1981 Kawasaki KZ750 Resurrection

[nvr2old]

I agree. If the striping tape is flat when you spray the first coats of clear, it should stay that way. Lay the first coats on kinda dry so it doesn't eat into the tape. 3-4 coats, let it dry for a few days, sand it smooth, lay a few more wet coats and you should be good.

[Nessism]

Got everything color sanded. Had to level out a some clear runs and think it's all flat now (fingers crossed). Painting front and back at the same time proved to be my undoing, especially on the front fender. The flow clear layers should be much easier since it's just the top surface now.


P1010819 by nessism, on Flickr

P1010820 by nessism, on Flickr

P1010815 by nessism, on Flickr

[tkent02]

Laid down some pin stripe tape on an old CD as a trial. Worrisome issue is making sure the stripes don't lift after stretching them to form the corners. Performed a similar trial on a different substrate but the tape curled up after a few days. Hopefully the smooth surface of the CD will replicate the surface of the painted and sanded tank, and the strips will stay put. The clear should help the stripes stick down, but not sure I should rely on that. I'm thinking if the tape doesn't lift after a couple days they should be okay after being clear coated. Guess I could do a trial and paint the CD then toss it in the sun. Was hoping to avoid all that extra work though...

On this bike one of the stripes lifted at the corner as the clear went on.



The curve might have been tighter than yours, but the stripe was thinner too. It was on there tight until the clear went on. The curve was perhaps tighter than yours, but the stripe was thinner too. I wonder if heating it and rolling it down might help? Mine was not really noticeable from more than a foot away, but it was there. Still is.

[Nessism]

How long did you wait before the clear went on Tom? And was the surface smooth, or were you going over an overlap seam step between the two colors?

Larry advocates laying on the clear pretty dry to avoid lifting. Sound advice. When laying down the stripes on my old 550 tank I made sure to burnish them down firmly before the clear. Waited a few days before shooting the clear too. No lifting, but then there were no tight turns either.

Picture111 by nessism, on Flickr

Picture112 by nessism, on Flickr

[Guest]

Looks very good!

Painting front and back at the same time proved to be my undoing, especially on the front fender.

That was my undoing on the first job, too. You learn these things the hard way...

can't decide if I should do that and shoot a couple more clear layers before the stripes, or just lay the stripes down now.

I am in favor of laying most of the clear AFTER laying the stripes, gives more depth to it and the graphics don't stand that proud of the surface. I guess it's just a preference on the looks. But laying a semi-dry coat or two to seal the graphics is I think a very sound advice. That's how I've done it and had no probs.

Good luck (but I'm sure it will look stunning!)

[Nessism]

I am in favor of laying most of the clear AFTER laying the stripes, gives more depth to it and the graphics don't stand that proud of the surface. I guess it's just a preference on the looks. But laying a semi-dry coat or two to seal the graphics is I think a very sound advice. That's how I've done it and had no probs.

Good luck (but I'm sure it will look stunning!)

Oh yes, clear over the stripes for sure. Sorry if it wasn't clear that I was going to use more clear, but how much more clear? ...oh nevermind.

[posplayr]

How long did you wait before the clear went on Tom? And was the surface smooth, or were you going over an overlap seam step between the two colors?

Larry advocates laying on the clear pretty dry to avoid lifting. Sound advice. When laying down the stripes on my old 550 tank I made sure to burnish them down firmly before the clear. Waited a few days before shooting the clear too. No lifting, but then there were no tight turns either.

Very pretty Ed

It doesn't need it, but are you going to sand and buff it as well?

[Guest]

Oh yes, clear over the stripes for sure. Sorry if it wasn't clear that I was going to use more clear, but how much more clear? ...oh nevermind.

Yes, I got your question correctly so it was *me* who wasn't clear - I meant to say:

- after the first coat of clear (which you've done), apply graphics, then several more coats.

as compared to:

- several coats of clear to start with, then graphics, then just one more coat.

But anyhow this is just preference in appearance, depending how deep you want the graphics to appear - deeper in or more on the surface. On my GS I have 4 coats of clear on top of the graphics and one coat below/before the graphics. It doesn't show in pics but in person the graphics appear burried deeply below the surface, which I like.

[posplayr]

On this bike one of the stripes lifted at the corner as the clear went on.



The curve might have been tighter than yours, but the stripe was thinner too. It was on there tight until the clear went on. The curve was perhaps tighter than yours, but the stripe was thinner too. I wonder if heating it and rolling it down might help? Mine was not really noticeable from more than a foot away, but it was there. Still is.

Maybe some super glue, tape everything else off

[Nessism]

Laid down the pinstripes today. Turned out okay, but I won't be quitting my day job to start pinstriping for a living.

Bought 3M brand stripes, and ordered direct from 3M because I wanted to make sure to get fresh stock. The stripes themselves are sort of gummy in consistency, and stretch easily for the turns.

Finished the last part this morning and going to let them set up for the rest of the day, then shoot some more clear layers down tomorrow morning. Fingers crossed...

P1010824 by nessism, on Flickr

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P1010822 by nessism, on Flickr

P1010821 by nessism, on Flickr

[eil]

Ooh, I like that a lot. Is the color underneath black?

I think those stripes would look fantastic under dark grey. (Which would not be "vintage," but eh.)

[Nessism]

Ooh, I like that a lot. Is the color underneath black?

I think those stripes would look fantastic under dark grey. (Which would not be "vintage," but eh.)

The color is a real dark blue; it looks black in the shade but the blue comes out in the sun. Had the paint mixed special.

[Nessism]

Shooting clear...

Wait 10-20 min's between coats. Spray...wait...spray...go to GSR and check in...spray...GSR...

Getting the hang of this new USC01 clear. Medium coats. Not too thin or it's orange peel city. So far no runs. Spraying outside means some dust here and there. Not too bad though.

Will post some new photos soon.

[Nessism]

Pre polishing...

P1010841 by nessism, on Flickr

P1010842 by nessism, on Flickr

P1010843 by nessism, on Flickr

P1010844 by nessism, on Flickr

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P1010848 by nessism, on Flickr

[SVSooke]

Nice Ed!2K in a spray can right,tried it for the first time on my 78 1000,confirmed to me I'm great with a can and a disaster with a spray gun