Barrel Painting In Situ

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swooshdave

swooshdave

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Barrel Painting In Situ


What's the best way to remove as much of the old paint as possible while leaving the barrel in place?

The barrel was repainted maybe 7 or so years ago but it probably wasn't the best paint.
 
Screw drivers, scraping devices, course emery folded in half between the fins, wire brushes, patience and tenacity!


I’d avoid any temptation to use strippers as your cases may be painted?

Some mask and spray, for in situ I always brush paint. Unless the bike is a super conkers finish, I avoid gloss and use satin (if we’re talking black). There is a product in UK called ‘Pot Black’ which goes on easily, covers well, and is relatively kind to any old paint. It’s really easy to use and looks good when done and is heat dissipating. It’s been around since Adam were a lad.

One thing I’d urge is try to avoid painting the barrel nuts, mask them if necessary, painted nuts spoils the job IMHO.
 
Fast Eddie said:
Screw drivers, scraping devices, course emery folded in half between the fins, wire brushes, patience and tenacity!


I’d avoid any temptation to use strippers as your cases may be painted?

Some mask and spray, for in situ I always brush paint. Unless the bike is a super conkers finish, I avoid gloss and use satin (if we’re talking black). There is a product in UK called ‘Pot Black’ which goes on easily, covers well, and is relatively kind to any old paint. It’s really easy to use and looks good when done and is heat dissipating. It’s been around since Adam were a lad.

One thing I’d urge is try to avoid painting the barrel nuts, mask them if necessary, painted nuts spoils the job IMHO.
Click to expand...

I don’t think they painted the cases in 73, weren’t those just later bikes?
 
I honestly don’t know Dave, you might well be right, but I also know it’s bloody difficult to tell by looking.

I’m sure someone who knows will chip in shortly...
 
Dremel.. with wire brush and arbour attachments
Files
Old files with the end ground to a sharp 90 degrees to scrap the fin horizontal faces
Piece of steel stock 25 x 5mm x 300mm wrap around enemy cloth strips to work between the fins
Plenty of stubborn determination & patience :)
 
Hi
Soda blast done in no time at all, painting insitu though is the hard bit, can even touch up the head and cases as you go.

Burgs
 
I did mine a couple of years ago as it was worse than yours. I didn't want to strip the head and barrel as it was running so good and not burning any oil Took the pipes and carbs off and just used scrapers, files and very thin rotary wire brushes. I did the head as well as it was caked in burnt oil and gunge. After careful masking, I sprayed the barrel with a thin coat of etch primer followed by 2 pack high gloss black. It totally transformed the bike. I do prefer the gloss finish, personal preference I suppose and I find the 2 Pack well up to the job of standing up to the heat.
 
Cases are painted.
73 barrell was originally Silver.
 
MichaelB said:
Cases are painted.
73 barrell was originally Silver.
Click to expand...

Personally I prefer silver barrels on Commandos anyway. But if you find a silver that will cover old paint and rust, and stay silver, let us know.

The silvers I’ve tried so far have all gone slightly yellow, even on a freshly blasted clean barrel.
 
Last edited:
swooshdave said:
What's the best way to remove as much of the old paint as possible while leaving the barrel in place?

The barrel was repainted maybe 7 or so years ago but it probably wasn't the best paint.
Click to expand...
Not what you want to hear, but I would wait for Winter and do it off the bike.

Even when thoroughly blasted and immediately painted, it's difficult to get coverage that prevents rust from starting. While apart, you could make your head look new as well. I use VHT Barrel Paint.
 
Once it's to bare metal a rust inhibitor like Picklex 20 is a good idea.
 
Do you actually need to remove the paint, is it flaking off? If its just rusting through, I'd give it a quick brush up, degrease and hit with a fresh coat of high temp BBQ type paint. I used saranwrap film held in head/block joint using a bit of string in/around that fin gap. A foam brush and little artist paint brush with handle chopped down let me getpaint were needed.
Block looking good for 2 seasons so far.
 
Tornado said:
Do you actually need to remove the paint, is it flaking off? If its just rusting through, I'd give it a quick brush up, degrease and hit with a fresh coat of high temp BBQ type paint. I used saranwrap film held in head/block joint using a bit of string in/around that fin gap. A foam brush and little artist paint brush with handle chopped down let me getpaint were needed.
Block looking good for 2 seasons so far.
Click to expand...

That might suffice for now. I don’t want it looking too nice. The rest of the bike has a serious patina.
 
I'm thinking a small pipe-cleaner might be better for getting deep in the fins. The foam brush looked good but didn't hold up well, started seperating from the inner plastic bit. There was a Lunmad video of him doing his block (off bike) withing a strip of old t-shirt soaked in paint to pass between fins. very messy but he is not one for pristine work. I used Rust-o-leum high temp black BBQ paint in a can (not spray). Think it stated over 1200 F. Went with a satin black but might try the glossy next time.
 
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