Aluminium coloured spray paint - for front forks?

[awesker]

Hi,

Im bascially trying to figure out the best paint to use to spray the front of my forks a flat aluminium colour. Another option is a light sand and polish but Id rather go down the spray paint path.

My end result is to match the front forks on this Pepsi RGV in the link below

http://www.2strokemotorcycles.com/motorcycles/52-1988-suzuki-rgv250-vj21-pepsi-for-sale/fotos/05.jpg
(sorry for the hotlinking, the PC Im currently on isnt allowing me to attach the image to the thread or upload to imgur)

Any ideas how I could achieve this would be awesome.

Cheers,
Nick

[DEATH_INC.]

Pretty tricky to get a silver that clean. Try Dulux Eiger silver (mitsubishi). Or any fine bright metallic from a good brand.

Or try these guys...they'll have the stuff you need....

SMITS GROUP TRADE SHOP (NORTH SHORE)
Physical address: 243 Archers Road, Glenfield, Auckland 0627
Phone: (09) 444 9135
Opening Hours: Monday to Friday: 8am to 5pm
Saturday: 9am to 12pm

[The Lone Rider]

Strip your forks. Take to a powdercoater.

Reassemble.

Done. And looks immaculate.

[bogan]

Fine grit sandblast and some matte clear-coat would give a similar look.

[mrchips]

This stuff is good (http://www.hammerite.co.nz/products/direct_to_rust_metal_paint_aerosol_hammered_finish .jsp)

You can get it from your local mitre10.

Worked a treat on rusty parts of my old cbr1000 swingarm. The silver matches nicely with aluminum finish & you don't have to go mental with prep either :niceone:

[Madness]

This stuff (http://www.sharkhide.com/) isn't yet available in any volume in N.Z but apparently an excellent product. I wouldn't be suprised if it was available here before too long.

[ducatilover]

Fine grit sandblast and some matte clear-coat would give a similar look.

This.

You could paint 'em, but durability could be an issue.

Sanding will leave marks, unless you polish it to a mirror finish.

Other options could be powder coat as said, or you could get them anodised.
If you want 'em polished, send them to me and I'll sort them :niceone:

[awesker]

This stuff is good (http://www.hammerite.co.nz/products/direct_to_rust_metal_paint_aerosol_hammered_finish .jsp)

You can get it from your local mitre10.

Worked a treat on rusty parts of my old cbr1000 swingarm. The silver matches nicely with aluminum finish & you don't have to go mental with prep either :niceone:

Do you have any images you should upload of your swing arm?

Cheers for your advice guys, Ive got an old shitty pair of forks I can practice a few methods on. Will probably try bogans method on one side and polish the other, see which I prefer. Only problem with polishing is keeping it looking good Id imagine.

[Akzle]

colorworx in penrose can put whatever color paint you like in a can for about 40$,
depending on material though, the sandblast-clearkote option sounds best, hit it with some glass bead should give you that semi-matte finish

[ducatilover]

Do you have any images you should upload of your swing arm?

Cheers for your advice guys, Ive got an old shitty pair of forks I can practice a few methods on. Will probably try bogans method on one side and polish the other, see which I prefer. Only problem with polishing is keeping it looking good Id imagine.

Polish is easy to keep clean.
The bike in my sig has only had one polish after I did itt 8-9 months ago

[Laava]

Polish is easy to keep clean.
The bike in my sig has only had one polish after I did itt 8-9 months ago

Since when does gravel rash qualify as polish?:bleh::bleh:

Oh yeah, I know I'm a fuckin comedian!

[Laava]

Hammerite silver. As with any paint on ali, good prep and etch prime first.

[ducatilover]

Since when does gravel rash qualify as polish?:bleh::bleh:

Oh yeah, I know I'm a fuckin comedian!

:spanking::spanking::Police:

[awesker]

Hammerite silver. As with any paint on ali, good prep and etch prime first.

Thats exactly the result Im after, thanks for the pics!

[mrchips]

Thats exactly the result Im after, thanks for the pics!

yeah, that's the stuff i used..... has a nice metalic finish to it. :niceone:

[actungbaby]

yeah, that's the stuff i used..... has a nice metalic finish to it. :niceone:

yes thanks guys for asking the qwestion and answering them

My second hand forks had silver paint and i got brake fluid over one leg and looks yuk know

was battle to get brakes sorted ended up replacing most the system.

[The Pastor]

i would go the anodising path, as any paint or (all be it, to a lesser extent) powdercoat is going to wear off. The forks get hammerd with dirt, bugs and gravel, so a really hard wearing coating would be the best bet.

anodising is reasonably cheep too.

[TehPoopsmith]

Ive been using a laquer mazda colour called siverstone 3L if you dont put a clearcoat on it it comes out matte. looks beautiful but i dont know how tough it is. Powder coating would be the best for stonechip resistance imo.

[Laava]

i would go the anodising path, as any paint or (all be it, to a lesser extent) powdercoat is going to wear off. The forks get hammerd with dirt, bugs and gravel, so a really hard wearing coating would be the best bet.

anodising is reasonably cheep too.

Paint $20
Anodising $?

[ducatilover]

Paint $20
Anodising $?

Paint gets chipped/scratched easier (although, I'm cheap, so I paint or polish stuff)

[The Pastor]

Paint $20
Anodising $?

no idea ring and ask

[Laava]

no idea

Is OK, you summed it up

[awesker]

I ended up going down the painting path, I used a decent etch primer and the Hammerlite Hammered Silver a couple of you recommeded. The forks came out great, much better than I expected (for my skill level anyway). Ill upload some pics once they've properly cured.

Thanks again for everyones input, some great ideas out there.

[Laava]

Nice one, I try to heat my stuff up with a heat gun before painting to ensure there is no moisture and it tacks off faster. Not too hot tho or the paint will burn and sizzle

[pete-blen]

My end result is to match the front forks on this Pepsi RGV in the link below

http://www.2strokemotorcycles.com/motorcycles/52-1988-suzuki-rgv250-vj21-pepsi-for-sale/fotos/05.jpg


Any ideas how I could achieve this would be awesome.

Cheers,
Nick

a light shot blast & coat of clear would give you that finish...

[awesker]

For those interested, a couple of shots of the finished product. Linked as their quite large.

http://i.imgur.com/vIRrd.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/W7jGr.jpg

Cheers

[ducatilover]

Very nice looking :niceone: