|
|
Post by spyug on Jun 23, 2006 12:10:06 GMT -5
taking the advice to look for better masking tape, I have picked up something called "Keen Edge" which is supposed to stick a little better than stock tape and give a sharp edge with no bleed through.
I couldn't find any 3M tape and my paint supply store was closed today. In the meanwhile I'm going to rig up a test panel and see how it works.
I also sanded a bit of yesterdays paint with 1500 grit and it does seem to clean up the edges. I'll sand it all over the weekend and hopefully will be able to shoot a good clearcoat early next week.
I'm still up in the air on the tank script. I'd like to do it myself but I don't know if I can use the airbrush well enough in freehand mode. The stencil cutting is also quite difficult because it depends a lot on the type of font being used. Some just do not lend themselves to being cut out. I've seen the guys on the bike shows tape up a tank and then draw out the script in pencil, cut it out and spray. I may try that.
I thought of trying to get a sign painter to do it but can't find anyone around here that does it with brush and paint. They are now all into computer cut vinyls. I could go that way but as you've said it doesn't look that great and I'd have trouble matching the paint colour.
It really is quite a performance to doing the paint & graphics.....now I remember why I like solid one colour bikes with no badges or writing.
I'll let you know how the new tape works.
Cheers,
Spyug
PS thanks for all the kind words and encouragement...nothing like a bit more pressure to perform ;D
|
|
|
|
Post by spyug on Jun 23, 2006 17:12:37 GMT -5
I'll admit it, this painting the graphics is kicking my a$$! So I try out the new tape on the side of my tank where I want to paint the script. Smooth it down just like the pros, trace on a letter, cut it out with the xacto knife, lift off the tape.......and along comes my base coat....right down to the primer. Annoying but no biggy just re-shoot the base thinks I. Small enough to shoot with the airbrush. Fire it up...no spray. Fiddle and fart around for half an hour...still no go. Switch to the HVLP touch up gun ( which had caused me the problems with the clear coat the other day). All clean and ready to go. Fill with a little paint and start to adjust flow. Still can't get it to flow right and now paint is leaking out of the spout when trigger is not pressed. What the hay?  Toss that one in the cleaning bucket. Reach for the standard touch up gun. Check airflow...everything ok . Put in some paint ad just airflow...nathing....nada...zip. H E double hockey sticks. Something doesn't want me to paint today. Finally after an hour of cleaning and fiddling with the standard t-u gun I get to spray some paint but I'm more or less back to the beginning. finding a tape that will not allow bleed through and not rip off the base coat and find a fri%%in gun that will work properly each time I go to use it. Driving my kid to work at 5 p.m. I'm telling him my tale and he says "Why don't you just take it in and get it done by a pro" Money says I" It'll cost a grand or so. He replies, 'with the amount of time and money you've spent you're getting close to that already". "Shut up", says I in a funk but think "yeah kid you are likely right!" But I'm still going to do it myself no matter how long it takes. For another grand I could have another 650 couldn't I? I've got to find a new hobby. Cheers, Spyug. |
|
otto
Full Member
Elvira, 78 oh so Special
Posts: 171
|
Post by otto on Jun 23, 2006 20:05:29 GMT -5
My heart cries with you bro, I know how frustrating paint can be. Exactly why I opted to "hold off" till winter for the fancy paint. I didn't need those aggravations, just wanted to get her on the road.
Keep it up man, and don't be hard on yourself. You will always see every imperfection, when others are "ooooooing" and aaaawing" your work. When your done it will look great.
|
|
|
|
Post by garyr on Jun 24, 2006 20:08:35 GMT -5
Glad you painted on your own graphics, they will look the best. Post some pics will ya......
|
|
|
|
Post by spyug on Jun 25, 2006 16:31:15 GMT -5
Well I wet sanded the graphics and as I thought I was able to tidy up the edges abit where I had the bleed through. With the tail section, I had made a mistake of shooting with a clear coat prior to laying down the "chequerboard" . When I went to wet sand didn't it all start to peel off. So back to the drawing board.Sand everything off with 320 grit and tape out again.
As my cheepo airbrush packed it in the other day I thought I would treat my self to a "pro" model thinking I could perhaps learn to use it to write my script on the tank sides. I found a good little rig for about $40 at the local Princess Auto ( akin to Harbour Freight in the excited states I believe) so after lunch and up until now (5.15 pm) I retaped the tail and a few of the squares on the tank and fender and used the new gun to colour them in and sharpen up the edges. Using my new sharp edge masking tape I'm thinking they will come out better than the first effort.
I think with a bit of practice I might be able to do the tank script in freehand mode. I just have to find away to steady up my hand and get my proportions and angles right. Luckily I have lots of paint and cardboard to practice on.
An interesting thing about the airbrush also is that it hardly uses any paint. I repainted the tail with two coats and redid about 15 squares on the tank and fender and it only used about 1/2 oz. of paint. definitely the better way to do graphics.
I am hoping now I can finish off the "tins" with clearcoat tomorrow, If I can get that done then I should be able to get everything on the bike and jump on for a test ride by next weekend ( our Canada Day long weekend).
As soon as I can I'll post some photos ( if I can steal the old ladies camera).
Spyug.
|
|
|
|
Post by spyug on Jun 26, 2006 12:45:24 GMT -5
Update.
After repainting yesterday, I have been peeling off the tape. Boy what a difference good tape makes. No bleed through and really crisp edges. I may just have to do all the chequers on the front fenders as the ones I touched up now show up some of the other iffy ones.
The airbrush I got also is quite good. Easy to setup and clean which is important. I just have to practice with it and hopefully will learn how to free hand it for the script.
The more I do this the easier it is getting. I guess it is like any other skill...takes time to learn and master.
I hope to be done with this in a day or so.
Spyug.
|
|
|
|
Post by 50gary on Jun 26, 2006 15:29:18 GMT -5
Glad the new masking tape worked for you. Good luck on the "script" logo. Practice, when you can do it at least three (3) times in a row to your comlete satisfaction then go for the tank. Keep up the good work. I have a figure that I designed and I can't quite get it exactly right everytime I draw it. So maybe I was just lucky the first time?
Cheers, 50gary
|
|
Toss that one in the cleaning bucket.
