Paint Buckling

[John Pierce]

Okay, I've seen this happen on two jobs I've done -- one using HOK products and one using PPG.

Both bikes had quite a bit of artwork on the top of the rear fender (meaning: lots of paint/primer/clear coats) and after being used for a time, the mounting points for the pillion pads have caused the paint to buckle slightly around the edges of the bolt holes.

What this means is both bikes won't look good in solo-rider mode now because of the buckling around the bolt holes.

It's interesting that the bolt holes that are centered in the base coat are *not* buckling, just the ones in the thicker artwork.

I always follow the instructions to the letter with number of coats, catalyst/reducer, etc... would baking the parts maybe keep this from happening?

thanks,
JP

 

[BonesFX]

John, I've also had this problem around dashboards and other places. It's basically from the amount of clear used on custom paint jobs. and if bolted up within 30 or so days after the parts have been cleared its gonna happen. Most clears only call for 2 - 3 coats. The ones that have buckled on myself have had at least 6 coats. I'm not even sure that waiting 60 days would even help --- Bones!~

 

[rex]

Yeah,it's gonna happen if it's thick.Even a stock refinish will do it within at least 30 days if you put pressure on it.Figure a 100lb lady sitting there with that thing vibrating and probably hot steel softening the paint a little it's a definate.I tell them if they run a pillion or throw over bags it's gonna leave marks,no way around it.Refinish paint is nothing like what the factory uses and is completely different than we can get.

 

[John Pierce]

Bonex, Rex -- that's kind of what I was thinking.... if you do a bunch of Kandy and Clears over a basecoat, the finish is gonna get pretty thick! A month or so ago I remember a discussion here on the board about having to do 6 coats clear or more with sanding to bury some artwork. I don't know how you get around that -- it's necessary to get everything nice and flat.

In one case the bike I painted was assembled about 45 days after buffing, in the other case 1 week after buffing - didn't seem to make much difference.

I'm actually thinking about trying to manufacture some sort of combination neoprene/metal 2 inch square washer to help distribute and cushion the weight; might not help, but couldn't hurt.

I notice those ultra-thin piece 'o crap factory jobs don't buckle!

Thanks guys,
JP

 

[rex]

Yeah,the factory stuff is thin and hard enough to not do it,but like I said it's a completely diferent system we can't get.I use a rubber O-ring under the seat mount on those to help out.They'll still 'smush' the paint but they won't push it around like the standard plastic washer everyone uses.About the only thing you can do with cheap throwovers is line them with moleskin or something to ease the damage.Of course most won't listen but at least you warned them and can tell if they didn't listen.