nickguzzi said:It was good enough for Rolls Royce for years - when done properly.
My early 68 Commando has the original black factory painted parts. You can see drips on several pieces, as if they were dipped. It polishes up just beautifully.Rohan said:nickguzzi said:It was good enough for Rolls Royce for years - when done properly.
It wasn't just Rolls Royce that did a brush finish, although we take your point.
Until spray painting was invented (when was that ?), most bike makers either brushed the paint on, or dipped bits in tanks of liquid enamel and then hung them up to dry - sometimes in an oven to speed up the process.
A gent who wrote of his working at AMC described how his first job as a junior was to put a dab of paint into the centre of the drip marks on the lowest point of parts, since they developed a slight hollow as they dried.
This was into the late 1950s, and Nortons had their own enamelling tanks at Bracebridge St into the 1960s.
The Olde Time Brochures used to say "3 coats of best enamel".
Commandos do look to have been sprayed though.
Probably be outside contractors, since there is no mention of a paint shop ??
You need the right type of paint to be brushed on, it needs to say on the can.
It flows differently ?
And, needs to be correctly sanded flat between coats.
Never had much luck with Rustoleum, its never dries and the black is more like a dark grey IMHO. I used Valspar last time I needed black spray can paint. It went on real nice glossed out nice and dried pretty hard for a spray bomb. Used this primer underneath and I could sand it fairly quickly after spraying it. I used the paint on the main frame tube.aceaceca said:In the USA I use Rustoleum in the can. The black can look as if the piece were enameled if you do a reasonable job with a good brush. Primer the piece first if bare metal to start. The coating will hold up for 30 years and more. The trick is to put a "full wet coat" on as they say in spray painting. You lay it on as thick as you dare without it running and it then "flows out" beautifully. I have a set of Ford valve covers I did 40 years ago and they still look great. Enamel paint is the key. As in cars, Ford painted cars in enamel. GM painted cars in lacquer. Longevity goes to Ford enamel hands down. I have a 1963 Ford Falcon Futura still in original Rangoon Red paint. Lived all its life outside. I buff it once a year and it looks great from 10 feet. Just give it a try and you will be amazed. I have always thought people were crazy spending all that money to powder coat and then dealing with having to clean it off in places so the thing fit back together. I guarantee it holds up no better than enamel and on top of it cannot be touched up.
htown16 said:Be careful with that Spraymax 2K high gloss. It's not your average rattle can clear which are generally lacquers, which unfortunately don't stand up to gasoline. Spraymax is a two pack and contains highly toxic isocyanates.
Be sure and use the recommended respirator, wear nitrile gloves and something long sleeved and hooded, eye protection and use in a well ventilated space.