Topic: What type of paint/clear is from the factory?

[el pachuco]

Lacquer?  Urethane? Enamel?

I found a very close lacquer nail polish to match my '75 Flake Apricot red. I've already applied some to the scratches and chips. Now the plan is to wet sand the touch ups and possibly clear over the entire tank and side covers. But I want to make sure I use the same as came from the factory.

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

I have a can right here but it doesn't mention. I THINK it is lacquer.

[Rmart]

Here's a link to the company I use for all my Honda paints they have every color including the high temp silver engine paint.
http://Http://www.vmrpaints.com



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[Flyin900]

Urethane is the only way to go for a gas spill. Any rattle can unless it is the SprayMax 2 part product will not be gas safe from a spill. You can spray enamel over cured modern lacquer but not the other way without issues.
The paint and clear that was used 40 years ago is not the same as today's paints. It is illegal in Canada to shoot any of the old style paints of the past today, as they were very toxic and are no longer sold.

[el pachuco]

If I do have the paint set clear coated, it will be done professionally by my trusted local paint/body shop. The original paint is too valuable for me to risk destroying with rattle can. But I  need to know what they are spraying over so they can determine which modern clear is best for the application.

[Flyin900]

If you are getting a shop to do it then they are the ones to determine what is best and I would suspect that any high quality urethane they have will be more than fine. I have shot modern lacquer, enamel and urethane over these old tanks without any problems both from a gun and rattle cans.

I find it interesting that you used nail polish to colour match and are concerned about the finish on the tank??? Any Napa store with a paint store designation can scan and mix an exact copy of your finish and as previously suggested by the other poster the VMR products are supposed to be top notch to match colours of these old bikes.

Talk to your body shop and see what they suggest and the nail polish should be part of the conversation since it may be a factor or not.

[el pachuco]

I didn't mind using a nail polish to touch up the chips and scratches because the damage was already done. It couldn't have made them look any worse. Now they look much better, even if I don't do anything else. But I will go  further to make it even better looking.

I was going to just wet sand the touch up spots and then polish and buff the entire set, but a friend told me that he had used a nail polish to touch up his Kawasaki and the touch up paint turned from a baby poop green to a baby poop brown in a matter of months. And he is the one that suggested clear coating the entire set with a UV resistant clear coat.

I will definitely have a lengthy conversation with my painter before making ANY final decision.

Thanks for all of the info, so far.