Painters - advice needed from you

[MONTY]

I’m not too knowledgeable on paint, so need some advice on a couple of things from those who know their stuff:

1. I’ve acquired a set of fat-bob tanks which are in good condition with an excellent paint job on them … but it’s in white and pale blue, which isn’t quite my thing!! I’d like to use the quality of the existing paint job as a base for a simple all-black rattle-can job, which hopefully will then last a long time, rather than peel like my last attempt has done after about 5 years (doh!). How should I prep the existing surface so as to get the best adhesion without compromising the integrity of the existing paint job?

2. Chrome don’t get you home, as they say, but unfortunately exhaust pipes generally come in a choice of chrome or chrome (at least pipes to fit my Pan-Shovel do!). I’m looking to buy new pipes, and this time rather than wait ‘till the chrome rusts through I’m going to go straight to HTP flat black. Again, it’s the prep I’m uncertain of – do I rub down the chrome (scotchbrite or whatever), or just get it totally clean with some solvent or other (and if so, what’s best to use?)?

Thanks

[Mr Jimi]

Spray cans are not real paint, read the label and its all propellant and it washes off with gas. Not a good choice.
Your exhaust will take spray cans well and turn grey with age, Try some bar-b-q paint, the scotch pad is good for scuffing your old pipes
Jim

[NuViking]

Even with the new treand of rattle can paint jobs I have my doubts. I have done them before and they sometimes last the season If you want the paint to stay, sand the old paint with 400 greit wet. then prime with a primer sealer or an epoxie primer then paint with a quality paint. A cheap touchup gun can be used for a small surface like this.
The best luck I have had with exaust paintind is to acid etch the chrome but even with good bbq paint you will probably be repainting them by the season. Another option is to sand the chrome off with 220 grit then paint. This will last longer. Another cool effect offen overlooked is to sand most of the chrome off leaving small patchs here and there then rub the bare metal with cold gun blueing. You will have to redo this on a regular basis because gun blueing doesnt coat the metal. It oxidizes it very fst turning it a dark grey to black color. and takes heat very well. Another thing about this is to keep the color up you dont have to take the pipes off. just give a fast sanding with 400 clean with a good windoe cleaner or accetone is better then warm your exaust a little bit. enough that you can lay your hand on it for 5 seconds then rub the blueing liqiud on it till you get the color you want.
I do this with some of the knifes I make. The reason I say tyo leave a little sanded chrome on it is the killer effect you will get wiht the black and silver grey.

[MONTY]

Thanks guys

I'm stuck with rattle-cans because I'm too damn mean to pay someone to do a proper paint job, plus the existing paint is only just starting to peel on the inside (area between the tanks), and I did it in Oct. '99 so it's lasted pretty well! For about 20 quid's worth of cans I reckon that was too good value to ignore (the tanks were already primered, so I just cleaned em off, hung em up and sprayed a few coats over them) - you can tell I've got Scottish blood in my veins, right?!
The exhausts - I just feel a bit bad about blasting off the brand new chrome, but if that's the only way to make the paint stay on then OK, that's what I'll do. If the bluing liquid is actually phosphoric acid then yes, I know very well that I would have to keep re-doing it very regularly, and I don't fancy that much .... keep in mind that this is a regularly ridden bike, all year round, as are my others - I don't have a car, so there is no "season" to my riding!

[sporty01]

Monty,if your going to do the cans,your going to want some wax and grease remover to rub the tanks down with before you start to sand.then go with the 400 grit sand paper and scuff the tanks until thers no shine left blow them off and wipe with remover again.Then lay down some sandable primer let dry and sand with wet 600 grit and after that sand with some 1500 grit wet.Wipe off let dry,tack it off and spay your paint.It will come out pretty smooth as long as the paint under it dosn't lift.