Author Topic: Painting tach or speedo case (Read 5194 times)

Pain · « **on:** January 24, 2012, 02:31:49 PM »

so i have this...

and i polished it... but it oxidizes way too quick.. so i want to paint it back to original black and just get a chrome cover. what grit should i rough it up with, what type of paint should i use etc?

here's a link to my build thread ('76 cb550).. this topic is where i am currently stuck.. and thanks in advance.

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=88788.25

CycleRanger · « **Reply #1 on:** January 24, 2012, 02:36:59 PM »

I'm pretty fond of this:
http://www.vhtpaint.com/products/epoxypaint/

Just make sure it's warm enough when you spray it.

Pain · « **Reply #2 on:** January 24, 2012, 02:45:06 PM »

which black?

CycleRanger · « **Reply #3 on:** January 24, 2012, 02:47:43 PM »

Quote from: Pain on January 24, 2012, 02:45:06 PM

which black?

Gloss is closest to original, imho.

SohRon · « **Reply #4 on:** January 24, 2012, 09:56:27 PM »

Pain, another good paint for these is Rustoleum Painters Touch 2X Semi-gloss Black. Two coats is very similar to the original finish. Be sure to give it plenty of time between coats. Once it's cured it's pretty durable; not quite POR-15, but still decent.

BTW, Red Zone sticker looks great on your build!

I may have to get that rolling again...

grcamna2 · « **Reply #5 on:** January 25, 2012, 06:21:32 AM »

I want to paint my gauge case also and wanted to know if the original paint is powdercoating? which I know is very hard and durable...and is it a gloss? or semi-gloss ?? I want to get the Toughest black paint on these that I can so they won't need to be taken apart too much. Where can I purchase chrome rings that can be removed and re-installed for my CB400F ? I know that these are smaller instruments w/ less diameter. Thanks

.

Vreihenmotor6 · « **Reply #6 on:** January 25, 2012, 07:41:34 PM »

I'm interested in this too, I was gonna scuff mine and paint them with s2k satin black paint, I was gonna cheat and leave the gauges together and mask it off

mrrch · « **Reply #7 on:** January 26, 2012, 12:19:14 PM »

I also used the Rustoleum semi gloss black for a set of guages I rebuilt. I buffed them out with some rubbinfg compound a few weeks later and waxed and they look pretty good.

CycleRanger · « **Reply #8 on:** January 26, 2012, 02:05:48 PM »

Quote from: grcamna2 on January 25, 2012, 06:21:32 AM

I want to paint my gauge case also and wanted to know if the original paint is powdercoating? .

No, it's glossy enamel paint.

Pain · « **Reply #9 on:** February 02, 2012, 06:18:34 PM »

i just picked up a can of the recommended vht paint. the instructions say to use 320 grit to prep the surface, but i wanted to be sure such a low grit is a good idea first.

CycleRanger · « **Reply #10 on:** February 02, 2012, 06:31:01 PM »

Quote from: Pain on February 02, 2012, 06:18:34 PM

i just picked up a can of the recommended vht paint. the instructions say to use 320 grit to prep the surface, but i wanted to be sure such a low grit is a good idea first.

I would use at least 400 or even 600. The original paint isn't that thick.
Clean the bare metal with a solvent like acetone before painting.
Just make sure it's warm enough in your painting area.
The only time I had any problems with the VHT paint is when I tried to spray when the temperature was under ~60 or so and I had some runs.
You might practice on an empty tin can to experience how it goes on.
Let us know how it goes!

SohRon · « **Reply #11 on:** February 04, 2012, 10:17:46 AM »

Quote from: CycleRanger on January 26, 2012, 02:05:48 PM

Quote from: grcamna2 on January 25, 2012, 06:21:32 AM
I want to paint my gauge case also and wanted to know if the original paint is powdercoating? .

No, it's glossy enamel paint.

I believe that many (if not all) of the CB750s used a high gloss finish; though, to be honest, I really am not all that familiar with the '750s. The CB550s, however, were finished in a semi-gloss enamel. Here's a comparison: the cover on the left is from a '750, middle is an original CB550, and right is a restored '550 case using Painter's Touch 2x Ultra Cover semi-gloss

If you're concerned with authenticity, then a semi-gloss (whatever brand) will give you the finish you're looking for on your '550.

LesterPiglet · « **Reply #12 on:** February 04, 2012, 10:21:45 AM »

I would go with the satin black myself.

CycleRanger · « **Reply #13 on:** February 04, 2012, 11:50:34 AM »

I tried the VHT satin and I found it be too satin for me. I liked the VHT gloss, for me anyway, it didn't produce a real high gloss.
Imho, less glossy than the body in the photo. YMMV.

(And I have tried other brands of paint.)

I would agree that ND probably would use a semi-gloss on their gauges to reduce the potential for glare.
I guess we'd have to see some genuine NOS gauges to know for sure.

Pain · « **Reply #14 on:** February 05, 2012, 11:07:08 PM »

wow. that's an awesome photo comparison. it may be worth noticing how the quality of the reflection in the paint changes between each case.

here's what the vht did. i don't think the lighting is that great in these photos though.

by the way.. i found the vht at advanced auto. i couldn't find the painters touch anywhere.

i found it funny to think these things were actually this black at one point in time.

CycleRanger · « **Reply #15 on:** February 06, 2012, 07:12:05 AM »

Looks good. That's how the VHT came out for me. A bit glossy but not a high-gloss like in the other photos.

Pain · « **Reply #16 on:** February 06, 2012, 09:55:38 AM »

at first i thought it would be too glossy.. but when you compare the reflection quality in the paint it's pretty similar to the middle original 550 case. i'm happy.

SohRon · « **Reply #17 on:** February 06, 2012, 04:33:28 PM »

Looks good! Now, let's see it assembled!

XC204 · « **Reply #18 on:** February 06, 2012, 07:03:24 PM »

I used the VHT epoxy satin black seems to look nice. I found some replacement rubber shock mount bushings in an unlikley place Ace Hdw in the plumbing dept. a 23/32 x 11/32 slip joint washer $.59 stock #388088 almost exact replacement!
also used an o ring between the inst. and the chrome case.

XC204 · « **Reply #19 on:** February 06, 2012, 07:08:46 PM »

The photo size on this site is hard to get used to Guages going to mount lower on tripple tree on my CB500 so I pressed the studs out of the mounting plate and used SS bolts

LesterPiglet · « **Reply #20 on:** February 07, 2012, 02:27:33 AM »

How did you reassemble the clocks? I had to cut a metal ring off mine to take them apart.

Danno · « **Reply #21 on:** February 07, 2012, 02:38:23 AM »

I use satin black epoxy enamel single part epoxy works extremely well and looks original i also use 300 grit to rough them up a bit before I paint make sure you tack them off well before you paint

Pain · « **Reply #22 on:** February 07, 2012, 08:31:07 AM »

so to get the ring off you need one or two paint can openers. one i filed down to get under the ring when starting off. you have to carefully pry it open.. little by little working your way around. don't pry one spot completely open.. just keep working at it around and around. should take a while.

when i put it back together i taped off a pair of pliers with painters tape so they wouldn't scratch the ring. i also put painters tape around the tach so not to scratch the paint or the base, although the base may not matter.

finally after it was together i cleaned up all the finger prints and now i'm just waiting for the arrival of a nos rubber ring for between the base plate and the base of the tach. they're only 15 bucks on ebay with free shipping. should be here thursday and i'll get a picture of the completed project.

LesterPiglet · « **Reply #23 on:** February 07, 2012, 08:48:38 AM »

Damn I cut the chrome ring.

HonderCB · « **Reply #24 on:** February 07, 2012, 09:07:52 AM »

Black appliance epoxy paint. 3 dollars in a spray can at walmart/lowes/homedepot etc... Very tuff stuff and looks good too.

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Author Topic: Painting tach or speedo case (Read 5194 times)