Custom Painting Question(s)

[txironhead]

I may save you some time and trouble, if it works you'll really want to go into business doing it!

I was at Wal-Mart today and saw what looked like an inkjet printer, but it wasn't. It was a machine that cuts designs into paper and other light sheet media. Apparently you can use the pre-programmed templates or hook it up via USB and "print" your own. This might be ideal for either paint templates or glue templates for the foil.

 

[Schweisshund]

wow .... that is giving me so many ideas right now :-D I will definitely keep an eye out for that template machine next time I go to get Planet Green HoK. I am also going to invest in an airbrush as well at some point. Follow the link below as to why I want to learn this fine art. Absolutely amazing red dragon.

http://www.organicimage.com/red_dragon.html#

 

[Schweisshund]

Everyone Loves Herbie

Everyone Loves Herbie

I am also going to repaint my Honda Nighthawk and have been "toying" with the design below as a template :-D

 

[txironhead]

I wouldn't.....Nighthawks are tempermental as is....you give it a personality and no telling what it's liable to do.....\\/

 

[Schweisshund]

I wouldn't.....Nighthawks are tempermental as is....you give it a personality and no telling what it's liable to do.....\\/

You are right about Nighthawks - especially mine :-D

In any case, I will post pictures of the gas tank. I was able to spray a tack coat and two light coats of Planet Green using 2 bottles of 1 oz. paint. Apparently, you can reeeeaaalllly stretch this paint out with laquer thinner. I made 5 ozs. of paint with 2 bottles of 1 oz. paint.

The ding I repaired with bondo is visible :-| I may have to use dupli-color sandable primer over the base coat to blend the surface. I hope I can do this.

I will post pictures later this evening. BTW, how long should I allow the base coat to cure before I go about applying silver leaf? I stopped at Micheal's today and bought 25 sheets of Silver leaf, an array of different adhesive applicators and the thick metal leafing adhesive. Total cost to the penny piching starving artist - $12.43. According to the instructions, you apply the adhesive with a stencil brush over the template, allow to dry for 30 minutes, remove template after 10 minutes, then apply the silver leaf and brush off the excess. It says to allow the silver leaf to dry for 24 hours before applying clearcoat. The concept and instructions make this sound pretty foolproof and easy ----- we'll see :-D

 

[Schweisshund]

Silver Leafing

Silver Leafing

I am so glad I experimented with this stuff first. DO NOT BRUSH the adhesive. The silver leaf will look brushed on. I am glad I did not rush to make a template and put it on my side cover - I would have been p*ssed. I am going to pick up the spray adhesive and see what the texture looks like then. I am practicing on a MONSTER KHAOS can.

Are there any tips on how to prevent the silver leaf from "crinkling" ? I am using wax paper, but it still crinkles.

 

[Schweisshund]

Gas resistant clear coat

Gas resistant clear coat

Pelucid by POR-15

 

[txironhead]

Are we 100% sure about compatibility with the HoK paint? Wonder if it's compatible with Dupli-Color. I love POR-15 products, for off-road undercarraiges you just can't beat it. All of their stuff is top of the line.

BTW, I sent you a PM.

 

[Schweisshund]

No - not sure. I am going to do an aluminum can the way I painted my bike and will test the clear coat on that first. May take me a few days but I will post the results.

 

[txironhead]

If you happen to have some Dupli-Color engine enamel laying around, could you test that also?

 

[Schweisshund]

Yes, as a matter of fact I do. I have the aluminum. I haven't gone to pick up any clear yet. When I do, I will post the results with pictures.

I am currently experimenting with silver leaf and spray adhesive. I also did some experimenting with plastic media templates - spraying the adhesive over the plastic - and not getting the results I want. Here is why - the plastic is meant for flat surfaces, I need something like frisket paper, but better - because it can seal the template to the surface and not get any adhesive under the template, thereby ruining the graphic. Frisket paper is also good for flat surfaces only as it tends to crease when applied to contoured surfaces.

I will go to a sign shop on monday and ask them to make me a template with their vinyl paper. I heard this stuff is extremely durable, won't peel paint and can be reused, won't crease etc. I will bring the graphics I want and see how much they charge to make me the template.

Also, its important to note here, when metal leafing, I found the adhesive needs to go on super super thin. You can also iron the leaf onto wax paper to smooth out the creases. This is time consuming work and very very slow. You can't rush it. One tiny tear and its ruined.

 

[txironhead]

I saw a product on TV once, it was kinda like sticky-back plastic wrap. An airbrush artist was using it to mask off a motorcycle tank prior to painting it. I have no idea what it's called, but I do remember it didn't crease. He stretched it over the tank, then used an Xacto knife to cut out the design he wanted to paint. Of course, that's going back to the surgeon-like precision needed to prevent damaging the paint. I think it was on one of the Biker Build-Offs.

BTW, any ideas on the dragon pics?

 

[Schweisshund]

Yes, I got your email explaining about the file size for the dragon pix. It might be better to post the pictures you have on http://www.photobucket.com however if you were to do all of them, it would take you forever since you can only upload three at a time. My suggestion is to see if you can email me with a zip file, if that doesn't work, then try to upload the best graphics on photobucket.

 

[txironhead]

What's the most your email can handle at once? My limit is 1.8Mb per email. I may try to lower the resolution and size of a few, then if you really like one I can email you the high-res copy of it.

 

[Schweisshund]

I am not sure what my email capability is ... will pm you with 2 different email accounts I use.

 

[Schweisshund]

Ok .... I have been experimenting with the silver leaf I got from Michael's and applied a graphic to one of my side covers. Some of the silver leaf did not adhere properly :-| but the good thing about using silver leaf is that it can be re-applied:-D. It does NOT uncrinkle - but I am starting to understand why - its supposed to look like a metal leaf - (did the Homer Simpson "D'oh") ). I actually like it once it dries it looks like an authentic peice of metal and looks pretty darn cool.

I also did some shopping for clear. I went to an automotive paint supply store by NAPA. According to these guys, their gas resistant clear coat - top of the line stuff, is $58 per quart and the hardener you absolutely have to mix it with is also $58 per quart. :?

I have a friend that owns a hotrod restoration shop called Southern Muscle in Waleska, GA. I am going to swing by there and pick his brain until he runs me off :-D

 

[txironhead]

I betcha there's a ton of websites on all kinds of neat effects you can do with leaf. Do a search and you might come up with some "trick mods".

 

[Billy Ricks]

Duplicolor sells clear acrylic lacquer in rattle cans. When I had my T305 years ago I used acrylic lacquer and gas never touched it.

I'm going to be repainting in the future and plan on building a throw away spray booth out of PVC tubing and clear plastic. I'll use an A/C filter for incoming air and another probably impregnated with charcoal for outgoing air. I'll use a box fan to pull air out of the booth passing through the filter before it hits the fan.

Nice tip on the HOC paints at Walmart. I'll be checking it out too.

 

[Schweisshund]

Please post pics of your throw away paint booth if you get the chance.

 

[Billy Ricks]

Please post pics of your throw away paint booth if you get the chance.

Will do, though I'm not sure when I'll get around to painting. Hopefully not too long since I've replaced the front end and the GSXR fender doesn't match the rest of the bike.