Topic: Cb400f "goldie", Handbuilt show, Bikeexif, and dyno run.

[palepainter]

See, I'd be into the black lowers BUT you do have the polished swing arm so there will be balance there for both ends of the bike in that respect.

I agree.  I would get the lowers polished (maybe after vapor blasting) and then clear powder coated.  They will be subjected to a lot of road grime and some brake dust.

From my own experience, powdercoating a polished surface is not all that sustainable.  It chips and then the oxidation creeps beyond the initial impact and you can do nothing about it.  At least polish can be maintained with a little elbow grease.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

My 550 forks were polished and then powdercoated clear.  No problems at all  and easy to clean.  But, hey, everyone's got a story right. 

[palepainter]

My 550 forks were polished and then powdercoated clear.  No problems at all  and easy to clean.  But, hey, everyone's got a story right. 

Certainly.  But if you add up, vapor blasting, polishing then powdercoating, and then calculate shipping when needed.  You will have $700 lower legs.  But remember, I am a cheap bastard.   

[innovativems]

My 550 forks were polished and then powdercoated clear.  No problems at all  and easy to clean.  But, hey, everyone's got a story right. 

Certainly.  But if you add up, vapor blasting, polishing then powdercoating, and then calculate shipping when needed.  You will have $700 lower legs.  But remember, I am a cheap bastard.   

Cheap!? I've seen pics of your bike!!!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[innovativems]

Alright front wheel is done except for waiting on my 20mm axle from ttr.  Rear wheel I'm gonna have to angle the spoke holes more.  When trueing them, out too much of a bow on the spokes. Bucannon said it was structurally good but I didn't like how it looked. 

Bottom end is going together tomorrow. 



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[GV1390]

Looks good! Keep up the good work. 

[Camrector]

What are your thoughts now? I still am voting for polished hubs and lowers. You did to good of a job on the swingarm!

[Camrector]

Or, I hate to say it, gold swing arm/ black lowers.

[innovativems]

Well the shock bodies will be bare aluminum with black springs so I think polished fork legs will work.  I'm gonna to polish the drum cover too. 


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[innovativems]

Or, I hate to say it, gold swing arm/ black lowers.

No!!! I can't paint the swingarm after polishing it!  My shoulders still hurt from all that time with the polishing wheel


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Camrector]

Lol! I hear you brother!

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

My 550 forks were polished and then powdercoated clear.  No problems at all  and easy to clean.  But, hey, everyone's got a story right. 

Certainly.  But if you add up, vapor blasting, polishing then powdercoating, and then calculate shipping when needed.  You will have $700 lower legs.  But remember, I am a cheap bastard.   

$700!!!    I paid $30 to polish my lowers, then I batched them with some other clear powercoat parts for another $50.  So, who's the cheap bastard now!!

End of threadjack!

Bikes is looking good, innovativems!

[palepainter]

My 550 forks were polished and then powdercoated clear.  No problems at all  and easy to clean.  But, hey, everyone's got a story right. 

Certainly.  But if you add up, vapor blasting, polishing then powdercoating, and then calculate shipping when needed.  You will have $700 lower legs.  But remember, I am a cheap bastard.   

$700!!!    I paid $30 to polish my lowers, then I batched them with some other clear powercoat parts for another $50.  So, who's the cheap bastard now!!

End of threadjack!

Bikes is looking good, innovativems!

You left out shipping and vapor blasting.      I would pay 50 each here locally, unfortunately and easily 40 per lower leg to polish.  You see, it is all because pot is legal in CO...they are all high.    The bike is looking killer. 

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

My 550 forks were polished and then powdercoated clear.  No problems at all  and easy to clean.  But, hey, everyone's got a story right. 

Certainly.  But if you add up, vapor blasting, polishing then powdercoating, and then calculate shipping when needed.  You will have $700 lower legs.  But remember, I am a cheap bastard.   

$700!!!    I paid $30 to polish my lowers, then I batched them with some other clear powercoat parts for another $50.  So, who's the cheap bastard now!!

End of threadjack!

Bikes is looking good, innovativems!

You left out shipping and vapor blasting.      I would pay 50 each here locally, unfortunately and easily 40 per lower leg to polish.  You see, it is all because pot is legal in CO...they are all high.    The bike is looking killer.

Palepainter,

I am not saying you're wrong.   I didn't vapor blast or ship.  I just had my lowers polished and then clear powdercoated.  And they've been holding up great.



Prior brake set up

[palepainter]

That is a beauty!!  And if I had the dough...I would probably do exactly as you described.  Cheers!!!

[innovativems]

Looks great!  I like to make things as hard as possible on myself.  Polishing and replacing aluminum keeps me sane


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[bradbesoballa]

Been following for a while, you guys are making me miss my '78 550 😭

Sent from my SM-G935R4 using Tapatalk

[503400f]

Or, I hate to say it, gold swing arm/ black lowers.

I second this comment.  Gold swing arm black lowers for the win!

[RAFster122s]

Vapor blasted surface is going to take a lot of work to clean up to polish as it leaves a fine texture. You are going to have a ton of time in sanding them smooth again.  If they are powder coated, will Aircraft Stripper do anything to the powder to remove it?  If it can, then I would attack it chemically to create less work to get it polished.
You could always Urethane Clear the forks after polishing. Would take mist coats to get a thin coating and then some wet coats for the gloss.
You might be able to do it yourself with the SprayMax 2K High Gloss at around 17-18 a can + shipping.  Repaintsupply.com has good prices on it. They can package any thing you need in the SprayMax cans, be it 1K or 2K formula.

The buffer isn't so bad on polishing...it is all the hand sanding to get it ready to polish where the work is at on polishing. Having a good slow 1500 rpm big polisher that has some grunt to it...that can help you get better results than the inexpensive Harbor Freight polisher that operates up to 3500 rpm.   Either one you use you have to generate the heat in the part to get it to cut and polish correctly.  I enjoy sanding, until my fingers get too sore, then I have to take a day or two break. Yeah, I'm weird.

David

[calj737]

Vapor blasted surface is going to take a lot of work to clean up to polish as it leaves a fine texture. You are going to have a ton of time in sanding them smooth again.  If they are powder coated, will Aircraft Stripper do anything to the powder to remove it?  If it can, then I would attack it chemically to create less work to get it polished.

Vapor Blasting "peens" the surface but it also cleans the material exceptionally well. This is in fact, a very beneficial step to polishing. Without the blasting, you must first eradicate the oxide layer, plus embedded grime, plus nicks and scratches before you proceed towards polishing. Thats what all the sanding is about.

Powder Coat is removed by Aircraft Stripper.

I like the polished swing arm. Leave it (not that you were even remotely considering changing it) but would do something suitable to the front lowers to match.

Never ask for color or finish opinions on this forum. You will get an incessant amount of conflicting ideas, and everyone of us Armchair Builders knows better than you on what you should have done. 

[RAFster122s]

If the forks have the clear coating from the factory remaining the Purple Power type Cleaner (Castrol SuperClean as well) will remove that clear coat with a soaking. Just have to wash the parts really well as that is a strong alkaline cleaner.
Removing it by hand with sanding takes some time.
FWIW.
I haven't seen Nil's work personally, from the looks of the photos it seems like it would be a bit of work to take the darker peened silver matt finish to a polished finish. I am probably mistaken...Yes, cutting through the oxidation is needed either way and the Vapor Blasting does that for you. I won't be having any Vapor Blasting done for a few years at least...
David

[grcamna2]

That's a Really nice looking blue custom CB550 Don 

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

That's a Really nice looking blue custom CB550 Don 

I admittedly took the easy way out with my fork legs.  My painter has a polishing service that took them from this to shiny for $30.

BEFORE:




AFTER:

[innovativems]

Damn!! Those look great. Sign me up for $30!   Pair of fork legs take me about two hours from start to finish.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[innovativems]

My decision on the fork legs may be leaning to PC black.  My number plate will be polished, I was gonna polish my triples but am thinking about doing them black too.  That way with my oil cooler being raw aluminum and the mounts being polished it will offset it


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk