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Thanks chaps, filed down a bunch of sketchy tab chops yesterday and will be working on cleaning up the rest of the frame (it's in pretty good shape) along with the rest of the motor. Rustled up some JB Weld in the hopes it'll fill up some dents (it's been curing overnight) - once it's hardened it can be filed and sanded, right?
Still umm-ing and aaah-ing between rattle can and powder coat on the frame. Wallet and creative side says rattle, pretty much everything else says powder.
epoxy paint is really good stuff and once cured is pretty tough powder is better but my wallet says not that much better, and jb weld is good for dents on frames etc as bondo can crack out, it won't.
JB Weld worked a charm, gave the dents another fill last night as they were fairly deep. Good stuff that JB.
Finally got the engine housing clean up finished yesterday - hoping to finish up cleaning up the frame/swingarm/triple tree today and then will decide on how to paint. New bike chain arrived yesterday - the only gold chain I'll ever swing.
got through the clear, the white, then down to the mud (turns out there was a lot, a previous owner clearly not shy in that dept) and original paint...
and finally to this...
Still got some ways to go but liking how it's shaping up. Ideally I'd like the steel to darken up a bit (anyone know how I can do that?) and then seal it. I've heard you can oil/wax it as a semi-permanent option, or 2K clear or powder coat. Anyone have any experience with any of these methods?
If you're looking to lose some of that shine, just leave it alone for a couple days in the garage. Nature will take its course and Oxidation will darken it up. Keep an eye on it and clear over it when it's the shade you want.
Just don't touch the metal with bare hands: the tank on my Tempter has a big handprint in red because I leaned over the bike to grab a dropped wrench and put my hand on it to balance myself. Of course it's been in the shed 3-4 years untouched (project lapsed when my daughter was born and then I was given a running bike to foster).
What do you mean by darken up? Are you looking for a rust patina or a black patina. Heat and liver of sulfur will make it black. For a rust patina, you can dissolve copper in muriatic acid (takes a few days), then dilute it with water then liberally apply to the bare metal
Liver of sulfur, I had no idea it worked on steel too. I was a silversmith in a past life, that stuff is the go-to for oxidising silver.
Not going for black exactly, just want to take the shine off the brushed steel. More grey, like aluminium. I'll leave it for a while and keep an eye on it and hit it with clear when the colour looks right.
Like pretty much everything with this bike I'm realising it's more work than I thought it would be - and I have no problem with that at all. And so it is for this tank, getting a nice brushed finish by hand is taking...days
IMO after all the work you're doing to that tank it'd be a shame to let it oxidize. Up to you of course, but the direction it's headed now looks great.
2K clear it, and it should last for a while. although it is hit or miss if it will rust after the clear. If you do it yourself wear a respirator and paint outside. 2K is nasty shit you don't want in your lungs. But it is awesome clear coat.
Any idea if that Eastwood clearcoat stands up to gas spills?
Bike build is on hiatus, wife booked a jolly in Nicaragua. I booked a 2 day bike safari up into the mountains so I get some moto mayhem while she sunburns on the beach
Got home last night - Nicaragua is one heck of a country, loved every minute. The bike safari was a blast - the roads are some of the best I've ever ridden on. Perfectly surfaced, great canyons and twisties not to mention amazing scenery and great off-road. Met a cool guy from the States who lives out that way and organises bike tours - anyone heading out that way or interested in knowing more let me know.
Got home to a big box of new parts from DCC, fun stuff. Gonna try and get the tank finished and hopefully getting the frame/swingarm/triple tree powder coated by a friend of a friend next week.
Like Frank Sinatra said, it's so nice to go traveling but it's oh so nice to come back.
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