My rattle can flame job!

Here's some pics of my paint job I did on my '81 XJ550 Maxim. Sorry the pics aren't the greatest. I did sand it down, filled in the indentation on the tank where is said YAMAHA (wanted a smooth look), and bought a bunch of paint at O'rileys. The pics don't do it justice -- it suprisingly looks good in person! I am really pleased at the results. I also painted the little side cover thingys too. I think I'm gonna paint the front fender sometime too. Do I need to do anything special to it since it's chrome? I plan on just doing the same thing to it I did to the tank. ...Now to start working on my oil leak, fork seals, and idle problems! :lol:

 

Looks Professional to me!

 

Very NICE!!!

I'm a big beliver in airbrush and paint cup painting..... but you guys really ARE awsome with shaker cans!!

 

Mean... I like it 8)

 

I'm impressed!

 

Nice it looks sweet! It's like the opposite of mine, and I'm kind of jealous, I think I like the red flames with the white stripe. But oh well - too late now

 

The paint job looks sweet,

But I have 1 question.

What did you clear coat it with to protect it from gas?

I dont know about you but I will sometimes get a little gas on my tank at fill up. My brother in law did a cheap rattle can paint job on his tank and at his first fill up the paint spoted and came off a little. He sence had a friend paint it for him with automotove paints and had no problem.

Well I just told you this so maybe you can clear coat it with something so you dont ruin that great job. I dont know what you can use, but Im sure there are guys on this group that can tell you. Or you may already know and I am wasting my time.

As I said before, I like the flames.

 

The question has been asked about clear coating the rattle can paint job to protect against gas spills -
I found out from another site that Duplicolor makes a High temp clear that is impervious to gas/oil. I used it on my entire bike and it turned out nice and shiny.
I just put my 4th coat of black on my Maxim tank and as soon as I get all the graphic layed out and painted, I will clearcoat it with Duplicolor clear to protect it. I figure I will put atleast 4 coats of clear on the tank to protect it.
Photos will be posted when it's all done. >PD<

 

Thanks for all the compliments!!

I do have an airbrush but need to get some more accessories for that kind of paint job. I just couldn't wait to put some flames on!!

I used Duplicolor automotive acrilic enamel paint with 3 coats of acrilic enamel clear coat. I don't know if its the "high temperature" kind or not. And ironiclly the first time I filled up with gas after the paint job I spilled a couple of drops on the tank! I wiped it off with a wet shop towel. No paint came off at all. Now you can barely tell where the gas drops were, and if you look at the right angle, you can see a couple of smudges. It's like it smudged the clear coat a little or something. It's not bad at all and you can't even see them unless they are pointed out. It's good enough for now untill I get my other paint supplies to do more of a "professional" job. Since I'm not gonna be doing a *lot* of painting, I'm looking for some inexpensive paint cans/guns for occasonal work. Some day I will get around to it! (Way too many projects, way too little time!)

PainterD, I look forward to seeing your pics!

 

Ace I like your flames too! I've always liked flames on motorcycles ever since I was a kid, and jumped at the chance when I bought my 550. (that needed a paint job badly anyway!) I'm also building a v-twin chopper that I want to do a professional (not shaker can) flame paint job on when I get that finished. I need to get my supplies and practice & practice.

I looked in the gallery and didn't find too many xj's with flames, where they all at? U guys not into flames? Or am I just blind? (alltogether possible)

I think I'm gonna start on the front fender here pretty soon and paint that too. Think I'm gonna just go with all black, no flames. I like that look. Don't want to over do it. The flames on the tank stick out plenty.

 

I wasn't planning on a flame job on the bike when I first started tearing it apart. I already had the Seca tank pinstriped and it matched the side covers and rear fender. But now that I am changing to a Maxim tank, I think I'll tape off some flames and put my airbrush to work. I think a more subdued color will be in order. The tank is black and I'm going to shoot some fading red along the outside edge of the flames and see what it looks like. If I need more, I can always do the the outside edge with another color pinstripe. Maybe an orange stripe to outline the flames and add some blue tips to finish them off.
Of course if I know me like I think I do...that idea could change 10 times by the time I start spraying!!! We'll just wait and see what my warped mind comes up with. >PD<

 

I went with more subtle airbrushed flames on my last bike, I decided that on this bike I wanted something bold! I like your Idea Painter, sounds good. But you sound like me, the colors and design will change 12 times.

As for the front fender, Mine was all black/blue, but it looked to plain, so I put on a nice red and white pinstripe flourish to pick up the colors form the tanks and the side cover - it really finishes it off nicely

 

I PLAN ON PUTTING SOME FLAMES ON MINE JUST GOT TO READ UP ON IT AND PLAY AROUND FIRST CAUSE I DON'T EVEN KNOW WERE TO START OR HOW TO LAY OUT THE DESIGN. THEFREEAUCTION I LIKE YOUR FLAMES AND I LIKE YOURS TO ACE INSPIRES ME TO READ UP ON IT TO GET STARTED.

 

Update:
I air brushed a kind of tribal flame job on mine finally. My tanks started out black (4 coats) wet sanded it with 1000 grit then 1500 grit. Then I laid out the new pattern and taped it out. Then I painted just around the edge of the design with Pearl Red and pinstriped the outside edge. My gal really likes it. I guess for not doing any air brushing in quite awhile, it turned out pretty good. That was just on the sides, so I did a fancy pinstripe layout on the top of the tank to finish it off. I'll have to get it clear coated tomorrow and shoot some photos so you can see it. >>PD<<

 

2nd update:

Here's the tank after I did 4 coats of clear on it today.

 

ok might have to send my tank and side panels to ya.

 

Nice painter, Very classy looking

 

Good job, I like white outline more than I thought I would.

 

Awesome PainterD!! That's are pretty neat design. Did you do your side covers too?

Can't wait to see it on the bike!

 

Thefreeauction,
No, I didn't do the flame pattern on the side covers. I had pinstriped them to match the other tank. That's the main reason I pinstriped the top of the new tank, so it would match the side covers somewhat.
I plan to re-do the entire bike next winter and make everything match with some type of flame job (I've always likes flames)
I am going to try to get the new tank on today and mount the seat I made yesterday. We have a group ride Saturday and I'd like take it's on its "maiden voyage" then. I'll try to get some before and after photos on here later today. >PD<