Let the blasting begin!

[Nessism]

If this is a silly question, please excuse me. But, wouldn't it be easier to have it dipped? And for that matter, doesn't sand blasting tend to hide some faults like small cracks? Just interested for future reference.

Yup, easier. And while you're at it why not have someone else paint the frame too. Heck, why stop there, get someone to restore the whole bike.

BTW, a cleanly blasted frame will make any cracks easily visible.

[rustybronco]

If this is a silly question, please excuse me. But, wouldn't it be easier to have it dipped? And for that matter, doesn't sand blasting tend to hide some faults like small cracks? Just interested for future reference.

I doubt it has any cracks in the frame and I'd be 'very' surprised if it did.

if I had it dipped I'd loose the the decal on the head stock.

[FiremanBob]

Am very interested in your experience as I am about to begin blasting parts of my CB77 for restoration.

[Guest]

if I had it dipped I'd loose the the decal on the head stock.

Whats the problem with that?

[rustybronco]

Leaving off that head stock decal is similar to not putting back the decals that came on the chain guard and fork lower. 'to me' a restoration should be exactly that... restoring it as close to the way it came from the factory and as best my funds will allow it, that's my intent for this one.

[chuck hahn]

have y6ou found any good sources for the decals for the forks and chain guards? What about the one on the airbox..I think it was the battery label?? If you find like a full decal set anywhere..do pass on the info. i got 4 bikes that could use the kits.

[rustybronco]

have y6ou found any good sources for the decals for the forks and chain guards? What about the one on the airbox..I think it was the battery label?? If you find like a full decal set anywhere..do pass on the info. i got 4 bikes that could use the kits.

I'm 'saving' the one on the fork lower I have by taping over it before I sand and clear them. the air box I have has the decal on it as does the seat.

although I can't find it right now, there's a place in the UK that made some replacement decals including the one on the chain guard.

[mighty13d]

Whats the problem with that?

probably that he WANTS the decal. lol


Also one bag of media: $7 (reusable)

electricity for compressor: not enough to be worth adding up

labor: Free, it's fun if you are doing it because you want to (and have gear) instead of needing to do it




Dipping: unsure of costs of having it done but gas to and from will undoubtedly cost a hell of a lot more than the sand


having the means and motivation saves money.

[Steve]

... although I can't find it right now, there's a place in the UK that made some replacement decals including the one on the chain guard.

I had one bookmarked that seems to not be available right now, so try this one.

.

[Guest]

Dale,
You could contact Reproduction Decals. It says to do so if you don't see what your looking for, the closest I found was a '80 GS1100E set of 7 warning decal set. Here's their E-mail address:

info@reproductiondecals.com

[rustybronco]

I think it was these people who sold them. (???)

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SUZUKI-GS550-TYRE-PRESSURE-CAUTION-LABEL-/140537941800?pt=UK_Motorcycle_Parts&hash=item20b8b6cf28

[Agemax]

try this one they may be able to help.
classicmotorcycledecals2,

[Matchless]

Now this is going to be an interesting one to watch! Dale, I will be checking up on you as you go along!
Good luck and enjoy!

[mighty13d]

seems easier and a ton more cost effective to just tape off the decal, blast the frame and be done with it. no shipping, no transporting, no problems. It will also be faster. he can do the frame in a single afternoon and not have to wait a week for someone else to dip it and then to get it back and the shipping (one to three weeks) for the decal...

And here I was thinking that people on here were for the DIY way so you can do it faster, easier, better and cheaper! I guess not???

[sparki]

Yup, easier. And while you're at it why not have someone else paint the frame too. Heck, why stop there, get someone to restore the whole bike.

blasting makes one hell of a mess, takes a little setup and needs cleaning, a few times, both before and after the process... all the poster was asking about was for his future reference. getting a frame dipped takes little time, makes no mess and most of all contains no blast media(!) after it's done..... and after it's dipped there's every chance the company doing the dipping can dip it in a rust inhibitor so that the INSIDE of the tubes are protected as well.

........ you can't clean out the INSIDE of a frame with blasting, nor protect it with a lick of paint , while dipping you can.

hth makes an imformed choice to those wondering the same