Topic: sandcast, original paint or repaint?/decided thanks.

[Don R]

My sandcast has nice servicable paint. It is faded a little, there's a spot here and a chip and ding there, but it's original. The sidecovers were broken. I had a set painted but they ended up the beautiful original new candy ruby red and the tank looks a little more orange since it's faded.
 The question is do I paint another set of sidecovers to try and  match the fade and keep the original paint or just repaint it all new candy ruby red?

 My original plan was to not restore this bike, I think it's cooler as a surviving original than a restored bike. What's your opinion?

[seanbarney41]

CalJ, that's all great info, but does nothing to address the faded paint on the tank...Don, I doubt anybody but father time can match the faded tank.  Do you pan to sell this? or enjoy it for yourself for a long time?  I would just leave it how it is for now, save my money, and check ebay every day for those faded original sidecovers.

[750K]

I'm with Sean, look for a nice set of faded side covers. It's only original once and if its in nice original shape I'd be hesitant to repaint it.

[AJK]

Me personally, I wouldn't touch the tank if it looks good for its age and retains its original patina. By mucking with it you will probably take value off the bike. I'd just get your painter just to match the new sidecovers to the tank. Just my 0.02c

[Old Scrambler]

How faded is the headlight bucket? The plastic sidecovers are known for fading and having the paint rub through on the shoulders from contact with the rider's legs. I have seen the effects of a torch applied to new paint. It can fool a lot of people into thinking its 'aged-patina' but don't melt the plastic

The calj737 advice is great for restoring the original clear-coat...........and its surprising how it will brighten slightly faded paint just from the effect of allowing the remaining paint to properly reflect the available light. 

[750K]

Another option is to get a second tank painted to match the sidecovers and put the original faded one on a shelf for safe keeping, if you ever decide to sell it you can include the og tank with it.

[kmb69]

Another option is to get a second tank painted to match the sidecovers and put the original faded one on a shelf for safe keeping, if you ever decide to sell it you can include the og tank with it.

Not sure what SN you have, but if this is a "wrinkle" tank, I would definitely set it aside and find a rider tank. My .02

[Don R]

I do have another tank that is almost ready for paint, it's a wrinkle tank from my diecast. That is another option. I've been riding it with a borrowed tank the last couple years.

The headight is the most faded part on it but that's cool. I think you guys pretty much think like I do on the subject. Thanks. The new paint guy was getting a little excited about shooting it all, I had to restrain him. L0L.

[ekpent]

  +1 with what Sean said. Keep it as original as possible for now. When a friend of mine sold a Sandie this winter that had a 8xx frame and 3xx engine that made a few waves and sold for over $25,000 as an original we all stood around it and debated if it should even be wiped down for a first cleaning. The decision was made to just keep it all totally original right down to the accumulated  dirt and patina. Another member here with experience who saw it said that it is the way he would like to find it before anybody messed with it. We all agreed. If it is a life long keeper and you have the dollars to do it right go for it but the bike may be worth as much or more to somebody else to do it the way they want .Buying an original, like this dirty Sandie was, gives buyers the confidence that it has not been worked over.
  I would say clean it up and enjoy, replace as much non stock goodies as needed or possible but do not go overboard on a resto unless it going to be your total crown jewel. It will still retain value as original as possible.

[nccb]

Id leave it until you splurge for some hm300s

[Don R]

I'm hoping to order a set of nono's the next time Yamiya has some.  I did debate whether to clean it, it looked awful and pitted but the po had sprayed all the metal with WD40 and heavy coated the paint with blue wax. The dirt accumulation in the WD gave it the appearance of corrosion but I cleaned off a small area and it was almost perfect underneath. Once I saw one part clean I couldn't stop. So far, I just re installed the original rear rim and the handlebars. I gave it new tires and wheel bearings so it's safe to ride.
 The guy that cleaned the carbs for me also assembled it new from the crate, this was the first and he has the second 750 sold at that shop, a blue/green diecast ser. 10091xx. He knew the original buyer, there was a matching Honda mini bike bought with it. I'm on the trail of it too.

[ekpent]

 I would be proud to have a bike like that to make it presentable and road worthy and would also relish in some of the patina that an original Sandcast has. Cleaning it up and making the best of the original is a great way to go.True collectors can appreciate a bikes originality  .
   What is the opinion on the Sandcast site of originality Don ?

[754]

They are only original once..

[PeWe]

Buy a complete set from yamiya in the color you want and save the original stuff that most likely will be very valuable in the future.
http://www.yamiya750.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=157_166

[Stev-o]

I once had to replace broken side covers and had them painted, didn't paint the original tank and they didn't match.  If you have to paint part of the bodywork, I say paint it all. Get another tank if you don't want to paint over the original tank paint.

[Don R]

No reply on the sandcast site, things move slow over there.

The original sidecovers were toast before I got it. One looked like it was stepped on and the other one was still on the bike but spiderwebbed. I was surprised because it was stored well and taken care of.
 My plan is still have my paint guy give matching sidecovers a try and in the meantime watch for a set of original ones that look appropriate. I'm leaving them the broken sidecover to try a paint match with the color computer.

[David B]

They are only original once..

Couldn't agree more. Best money spent is to put all the original painted parts in a box & buy a Yamiya body kit.   Bike looks brand new AND it still has the original, unmessed with original parts. Best of both worlds in my opinion.

[greenjeans]

They are only original once..

Couldn't agree more. Best money spent is to put all the original painted parts in a box & buy a Yamiya body kit.   Bike looks brand new AND it still has the original, unmessed with original parts. Best of both worlds in my opinion.

+2

However, I'm not really into leaving the dirt on them and calling it patina.  Dirt can hold moisture.  If it were a 30's bike that has been sitting in a barn for 80 years that's one thing - leave it on there and call it a true barn find.  But since you are riding it, you can clean things with kerosene without hurting the finish.   That's what I did to mine before selling it. (still kicking myself)

[AJK]

They are only original once..

Couldn't agree more. Best money spent is to put all the original painted parts in a box & buy a Yamiya body kit.   Bike looks brand new AND it still has the original, unmessed with original parts. Best of both worlds in my opinion.

+2

However, I'm not really into leaving the dirt on them and calling it patina.  Dirt can hold moisture.  If it were a 30's bike that has been sitting in a barn for 80 years that's one thing - leave it on there and call it a true barn find.  But since you are riding it, you can clean things with kerosene without hurting the finish.   That's what I did to mine before selling it. (still kicking myself)

Not to get off topic, but here is a nice barnfind with extra dirt. Keep clicking 'next' & enjoy.

http://www.intuh.net/barnfinds/afa70.htm

[Lostboy Steve]

I would leave it as is If possible. It may not matter now, but one day it might.

[bender01]

They are only original once..

Plus 3! It will matter someday! Buy another pretty set. Are you readying it for sale or going to enjoy it some? If your just going to paint I don't see much value increase and long term kicking self in the a$$ when its gone! A nut and bolt restoration may be different.
  I wouldn't buy a restored one if I had big bags of $$!

[Lostboy Steve]

I know that guitars, aren't anything like motorcycles, but let me explain... My uncle collects lefty guitars of yesteryear. He has many high dollar pieces. The most expensive ones have an original finish no matter how chipped or faded. I'm talking $15,000 guitars that look "road worn". The fender "relic's" look new compared to some of them. Like 754 said you can't re-create original. This could lead to a whole sub-thread about removing paint to expose the original finish. Its been done, but to a critics eye its always noticeable. Another interesting thing is that a lot of these older guitars are painted with Automotive Nitrocellulose lacquer which is probably what is on your bike.

[Stev-o]

I know that guitars, aren't anything like motorcycles, but let me explain...

But what if the body was original and the neck had been replaced and had newer paint?

The question here is not leave it original or not.  The issue is the newer, repainted side covers do not match the original paint on the tank. 

Personally, I think they all need to match, whether it be all original or new paint. 

[Don R]

I will endeavor to find or create side covers that look right, under no circumstances will I remove any paint or patina except the horrible WD40/dirt combo that was on it. I even kept the original bad front tire and what may be the original chain although I will remove it.
 And I'm left handed normaly but am jonesing for a right handed 62 fender jazzmaster. A candy red one would be awesome. I'd trade a sweet 750 for the right one.

[ekpent]

Don't kill yourself on it Don if you are going to make it a rider    A point I made way back on your thread when a certain bike was going on E-bay was that as a group we all thought it would be best to keep it totally unmolested and "honest" until the next owner bought it. Since then I have read on the sandie site that he has cleaned it up, got it running  and the last I heard was thrilled.
   I think a couple people here thought that my suggestion was to keep it dirty, etc and that is not true when it finally lands to an owner who is actually going to make a viable road worthy machine.I would clean up a find like that if I was lucky enough to acquire. There is a difference between dirt, grease, and all the other chuff and true patina.The point we were making on that bike is that it was very original to that buyer right down to all the accumulated dirt and debri and was his to do with as He pleased.