[Ease]

I'm getting ready to paint my bike now (hopefully this weekend) and planning on putting decals under the clear coat.

The guy who cuts the decals told me to let the paint "release it's gases" for a week before I put the decals on to clear coat... then told me that he wasn't a painter... so i'm not sure what to do about it.

I ride the bike as pretty much my main transportation so I was hopin for a paint it on friday, decals and clear sat. morning, ride again monday kinda deal.

Anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks,
Ease

 

[joe c]

that actually makes sense. it probably should finish off gassing before you seal it with a sticker. a week is playing it safe id say. you dont want the offgasses trapped under the sticker. it could mess the sticker up, or the paint.

jc

 

[nf343vr]

Here is a trick I learned from a lettering /striping expert, after you apply the base color continue with two coats of clear. let cure for a couple of days and then wet sand with 1200. apply stripes/ decals and finish with two more coats of clear. The base color is not very durable and if you make a mistake applying any thing you end up starting over, the two coats of clear gives you a hard surface and paint or vinyl can be removed without damaging the color. Sorry if you already knew this. Good luck.

KCampbellNH

 

[Swagger]

Good info here, and your vinyl graphics guy is correct.
In truth the paint will outgas for several days as it 'drys' and them continue to do so for up to a month on a very much smaller level.

One thing you can do to drastically accellerate the process is to heat the freshly painted parts in an oven.

**WARNING** if you're married or have a live in, don't use your kitchen oven. It'll stink and she'll kick your ass. **END OF WARNING**

As atated above, three or four THIN coats of the base color, allowing it to dry between coats. Hit it with two or three coats of clear after that. At this point I put the pieces in an old over I keep in the shop for things like this. Set it to 165-170 degrees and bake the parts for 6-8 hours then allow to cool fully. Then wet sand them with 2000grit until the whole surface is uniformly matte looking. I generally toss the parts back in for a couple more hours at this point just for good measure.
Now apply your vynil with a mild slip solution (your vinyl guy can explain that for you) and make sure all your work is really dry and clean. Wipe it with a tack cloth then clear coat, three or four coats.
'Bake' the parts one more time at the lowest temp you can get, 120-125 degrees is good, for 4 or 5 more hours to harden the clear.
Once your to this point and the parts have cooled you can put the bike together and enjoy it. Give it a couple days the hand polish it with a fine cut polishing compound.

To make a paintjob come out good is a lot of work but the end result is worth it. Have fun, take your time and people will notice the difference!

Lead, follow or get out of the way!

 

[Ease]

Goldmine.

Thanks alot guys, great info!

Ease