Topic: When you're painting your engine, (CB750K) what do you do about masking...

[MCRider]

I'll be showing pictures soon. But I got to thinking I'm going overboard. How much do we worry about overspray into the nether regions, etc.

What I've done is clamp the cases together, and cut covers out of cardboard for the areas where the points cover, clutch cover etc would go.

I will use the head gasket (I don't have a base gasket handy) to cut cardboard in the shape of the top of the cases and drop it over the studs to keep paint off the base gasket area and inside the engine.

[shizzomynizzo]

i painted assembled, but the cardboard idea sounds more than sufficient. if you oil area where overspray might get, it wont stick.

[MCRider]

i painted assembled, but the cardboard idea sounds more than sufficient. if you oil area where overspray might get, it wont stick.

You didn't spray the sidecovers and everything did you?  What and how did you mask?

Thanks for the oil idea.

[shizzomynizzo]

i painted only parts originally painted from honda. i used painters tape from home depot...had it lying around. it took me a good hour to mask it off right, but it turned out flawless! if i had half a$$ed the tape, i would've had to sit and scrape the edged to get a clean line everywhere.

i used over a roll of tape, came off easy, paint still looks great!





BTW i found a paint that holds up to the heat for headers too! rustoleum high heat 2000 degrees. all others i tried have flaked off at the bend in the pipes. when the high heat worled on the pipes, i decided to paint the motor too. it's not a gloss, but it looks good, not overkill!

[MCRider]

Thanks, that's what i was looking for.

[MCRider]

This is what I'm doing now.



When I get all the templates cut, I'll make them generally available.

I hate painting and everything that goes with it. Hope I am not making things harder than need be. The templates are quite easy to cut actually.

Maybe painters tape is still easier.

[andy120t]

Why not loosen the cases (clutch / alternator / pionts) and then use masking tape and newspaper to cover them - ie mask them from the gasket faces outwards - then clamp them back on. (Hope that is clear!?)

Should be quicker than cutting templates & is the way I'll be doing it when I paint mine in the near future.

[MCRider]

Why not loosen the cases (clutch / alternator / pionts) and then use masking tape and newspaper to cover them - ie mask them from the gasket faces outwards - then clamp them back on. (Hope that is clear!?)

Should be quicker than cutting templates & is the way I'll be doing it when I paint mine in the near future.

Good idea! I'm almost done with mine, not sure which would be easier/quicker. All my covers are polished and packed away. Wouldn't want to get adhesive on them, probably not really a big worry though.

[bistromath]

I like the cardboard templates! Easiest way to do this is still masking tape. Just get an X-Acto knife and cut the edges flush with the cases. Took me an afternoon to mask and paint both cases, the jugs, the head, valve cover, oil pan, oil filter housing, and breather cover.

[spitfire]

I used lots of masking tape and newspaper, the black sump was a spare one.

Cheers

Den

[MCRider]

Thanks Bistro and Spitfire. That's just what I need to get me off dead center. I'll finish my templates, mask the other areas and get on with it!

Dang I could have had the oil filter housing powder coated to match the frame. Maybe later.

[Hinz]

This is the only pic I have from when I painted the cases.
Whatever you use, DON'T use VHT engine case paint. It looks good but it's about as durable as chalk in a can.

The green masking tape in the pic is from Sears Hardware. It was a little pricy but man, it sticks to ANYTHING.

[MCRider]

Thanks Hinz, I saw your signature oon the VHT. So what do you recommend?

I was going to wipe it down with Acetone, use a product sent to me by Eastwood complimentary with another order, that is prep for painting engines, and I had scoped the paint at AutoZone from another thread years ago. I don't remember the brand, just that it was availabel at Autozone. It may have been VHT.

Was your problem maybe a prep problem?

[bistromath]

Duplicolor engine enamel in aluminum, DE1615.

[Hinz]

Thanks Hinz, I saw your signature oon the VHT. So what do you recommend?

I was going to wipe it down with Acetone, use a product sent to me by Eastwood complimentary with another order, that is prep for painting engines, and I had scoped the paint at AutoZone from another thread years ago. I don't remember the brand, just that it was availabel at Autozone. It may have been VHT.

Was your problem maybe a prep problem?

My prep was the following...
1. Disassemble cases and catalog each part.
2. Degrease with Simple Green and brushes.
3. Rinse with water and air dry. Used a hair dryer and compressed air to speed up the works.
4. Used Aircraft stripper to remove any clearcoat that may have been left behind.
5. Rinsed with water and air dried.
6. Walnut shell blasted cases.
7. Sanded and 3M scuffed up the outer surfaces.
8. Wiped all parts down with Acetone.
9. Followed the instructions on the can of VHT exactly as for temperatures and time between coats.
10. Let painted parts cure for 1 week before handling them.

I don't think I did anything wrong but it seems the slightest bump or nudge is enough to take the paint down to the aluminum.  I've had to touch up a few spots already with a cap full of paint and a small paint brush.
On the other hand, I used the VHT Satin Black Roll Bar paint on my frame and that stuff is hard as nails same goes for their "epoxy" paint...  
Maybe I got a bad batch?? I don't know, but I won't be using it again.  
I may try the Duplicolor paint next time as I have had great results with their wheel paint in the past.

[MCRider]

Geez, sounds like you did everything you could or should.

Duplicolor, that may be the brand I'm looking at.

[shizzomynizzo]

Wow Shizz, when's the last time you've cleaned your camera lens??? Just sayin...

Other wise, looks pretty good. I like the flat look.

lost the charger to my camera. that was taken with my cell phone... so...I don't recall ever cleaning it! almost a year old too!

[Alan F.]

Don't you have to heat cure VHT engine paint within 7 days of application?
I think I read that in another thread, maybe that's why it's so easily damaged?  It sure sounds like you prepped well.
-Alan

[Hinz]

the instructions on the can say to either heat cure the paint or let it dry at room temperature for 7 days. 
Since I don't have an oven, I opted for the later.

[tlbranth]

I'm not a painting expert, but my neighbor is and he likes to paint immediately after prep. Aluminum oxidizes pretty quickly and should be coated real soon after blasting. That's pretty much everything I know on the topic.

[MCRider]

Hinz: My readings conclude that heat curing is an option, but will make it harder. My approach will be to heat the cases with a heat gun before and after paintig. The one i have gets pretty hot, and transferring that to aluminum should be easy.

tlb: Yeah I agree, and have waited to long. I had mine blasted months ago. But I'll scrub it good with acetone and some prep chems. Hope its OK.

[MCRider]

This should be the last post on the subject. after hemming and hawing, I took my blue tape and masked the darn thing. (not quite done yet). Trimmed the tranny cover area in minutes with a razor knife. Beauteous.  Fast and easy.

I was born with this bone. If I hate to do something I'll do something stupid to make me think I'm doing something better than just doing it in the first place.

Hope to lay down some paint this weekend, and get on with the motor.



Forget my stupid cardboard.

[mlinder]

This should be the last post on the subject. after hemming and hawing, I took my blue tape and masked the darn thing. (not quite done yet). Trimmed the tranny cover area in minutes with a razor knife. Beauteous.  Fast and easy.

I was born with this bone. If I hate to do something I'll do something stupid to make me think I'm doing something better than just doing it in the first place.

Hope to lay down some paint this weekend, and get on with the motor.



Forget my stupid cardboard.

This is how I've done it, more or less.

[Hinz]

Hinz: My readings conclude that heat curing is an option, but will make it harder. My approach will be to heat the cases with a heat gun before and after paintig. The one i have gets pretty hot, and transferring that to aluminum should be easy.

tlb: Yeah I agree, and have waited to long. I had mine blasted months ago. But I'll scrub it good with acetone and some prep chems. Hope its OK.

I don't like using a heat gun for paint curing since it's not an even heat like an oven.  You effectively have a hot spot that could potentially bias the drying process even if your are moving the gun as evenly as possible. If you really want to use the heat gun, I would try to make a quick cardboard/duct tape enclosure with the heat gun supplying the hot air thru some dryer tubing or whatnot.  I've heard of the powder coating guys doing this for larger parts that won't fit into their oven.  Instead of a heat gun though, they use those propane cannon heaters.
Good luck!

[Bill/BentON Racing]

MC,you will get it,patient man to cut templates,looked good tho,If you are fortunate enough to have them or can borrow,I keep a set of cvrs for painting,slide them on,1or 2 bolts,it is so quick and easy,you not in a big hurry,I could let you borrow a set.Bill,UPS out Mon.

[MCRider]

MC,you will get it,patient man to cut templates,looked good tho,If you are fortunate enough to have them or can borrow,I keep a set of cvrs for painting,slide them on,1or 2 bolts,it is so quick and easy,you not in a big hurry,I could let you borrow a set.Bill,UPS out Mon.

Wow, now there's an idea. Sacrificial covers. Never thought of that, doh!

I actually have boxes of used covers, actually used cylinders and head. All in need of glass beading, so a little paint wouldn't hurt.  But no need to send yours.

The masking is almost done, so I'll proceed that way.