best clear coat?

[imported_phil]

I want to use acrylic laq for my base coats and graphics on my road king...can I use a urathane clear coat on top?...how do you feel about the "crossfire" system from NAPA? I am a newbie to this, and dont want to make stuipid mistakes on a $20k bike...also, could you recomend a place to fin more flame and graphics templates?, your practice flames are a great start, but I'm looking for more..congrats on an awsome website, I've linked in several freinds and they all agree...keep up the great work!

 

[BonesFX]

Why do you want to use lacquer for your paint, why not urethanes?? They will make you paint job look deeper and better than the lacquer paints -- But if you want to put clear over it you'll need to use a lacquer based clear - HOK has all kinds of different lacquers to choose from == Bones!~

 

[imported_phil]

LOL I "want" to use them cuz I get them free...in unlimited amounts! (long story)...is there a way to use a urethane clear over a acrylic laq? what happens when you use this combo?

 

[BonesFX]

Ok Phil - we'll let up on ya" !!LOL!!!

Checkered Flags are pretty easy --
It 's easiest when the main color of the project is black - Scuff or sand the black and get some "paint grade" 1 1/2'" or 2" inch tape - -actually you can use any size tape - but it depends on the size of checkers you want compared to the size of the area -- anyway --- There's 2 ways to do this - first is to lay out your tape to where it buts up along the next piece until the whole area is covered. Next, take a ruler and mark your opposing lines using the tapes width as the measurment - Example - 1" tape horizontal = Mark and draw light pencil lines 1" apart vertically -- Then grab a razor blade and cut the lines you've marked (easy on the blade pressure here!!!) I take my pencil and mark the black squares with an X and then pull all the white ones leaving the open black square to be painted white -- shoot on your white and the pull up all of your black ones -- Beautiful checkered Flag!!!

The other way is not symetrical -- I'll layout a sheet of transfer tape or masking tape and then draw out my warped checkers - cut and pull - shoot on the white and then use a little Violet on my airbrush to give it some depth in a few spots --

Good Luck -- Bones!~

 

[BonesFX]

OK - Phil -- Lets do some math here --

$20,000.00 Motorcycle + $300.00 for urethane House of color Paint (estimate of course) = A $20,000.00 Bike with an oustanding paint job.

$20,000.00 Motorcycle + Free Lacquer Paint and a clear that might screw it up + all that time and effort = $15,000.00 Bike bcause the paint is peeling off + FRUSTRATION!!!

If you can get the lacquer for free - Check out House of Kolors web site and see what they have for lacquer clears - as far as I know (and somebody corret me if I'm wrong) If you go with Lacquer based paints, you must use that "system" all the way to the end -

On the money side of it - - - Why people try to save a buck on paint is beyond me. I'm always looking for deals myself, but you have to consider the out come of the project or product and also what it is going on - In you case this is your bike that costs more than a lot of cars on the market. I once had a client that was building a 37,000 dollar custom bike. He spent top dollar for all the parts. TP Motor / PM Brakes / Corlini Bars.... When it came time for the paint job we disscused his options and believe it or not he wanted me to paint it with single stage black because he didn't have any money left -- and he "had to get it on the road" I asked him why he would even consider putting something so basic on his "custom bike" and that if he took 9 months to get the bike together, maybe he should wait another month or two so he can save some more money -- Well - He got in a huff - because I won't paint single stage and went to another shop -- they wanted to much money and he ended up shooting the damn thing with Krylon and it was the ugliest cutom bike I've ever seen --- Motto of the story -- Save your money - when you can get a deal - get it!! But if it could end up being a mess or just not looking good -- spend the extra money - -Peace of mind is well worth it!!! --- -Bones!~

 

[flamethrower]

Right on Bones. Why do we keep seeing these posts with guys getting lacquer for free???

I'm thinking there is a reason for this. But I'll keep my ideas on this subject to myself. But when I see someone telling us they're getting urethanes for free I'll get involved.

Why risk your pride and joy on a chance to save a couple hundred bucks?

This is a pay me now or PAY ME LATER $$$$ scenario.

FT

 

[imported_phil]

ok, ok, enough! I am on your side, you have changed my mind!, thanks for taking the time to answere me though....could any of you recomend a good method for taping and spraying checked flag style graphics?

 

[rex]

It has been done successfully but I won't do it.I figure if I ever need to redo it the last thing I want to do is strip lacquer,a mess is an understatement.