First Street Bike Project - with a few questions

[GateKeeper]

Exactly.......

[GateKeeper]

Well, now that I got the bearings in (thanks again Flyboy!), I decided I needed to at least get the tree's painted so I can being putting the frame together. Since I don't have a heated garage, I figured I would wait to paint until the spring but that seems soooo far off and I want to get wrenching!

So I looked back through some of the member's threads and noticed some of the makeshift cardboard paint booths and decided that will work for me too! So, one cardboard box, a halogen shop light and some hanging wire later and we have some painted parts!




Feels good to get some paint down. This weekend I plan to get the swingarm on and the triple tree's. I'm pretty stoked for even this little progress.

I thought you weren't going to paint the top portion of the triple, the part that the handlebars attach too.

I painted my bottom, but am leaving the top polished.

like so

[Sci85]

Good one Bruce. I had a good laugh tonight!

Yeah, it's in the garage and after the first coat of primer, I realized I needed a mask GK. Why do you always tell me these things after the fact ;-)

I did see your post GK and thought about keeping mine upainted too but I really want to bring the bike back close to stock and that shiny top clamp I think would stick out so I went ahead and painted it. But I do like the look no doubt.

I'll post up some close ups tomorrow. So until then, I got some more paint to sniff...

[Redneck]

Sorry bout the switch Sci.. I would offer you my extra one but the are completely different styles wiring should be the same but the look will be different. I like the painted triple, I ride with no fairing and the sun would blind me having something that reflective in front of me.

Paul

[GateKeeper]

Hey Sci,,,,I will try to be more proactive, must be the cold, can't read the mind well enough when it's cold.......LOL

@Redneck, I left mine unpainted, but it really don't matter, once it's on and all the other stuff gets bolted back on, it's not even seen, so no blinding bling....plus it was easier to not paint it....hehehehehe

[Sci85]

Ok quick question. Should I bake these or just let 'em sit for 7 days (as stated on the can)? I want the finish to be nice and tough since keys and stuff will be hitting the clamp. If you bake your stuff, what temp do you use and for how long?

Thanks.

[GateKeeper]

250- 300 deg for about 1/2 hour to 45 min would be my guess, but if you have your bearings on, then don't bake....you could mess up the bearings, at least I would think so.

I did not bake anything, I will just let it sit, and some things I have painted have already been sitting for over two weeks now, other things like the front fork bottoms, kinda big to stick in an oven....

just my thoughts.......others might have better ideas...

[Sci85]

Yeah GK, I am not going to do the lower clamp, just the upper. Not that the bearing wouldn't take it. More so because all the grease would run out all over the clamp. Yikes!

Interesting thought...I searched and searched the forums and while there are a lot of folks baking their parts, I couldn't find one mention of temp and time for rattle can paint!

[GateKeeper]

of everything I have read, baking the parts is so you get the paint to cure faster than having to wait for it to cure on it's own, a day or 2 or a week. Very little talk of it actually sticking any better to the metal,or any other benefit

you don't want it too hot, it will just melt the paint, you also don't want it to bake too fast, so a low heat and a longer time in the oven is better, than high heat and a quick time.

the reason I see for say not baking the paint on an engine, is as simple as it will actually bake itself on, as the engine will heat up anyways, so I see no need for baking.

I guess if your doing calipers and want to assemble quickly, then bake em, but again no need if your not in a rush

anyways just my thoughts on this, mostly based on what I have read on the interweb.....LOL

[Redneck]

I am not sure if it was rusty bronco or who it was at the moment. The gentleman on the forum that rebuilds carbs for peeps. He mentioned that the baking process does a couple things. It allows you to not have to wait the extra days to let it cure properly and because of the baking process it often brings out a little bit better shine if you are using a gloss paint.

Paul

[SVSooke]

You are thinking of Renobruce Paul.I bake pretty near everything,250 to 300 for 20 minutes works good.Let cool then respray while warm then rebake gets a tougher finish.Not to warm or you boil the paint though.An old toaster oven work for smaller stuff,I keep mine outside.

[Sci85]

Well, since I didn't have much direction, I baked them at 200 degrees for an hour. It certainly looks good but I guess only time will tell how well it holds up. I'll get some pics posted up when I get a chance.

[brslk]

200 degrees for an hour is good. And yes, do it outside or in the garage in a toaster oven. My wife was ready to kill me the first time I did it in the house oven.

Bruce.

[Sci85]

Too late Bruce, I already used the "inside" oven. Thankfully I had an hour to vent the house before she came home. Whew! Won't do that again hehe. Disaster averted!

[SVSooke]

I guess I have a "funny" wife,baking in the "big" oven's just fine.I use the toaster oven because it make better sense than firing up the big one.Still use it for bigger stuff.