| Author | Message | ||
     12x9sl |
Those of you folks that have painted parts of the bags the body color, where and how did you get the right paint color? | ||
| Andymnelson |
Jon I painted my bag inserts with the frame paint you gave to me- I MUCH prefer that look over a bright and shiny color....that just seems too much to me, even in black. Just a thought to consider....the Buell paint in aerosol cans is GREAT stuff- applies easy, super durable, and a perfect match to the color of your frame. | ||
| Andymnelson |
Here's a couple of cell phone pics:    | ||
| Ratbuell |
The frame color does look good. I originally used Testors plastic model paint, in Grabber Orange (a Ford color), for my Barricade Orange Uly. I'm sure other owners can give a crossreference to some of the lesser colors out there like blue or red or black...  I ended up with a set of panels that were professionally painted by a badwebber, though - much more durable, much better finish. | ||
| Etennuly |
I have done several. The plastic parts are difficult to match to say the least. There is no color that I have found in any of my paint reference and chip books to come very close. The plastics do this weird thing. They let light into their surfaces, sunlight actually penetrates the surface showing a depth but not necessarily reflecting back like automotive paint does. This is what makes the color difficult to match. Your eye sees the three dimensions of the part and the fourth is the depth of light into the surface color. To get the color right a mixologist has to spend a lot of time tricking the eye from a multi-directional light angle along with the surface angle until the best color compromise is found. It can take hours to get it right if you are a fussy professional. Perfection will never be had, but a truly close, blendable solution can be had. Here are a few examples of some that I have done with professional automotive color matching and proper application methods that make for a very durable long lasting surface.   And a slightly modified Blast in Barricade Orange.....Blastulys!  Spray can stuff can be fairly close in color, but durability of a paint made for inside use is questionable at best. | ||
| Etennuly |
The frame paint color used above looks great. I think anything to make the bag panels match the bike is a good thing. | ||
| Andymnelson |
I agree! All 3 of those bikes look great. As a matter of opinion, it's too much color for me, but they are well done and look fantastic. The bikes really catch your eye! And you did exactly what I would have done- find a body shop painter who has been around a long time and knows how to color match, and have him go to town. That magnesium or titanium or whatever color that comes stock on the bags, rims and primary/cam covers is a mess in my opinion. | ||
| Etennuly |
That stock color IMHO is actually THE perfect color. It is the perfect color match for normal road dirt. A brilliant color choice from a ride it until rain washes it stand point! And you did exactly what I would have done- find a body shop painter who has been around a long time  Oh this one hurts! I am a painter who definitely been around a long long time.  Wow, it is nearly 10:30 am.....time for my first nap of the day. | ||
| Andymnelson |
lol, well I guess you found one then  I have painted many cars and bikes, and spent several years managing an auto body shop. I'll lay the paint down, but no way would I attempt to mix it myself! | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
Mixologist. I worked my way through college as a garbologist. | ||
| Etennuly |
'Mixologist' suggests a person who studies and mixes more than one compound to make a complete formula. Sorry, I guess bartenders took over that terminology for their job title. 'Color technician' is what they called my daughter in cosmetology school, I don't feel comfortable with that title. 'Paint mixer' suggests someone who could easily be a 'cement mixer', to put one or more components into a mix and stir. There is probably some 'optical reflective color match enhancer' title that would fit, but I have a weak memory and having a title that crosses over like 'mixologist' isn't all bad. It is really a small part of what I do as a body shop owner and technician. However, by small part I mean it is kind of like the firing mechanism on a nuclear weapon. If all of the other parts are in place but not this one, it becomes VERY important to the over all effect of the job at hand! | ||
| Badrap |
Where can you get that frame matching paint? | ||
| Etennuly |
HD parts departments have that Buell paint. | ||
| 7873jake |
I thought paint mixer was that big square vibrating thing under the counter at Lowes. Hope Paint_shaker notices that I didn't use his 'trademark' in that sentence above, out of respect. | ||
| Andymnelson |
http://www.americansportbike.com/shoponline/ccp0-p rodshow/17149.html It's expensive, but well worth it. | ||
| Badrap |
It's expensive, but well worth it. You Ain't Kiddin'. $25 a can  Andymnelson; Did you prime first and did you clear coat it after you painted the bags? | ||
| Andymnelson |
Neither, as the paint is not intended for that. I simply wet sanded, clean with water, dried, tack clothed, painted. | ||
| Etennuly |
$25 a can expensive(2.08per oz)? I just paid $579 for 253.5 oz of clear coat and hardner(2.32per oz). Yours is in a handy premixed retail pack. Mine still needs color base and reducers. To prep for the Buell paint I would wash the parts with Dawn dish soap scrubbing lightly with a green scotch brite type pad. Rinse with clean water let it dry, wipe down with mineral spirits on a lint free cloth, let it dry and tack wipe then spray it on. No primer is needed, a clear adhesion promoter is a good idea. Shake well before spraying. Spray even smooth wet coats not in direct sunlight(it will dry too fast). One even coat at a time, give it time to dry to touch between coats. Give it one full coat after the paint appears to have covered everything. No clear coat needed. | ||
| Svh |
I used the Krylon designed for plastic parts. My Uly is the super fast Black so it was an easy match. I prepped almost exactly as Etennuly stated right above and it looks good and has stood up for 2 years. Cheap upgrade and it makes the bike look much better. | ||
| Eulysses |
The frame color looks good with the black especially. And with those black rims added. But is not so powerful with the colored bikes. Certainly attractive but color is nice too. | ||
| 12x9sl |
Thanks for all the input everyone. Andy, you've done great things with the bike. Sure am glad to have sold it to someone that treats her right.  Man, that muffler is a thing of beauty, sure miss that sound! Vern, I was hoping you'd chime in. What I have in mind is EXACTLY the same look as the red Uly in your pics right down to the pinstriped wheels, but with Sunfire yellow. We have a family friend that is a body man during the day at a Toyota collision shop and moonlights in his shop at home. Maybe I'll have him look at it. | ||
| Etennuly |
That red Uly is quite special. It belongs to Maximum here on BadWeB. I just painted a few of his parts, he had several pieces powder coated. It is an'06 X. It was done more than a year before the XT came out in red, giving him the honor of owning the only red Uly for a quite a while. With proper techniques and materials the aluminum parts can be painted to last in place of powder coating. Sunfire yellow as in '10 production? He should have no problem once he gets the color tinted to his liking. If he lays down a white base first the yellow will cover better. With the limited production of '10 bikes he might just want to get a close yellow and paint it all. | ||
| Andymnelson |
Normally I'd agree, but it is falling apart so it rattles something fierce and has an exhaust leak at the front. Apparently he just beds the inlet pipe in a whole bunch of silicon...and it didn't hold too well on mine. It's gonna go back to Kevin to get fixed up! I do appreciate the bike and take good care of it tho! | ||
| Biffdotorg |
Did you guys pull those panels off before painting, or tape them off? Do they come off is the next question. Thanks, they do look great! | ||
| Andymnelson |
Just a few screws and the panels come right off, that way no tape lines! | ||
| 12x9sl |
I wondered if that was Maximum's bike, I've always enjoyed looking at his bike. I don't think I would do yellow forks, maybe black. Yes, it is a 2010 X, I feel VERY fortunate to have found it. It was a manufacturer pool bike being sold as a used bike with 717 miles on it. I put down a deposit over the phone and the guy who had been looking at it walked in 15 minutes later and wanted to buy it.  | ||
| Ourdee |
I have an 08 blue uly. A close enough for me match is the dark blue fusion from krylon. |
