DIY Painting Tips

[TitanMonsterS4R]

Instructions say to to just clean, score with a scotch pad, wash, dry and paint.  I got the cure part from reading previous posts.

[Langanobob]

DP, I think those Speedymoto belt covers are anodized.  If so, will an anodized surface require a different  prep than bare aluminum?  

Bob

Edit:  Just saw the part about scoring the surface with a Scotchbrite pad, maybe that will deal with paint bonding to the anodized surface.

[ducpainter]

DP, I think those Speedymoto belt covers are anodized.  If so, will an anodized surface require a different  prep than bare aluminum?  

Bob

Edit:  Just saw the part about scoring the surface with a Scotchbrite pad, maybe that will deal with paint bonding to the anodized surface.

Good catch

Anodized parts require abrasion, and Alodine will do nothing.

I would use an epoxy primer on the anodizing and then an activated urethane.

In the OP's case I'd follow label directions.

[TitanMonsterS4R]

Good catch

Anodized parts require abrasion, and Alodine will do nothing.

I would use an epoxy primer on the anodizing and then an activated urethane.

In the OP's case I'd follow label directions.

The circles which were anodized were powdercoated to make things just a little more complicated

[ducpainter]

The circles which were anodized were powdercoated to make things just a little more complicated

What is the state of the parts you want to paint?

Bare...anodized...?

[Josh_357]

Hey ducpainter,

I got two questions. First is mostly a story with a "what'd I do wrong?" Wanted to paint my own red with black stripe s4r seat cowl. So I bought an unpainted OEM cowl, prepped it, painted with acrylic base coat in a an aerosol from here http://www.repaintsupply.com/pd_aerosol.cfm. I let paint set for about a day. Then laid the oem black stripe decal over the base coat. Now here's probably where I went wrong. I did not color sand, didn't think I needed to. Then I laid the oem decal dry, wasn't sure I could wet lay it and only had one decal. I didn't have any bubble visible though.

Then I sprayed 2K spraymax urethane clear in aerosol, http://www.repaintsupply.com/pd_2_part_2k_aerosol.cfm. I let that set up for a couple days then wetsand and polish to a shine. The cowl looked great, see pic of old broken and shiny new one I did below.



Then all hell broke loose! First time out in sun I got a ton of bubbles under the decal. Looks like a teenagers acne face! Where'd I go wrong?

My plan of attack now is to cut the decals out and paint the stripe and reclear, but what could I do different next time?

Second question is quick, any experience with paintless dent repair? Like this http://motorcyclepaintlessdentrepair.com/testamonials.html

[TitanMonsterS4R]

What is the state of the parts you want to paint?

Bare...anodized...?

See pic below.  The belt covers (circles) themselves are powdercoated yellow and the rest of the belt cover is 6061 billet aluminum (not colored). 

[ducpainter]

Hey ducpainter,

I got two questions. First is mostly a story with a "what'd I do wrong?" Wanted to paint my own red with black stripe s4r seat cowl. So I bought an unpainted OEM cowl, prepped it, painted with acrylic base coat in a an aerosol from here http://www.repaintsupply.com/pd_aerosol.cfm. I let paint set for about a day. Then laid the oem black stripe decal over the base coat. Now here's probably where I went wrong. I did not color sand, didn't think I needed to. Then I laid the oem decal dry, wasn't sure I could wet lay it and only had one decal. I didn't have any bubble visible though.

Then I sprayed 2K spraymax urethane clear in aerosol, http://www.repaintsupply.com/pd_2_part_2k_aerosol.cfm. I let that set up for a couple days then wetsand and polish to a shine. The cowl looked great, see pic of old broken and shiny new one I did below.



Then all hell broke loose! First time out in sun I got a ton of bubbles under the decal. Looks like a teenagers acne face! Where'd I go wrong?

My plan of attack now is to cut the decals out and paint the stripe and reclear, but what could I do different next time?

Second question is quick, any experience with paintless dent repair? Like this http://motorcyclepaintlessdentrepair.com/testamonials.html

You didn't wait long enough to apply the decal. Solvents got trapped under the vinyl and that is the result.

You may have difficulty applying the decal and not having some evidence of the repair. Good luck.

My limited experience with paintless repair is that it is never perfect.

[ducpainter]

See pic below.  The belt covers (circles) themselves are powdercoated yellow and the rest of the belt cover is 6061 billet aluminum (not colored). 

That is also anodized.

It will need to be scotch brited at the minimum.

As I said, I use epoxy primer because that is the standard for use over anodizing in the aerospace/mil spec world. It works.

Some materials are not suitable for use over epoxy primer.

I think in your case, not knowing what the rattle can will do, I'd just skip the primer.

[Josh_357]

You didn't wait long enough to apply the decal. Solvents got trapped under the vinyl and that is the result.

You may have difficulty applying the decal and not having some evidence of the repair. Good luck.

My limited experience with paintless repair is that it is never perfect.

Thanks, how long should I have waited till applying the decal?

[ducpainter]

Thanks, how long should I have waited till applying the decal?

longer? 

Your links don't work, and I can't find tech info on color on the site.

Many rattle can products require you wait a week. Technique, temps, and film thickness will vary the requirement.

[TitanMonsterS4R]

That is also anodized.

It will need to be scotch brited at the minimum.

As I said, I use epoxy primer because that is the standard for use over anodizing in the aerospace/mil spec world. It works.

Some materials are not suitable for use over epoxy primer.

I think in your case, not knowing what the rattle can will do, I'd just skip the primer.

Thanks DP

[Howie]

http://www.repaintsupply.com/pd_aerosol.cfm

http://www.repaintsupply.com/pd_2_part_2k_aerosol.cfm

Try them now.

[Josh_357]

http://www.repaintsupply.com/pd_aerosol.cfm

http://www.repaintsupply.com/pd_2_part_2k_aerosol.cfm

Try them now.

Thanks for cleaning up my links Howie! 

[Howie]

Thanks for cleaning up my links Howie! 

My pleasure.  Thanks for the info on that company.