your thoughts on powder coating

[Speedy1959]

When I did mine 2 years ago I used very coarse wire wool and methylated spirits to rub down and degrease..
Considering I have done around 18,000 miles since I did them I really dont think they are too bad..

Next time round I will use Etch primer..
They had 6 coats of Simoniz Acrylic Satin Black, and then 6 coats of a Satin clear coat..

Seth was correct in that although my bike is an 05 plate its actually a K4

S.

[Dusty ST]

I used etch primer, with Halfords wheel paint, and finished with a clear lacquer (a satin finish I think), and it's lasting pretty well.
The disappointing part for me was that the lacquer didn't add any thickness to the protective layer, in fact it just seemed to evaporate like it wasn't there, even after 5 coats. 
Also... I just wish I'd spent more prep time as the paint highlights all the imperfections in the leg castings!

[Del]

@Dusty ST  - your correct about the clear coat  you used more so as it was satin and a rattle can - to get the satin effect the clear is mixed with a very fine dust similar to the chalk dust used by tailors - they make the paint very thin so (mostly thinners) evaporate very quickly this allows the dust to sit on top of the clear lacquer giving the satin sheen - its worse with Matt finish

[Notty]

Polished the only way 

[gsxbarmy]

Polished aside, whether powder coated or painted, once done, a covering of 50mm Helicopter Tape down the front leading edge of the slider will keep it looking spiffing for years. Available off eBay

[steve porter]

Good thinking 99

[Speedy1959]

I did try the Helicopter tape....
But be warned!! Get it right 1st time with the placement of the tape. DO NOT remove to "just get it a little straighter", as I did..
If you do it will remove chunks of the paint, which is why I had to repaint my forks in the first place..
This time around I didn't bother with the tape as I couldn't be sure of perfect placement!

[Andre]

I am just painting something with Hammerite. It says that it takes 2 weeks to achieve final hardness.

[Speedy1959]

I recently painted my Center stand with Hammerite Gloss black..
Its a very old can of the stuff I have (15 - 20 years old)..
I used coarse wire wool and thoroughly de greased the Stand and painted on the Hammerite with a brush..
At the time I did it, I thought "what a crap job! Bloody brush marks galore"..
But the day after when I looked the brush marks had totally evened out and it very nearly looks like its been sprayed on.
So the slow drying works to your benefit in the end!
When I can be bothered, I shall use a Dremel / mini wire brush on some small areas of the frame that have surface rust and use the Hammerite..
For now I have just smeared grease over these areas to keep the rust at bay.

[grog]

Hammerite does make a bad painter look good. Brilliant stuff. Speedy, it wont match up with other frame colour. Think one you need is BBQ black from memory. Barmy knows for sure, he was who told me.

[KiwiCol]

Plasticote gloss black is also a good match for frame.

[RickC]

Hammerite does make a bad painter look good. Brilliant stuff. Speedy, it wont match up with other frame colour. Think one you need is BBQ black from memory. Barmy knows for sure, he was who told me.

Grog,
Hammerite smooth Black worked brilliantly on my frame where it was chaffed from a motorcycle boot or something, I did buy a tin of hammerite brush on but I thought it was too thick to touch up a fairly visible part of the frame.  I got the recommendation from someone here or on the old org.

Rick

[Andre]

Hammerite does make a bad painter look good. Brilliant stuff. Speedy, it wont match up with other frame colour. Think one you need is BBQ black from memory. Barmy knows for sure, he was who told me.

Grog,
Hammerite smooth Black worked brilliantly on my frame where it was chaffed from a motorcycle boot or something, I did buy a tin of hammerite brush on but I thought it was too thick to touch up a fairly visible part of the frame.  I got the recommendation from someone here or on the old org.

Rick

Hammerite mat (frosted) in tin can be thinned with white spirit (my experience). Smooth may be different though.

[gsxbarmy]

I did try the Helicopter tape....
But be warned!! Get it right 1st time with the placement of the tape. DO NOT remove to "just get it a little straighter", as I did..
If you do it will remove chunks of the paint, which is why I had to repaint my forks in the first place..
This time around I didn't bother with the tape as I couldn't be sure of perfect placement!

Very true - best way to apply is not to try to do it all at once, take a small piece off from the top, but then lay it on from th ebottom to ensure alignment before sticking the top piece on, then roll the backing tape off as you smooth it down with a cloth