Topic: Restoring tank emblems

[longshanks]

Anybody have a method for restoring emblems to somewhat factory look for a CB450? Do you have to use model paint and a small brush to get the letters white again?

[harisuluv]

Yes that seems to be the case.  I didn't exactly get the white the exact color last time I did it but it was hard to tell.  I think I media blasted (paint was HARD and on there GOOD) and then did the lettering, taped off the lettering and then sprayed the black.  Something like that.

[longshanks]

Wouldn't it be easier to paint black first and the brush in the lettering?

[MoMo]

Sharpie paint pens work quite well and they are available in different colors and points...Larry

[harisuluv]

Yeah but I thought the black would bleed through.

[flybox1]

Yeah but I thought the black would bleed through.

+1
spray them white, and then brush on the black.
I had some spraymax2K leftover, so I coated mine.

[wowbagger]

I've read that soaking them in acetone will life the old paint off pretty easy. Then, repaint with model paint and brushes or sharpies paint pens. A q-tip dabbed in acetone will clean the raised edges back to the original chrome.

[Whipsaw]

For the white inside areas you can thin down some white paint till its like water, then using a small brush dab it in and it will run to fill the area by itself.  I have done this for years even when I was building models, works like a charm....once the solvent evaporates you have the white paint just where you want it...

[longshanks]

This is for a 450 so the white lettering is set inwards(not my pic). So what I gather is:
-spray paint white
-q tip the chrome letter edges with acetone
-sharpie paint the outside black

Yes?

[wowbagger]

Yeaaah, I read tank badge and was thinking side cover emblem. I corrected my post above to avoid confusion.

[Whipsaw]

Heres the thinned method on the alternator cover...may work as well for the tank emblem black if careful on the edge areas

[RFogelsong]

I used auto touch up bottles for both colors on an emblem like the one in the picture with the green background a couple posts up.  I basically "flooded" the inside of the letters and dabbed when using the black.  The nice thing about auto touch up paint is that when it's about half dry, dragging (not scraping, the sharp edge should be trailing your hand) a razor across the flats gets the paint off there nicely without dealing with acetone that'll run into the black areas when you oversaturate your q-tip.

[longshanks]

All such great advice here! While we're on this topic, I have some front forks and fork ears that have been painted black and I want to remove the paint. Can I use paint stripper or will it destroy the chrome on the fork ears? What's the best way to get the paint off either part?

[RFogelsong]

Lacquer thinner or acetone works for getting paint off chrome, but be warned, I have not done Honda fork ears with this method.  I don't think you'll have any issues, but hit the back side first.  I'd try the thinner first.

[MoMo]

Lacquer thinner should remove any spray bomb paint and not harm the chrome- worked for me...Larry

[longshanks]

Ok, I'll try lacquer thinner. Just apply with a soft rag, nothing too bristly?

[MoMo]

Ok, I'll try lacquer thinner. Just apply with a soft rag, nothing too bristly?

that is the way I did it