Topic: Vintage Honda Paint Kit - clearcoat over the stripe or not?

[egar]

My painter needs to know whether he can clearcoat over the stripe that I ordered with my candy gold paint kit from vintagehondapaint for my 70 750. I've read threads on cleacoating and decals but haven't seen this specific question answered. My painter is worried the decal could wrinkle when the clearcoat hits it. Those of you who have used don the dirtbiker's paint would know the answer, maybe?

[Bob Wessner]

I used Don's paint kit (had it done by someone who knows how to paint  ). He clear coated over the decals, not only no problem, but you would never know, or detect they were decals. He did a great job.

[736cc]

Clear won't mess them up. Gas definately will

[greenjeans]

The only thing I'd offer about decals is:  paint as it dries/cures it sends off gases/solvents.  These sometime can show up under the decals as tiny pinpoint bubbles
or they can attack the solvent that is used in the glue of the adhesive.

Now - basically, all you have to do is wait for the paint to thoroughly cure.   I've always painted over the top of decals with great results. 
Normally when I paint a tank, I'll prime it, wait a week or so, scuff it and shoot a primer/sealer and proceed with the color.  Then I'll apply a coat of clear and let that
cure/dry a week or so.  Then I'll sand it flat with 600 and apply the decals and shoot the final coats of clear.   Sand everything flat again with 800 - 1000 to get rid of
any ridge the decal might cause and then I'll polish it.

Now, I realize that it's probably a bit of overkill to wait so long between coats of primer, clear etc but I've always been warned of paint shrinkage after sanding etc.


After all that - YES  you can paint over the decals. 

[1974CB750rider]

Like the guy above said let the paint cure very good before you put the decal on then clear it. A friend of mines dad has been painting bikes for years and he may wait as long as 2 weeks before he clear coats a part after he paints it. All I know is when hes done with something its better than show quality.

[BoCoJohn]

Any leads on a good painter that would use don's paint kits ?

[Tripps]

Not out your way. My decals took longer to get here than I thought, my painter gave me my tank back for the rally, then I took it back after and he decal-ed and clear-coated, so though I didn't know a 2 week cure was good, that's how it worked out. Serendipity, I guess, LOL. But I did know they went under clear, I think from the instructions.

[Psychonaut]

I am not a painter but a friend that is said that the longer the paint cures the harder it gets, obviously but the poorer the clear will bond. He would spray clear within 24 hours. He only did cars and no decals though. What he said makes sense but I don't know if it is accurate. I would be afraid of the base becoming too hard and then the clear having a poor bond. Anytime you paint, you sand first to get a good mechanical bond.

[gane]

I'm in pretty much in the same game, (restoring a wrinkle tank to faux  original)  & asked the decal supplier (in this case Reprodecals) about clear coating. and they replied that they reccommended it.  As others have stated, let your color coat cure before application of decals, thinners can take a while to totally evaporate . luck g

[Johnie]

Any of you every thought about having your painter "paint" the stripe on there? No decal needed. That is what my guy did on my KO & K1. Of course, you have to have a painter that is very good at what he does. Plus it helped that I had another tank for him to measure and copy.

[wingman1946]

beautiful tank. Hope I didn't get any drool on it.

[Kinch]

Any of you every thought about having your painter "paint" the stripe on there? No decal needed. That is what my guy did on my KO & K1. Of course, you have to have a painter that is very good at what he does. Plus it helped that I had another tank for him to measure and copy.

A buddy and I are both planning on restoring our K5 tanks in the near future. I suggested Don's kit and clear-coating over new tank badges. He feels confident enough that he can layer paint coats and tape off well enough to paint the lines on.

If we decide to go that route I'll post pics.

That tank looks fantastic.