Drying time - Pinstripe to final clearcoat

[salty_monk]

Is there a minimum time to let the stripe air out before I can go over the top?

I've now got to scuffed Y2K clear stage (Two coats over Duplicolor perfect match black, left for a week then flatted back with 600 Wet) & adding pin stripe (Prostripe brand) before more Y2K clear.

 

[1978GS750E]

I always let mine "gas-out" for a min of 48 hours.

 

[Guest]

I thought I saw Larry recommend a week, but I can't be certain. If you can find his MotoGuzzi/BMW thread, he talks about it in there.

 

[nvr2old]

If you give your stripes 24-48 hours, you'll be good to go. The reason I waited a week on the Guzzi was I only had access to the shop on weekends and so the decals sat for a week before I could get the clear sprayed, which is fine as long as the first coats of clear were sanded before decal or stripes are applied.

 

[salty_monk]

Thanks, Yep I sanded beforehand. It's a bit cold here (by SoCal standards) so I'll probably wait at least a couple of days in that case. My first time applying stripes like this, I did a "nearly stock" job. They came out ok I think....

 

[salty_monk]

I applied them all by eye rather than masking them out. Took a good 3.5 hours solid work. Tank stripe looks a bit weird in that camera angle, looks better in the flesh.

GS1100G in progress by salty_monk, on Flickr

GS1100G in progress by salty_monk, on Flickr

 

[Guest]

Nice work, patience pays off!

 

[salty_monk]

Yeah there is definitely a knack to it. I watched a youtube or two the other day which helped

 

[nvr2old]

Your parts look real nice. Striping is sweaty palm work for sure and it does indeed take hours to do it right. You did a fine job and they should look really good after the clear coats. Put your first couple of coats on kinda light. If you spray them too wet too soon it will run right off the pin stripes. The first couple of coats will help anchor the clear coats that follow..if that makes sense,

 

[salty_monk]

That's good advice & thanks for the compliment. I'm very sure it doesn't come close to one of your jobs but I'm ok with it for what it cost & time taken.

I think I only have sufficient paint for two coats, maybe I should get more. I know the edge on the stripes won't disappear for sure. I was kinda planning to hit it & see how it looks, add more after scuffing again if necessary.

How many top clearcoats do you generally put on? Two light and one "wet" or more than that?

I'm going to wait for it to warm up a bit.. only 60 here at the moment. I think on Sunday we should be in the 70's so that should help prevent any sagging, runs etc.

 

[wyly]

That's good advice & thanks for the compliment. I'm very sure it doesn't come close to one of your jobs but I'm ok with it for what it cost & time taken.

I think I only have sufficient paint for two coats, maybe I should get more. I know the edge on the stripes won't disappear for sure. I was kinda planning to hit it & see how it looks, add more after scuffing again if necessary.

How many top clearcoats do you generally put on? Two light and one "wet" or more than that?

I'm going to wait for it to warm up a bit.. only 60 here at the moment. I think on Sunday we should be in the 70's so that should help prevent any sagging, runs etc.

I think I went 6 top coats maybe more, 10-15 minutes between coats. The more the better, little daily scratches the paint picks up can be polished out later without getting into the paint.

I use a rattle can with a cataylst/hardener in it, so once the can has been punctured on the bottom for the hardener I have 24hrs likely less to apply it. When cured a week later I wet sanded and polished my arms off.

 

[salty_monk]

Yeah that's about the same as what I've done before too.... The skunk needs another cut back right now actually. The catalyzed clears in a can have been great, it's certainly easier to get a better finish with a gun though. I've done it both ways thanks to the generosity of Nessism

 

[nvr2old]

Yeah..I agree 3-4 coats of clear, especially if you're going to sand and polish your parts.

 

[salty_monk]

I ordered more clear. I should be able to get two light coats & two wetter ones out of two cans... ($30 delivered)

 

[alke46]

2 cans delivered for $30? What brand are you using?

 

[salty_monk]

Ebay this time around. I don't think I've ever paid more than $18 a can for this stuff.

 

[salty_monk]

Well it's done... I'd have liked to have got the final coat on a bit thicker & perhaps just a fraction less temperature outside to let it flow out... but in general I'm happy. Got to cut it back & polish it back up now...

GS1100 bodywork by salty_monk, on Flickr

GS1100 bodywork by salty_monk, on Flickr

 

[jsandidge]

I like it.

 

[LAB3]

Looks good! Getting the placement of the pinstripes in the right spot has to a challenge.

 

[wyly]

Looks good! Getting the placement of the pinstripes in the right spot has to a challenge.

What I found was the doing one side is easy enough but when it came to matching exact decal placement on the opposite side that was really frustrating.