bad and by afternoon it was near 80 degrees and the Hygrometer read 62% so I put two cans of the white laquer in the sink filled with warm water. Gave eveything a final wipe down, threw covers on the bikes then went in and grabbed the paint and out to the shop I went. 6 coats later and this is the first stages outcome. Almost looks too good wet sand. Some very slight orange peel on the one side cover but it will wet sand out for the next step... like I said, this is only the first stage... Go ahead, touch it ... it's dry.

[SVSooke]

Hmmmmm...Verrrryyyy interestingggg

[Hoosier Daddy]

Good news is now some of the pressure is off, I need to let it cure and de-gas for several days then I can hit it with the 400g wet sand, and wait for the next batch of "Nice" days to lay out the pattern then shoot the blue.
Then more waiting...
sanding... then the clear.
Guessing about 2 weeks at this rate!!!

[Flyboy]

Jeeeez, look at that, even before sanding, this is going to be special for sure.
I hope your weather holds for the next two weeks, I need to see this transformation.
Looking stunning so far.

[pete]

Oooooh pretty! Finally got a start hey? Good stuff!

So tell me... for a complete noobie wanna-be painter (me), does a paint job really take that amount of time every time?

I'm thinking with mine I'll need to prime, lay down the maroon base coat, then the white stripes, then the clear coat.

Wondering if I need to take two weeks off work or if I can get away with one... I can potentially do the prep work and primer before hand...

[Hoosier Daddy]

Well, patience is a virtue when it comes to a decent paint job... Some times you can knock them out in a week, but I did not have Mother Nature cooperating with the rain. It also depends on the paint. Some paints will heave and wrinkle if you lay another coat before it is completely cured. Even though it's hard on the exterior, inside the thinner used is still evaporating off called "Degassing". Some cans even say to recoat every ten minutes, but if not within one hour, you must wait a week before the next coat. (!) So I always let one color cure as long as possible before wet sanding and applying the next color or the clear coat.
Here is also a tip, paint light colors first then darker colors. you will get better coverage. My tank will be blue with white stripes. So I will have better outcome panting the white first, masking off my stripes then painting the blue. Depending on your striping you may want to do the same. It will be easier than trying to cover the maroon with white and get complete, even coverage with no bleed through. Plus the white base coat will really make my "Intense Blue" well....INTENSE.
Even though paint seems to be opaque, whats underneath does show. Usually with darker colors you want a darker primer to make them appear more "Deep", and brighter colors a light colored primer makes them "Pop".
Don't know if "Non Members" have access but I know you can read this DoTheTon Rattle Can Bling! a 20 page thread chucked FULL of other great tips, some I knew, some I've learned. AWESOME resource!

[pete]

Well, patience is a virtue when it comes to a decent paint job... Some times you can knock them out in a week, but I did not have Mother Nature cooperating with the rain. It also depends on the paint. Some paints will heave and wrinkle if you lay another coat before it is completely cured. Even though it's hard on the exterior, inside the thinner used is still evaporating off called "Degassing". Some cans even say to recoat every ten minutes, but if not within one hour, you must wait a week before the next coat. (!) So I always let one color cure as long as possible before wet sanding and applying the next color or the clear coat.
Here is also a tip, paint light colors first then darker colors. you will get better coverage. My tank will be blue with white stripes. So I will have better outcome panting the white first, masking off my stripes then painting the blue. Depending on your striping you may want to do the same. It will be easier than trying to cover the maroon with white and get complete, even coverage with no bleed through. Plus the white base coat will really make my "Intense Blue" well....INTENSE.
Even though paint seems to be opaque, whats underneath does show. Usually with darker colors you want a darker primer to make them appear more "Deep", and brighter colors a light colored primer makes them "Pop".
Don't know if "Non Members" have access but I know you can read this DoTheTon Rattle Can Bling! a 20 page thread chucked FULL of other great tips, some I knew, some I've learned. AWESOME resource!

Ok that does make some sense.

I was thinking maroon then white as I haven't decided if I want the stripes on the front guard or not.

Everything else does make a lot of sense, and I guess the best option is just to talk to the people wherever I get the paint from to determine the best course of action...

And I'm a member there remember

Can't wait to see how yours turns out!

[Hoosier Daddy]

Ok that does make some sense.

...And I'm a member there remember

Can't wait to see how yours turns out!

Thanks pal! and yea, I remember seeing you there once or twice . That's why I posted the linky for you... but didn't know if others reading this thread can go there.
SO, on another note, the Uni filter was here when I go home... BONUS!
BUT I had a BEAR of a time trying to fit the air box back onto the carb rack tonight, wound up taking the carbs back off and fitting the airbox to it on the bench to try and expand the boots back out to shape. The more I played with them, the more pliable they became.
If you look back to the beginning of this build, The PO had a tough time and didn't have the bottom of the boots on right. I was able to get everthing in place on the bench and figure I will let it set that way overnight before trying to remount everything to the engine tomorrow.
And the 2 1/2" filter fit the 2 3/8" (60mm) airbox just fine, I was able to snug it down just like they said it would. Not even cranking on the clamp bolt, just snug and I could pick up the air box and the carb rack buy the filter so it sould be fine once it is all together.
Pics once I get it all installed.

[pete]

Thanks pal! and yea, I remember seeing you there once or twice . That's why I posted the linky for you... but didn't know if others reading this thread can go there.
SO, on another note, the Uni filter was here when I go home... BONUS!
BUT I had a BEAR of a time trying to fit the air box back onto the carb rack tonight, wound up taking the carbs back off and fitting the airbox to it on the bench to try and expand the boots back out to shape. The more I played with them, the more pliable they became.
If you look back to the beginning of this build, The PO had a tough time and didn't have the bottom of the boots on right. I was able to get everthing in place on the bench and figure I will let it set that way overnight before trying to remount everything to the engine tomorrow.
And the 2 1/2" filter fit the 2 3/8" (60mm) airbox just fine, I was able to snug it down just like they said it would. Not even cranking on the clamp bolt, just snug and I could pick up the air box and the carb rack buy the filter so it sould be fine once it is all together.
Pics once I get it all installed.

Haha thanks mate! I will definitely have to go through that thread. So you're doing your job with rattle cans then? I was hoping to spray mine as I picked up a compressor with a 4 piece gun kit and hose for free last Christmas.

Sounds like that filter should work well! Cool!

I just got done replacing my intake boots tonight, so glad I don't have to fiddle with the airbox.

New intake boots make it sooooooooooooo much easier installing the carbs though, no more need for rubber grease and the clamps on the boots actually appear to be clamping something...

[Testarossa]

Oooooh pretty! Finally got a start hey? Good stuff!

So tell me... for a complete noobie wanna-be painter (me), does a paint job really take that amount of time every time?

I'm thinking with mine I'll need to prime, lay down the maroon base coat, then the white stripes, then the clear coat.

Wondering if I need to take two weeks off work or if I can get away with one... I can potentially do the prep work and primer before hand...

If you are using catalyzed automotive paint, then you don't have to wait that long. I did a complete 2 color job and clear coat in the same day for one of my bikes. With rattle cans you do have to wait a long time for the maximum cure.

[Hoosier Daddy]

If you are using catalyzed automotive paint, then you don't have to wait that long. I did a complete 2 color job and clear coat in the same day for one of my bikes. With rattle cans you do have to wait a long time for the maximum cure.

True true... With real for sure 2K automotive paints the Pro's use there is no need . I have a compressor but need to splurge and by the gun, filter and dryer.

[pete]

Aaaaaaah thanks for the clarification!

In that case my week off is more likely to succeed (pending my ability to paint of course)

[Hoosier Daddy]

Well, Patience is not one of my virtues...
Those of us also on DTT know what I had in store for a paint job but I was hesitant posting it here in case I changed my mind (Chickened out) But tonight was the 3rd day of nice weather and tomorrow 2 cold fronts are moving in back to back. So when I got home I wet sanded the white, masked it off an shot the blue.




If you look closely you can see some tape in crazy directions.
Here is what I have in mind... Any Eddie Van Halen Fans out there?



So After making the plunge on the pattern and knowing I rushed the white curing time, Nervously touching a couple of test spots but just like the can said, after an hour the 6 coats were safe to the touch. So off came the tape!





When I laid out the stripes on the tank, I thought about the side covers position. So I mounted the 3 on the bike and the side covers are a continuation of a couple stripes from the tank.



Now the pressure is off and It can cure as long as I need it to, probably even add a black stripe or two, but then eventually I will shoot the 6-8 coats of clear.