Project: Bandit DIY

[Antallica]

Right. Now that I have the Bandit (/input undescribable joy here ). It's time to start sorting out the few issues I'd like to sort out.

1. Tank scratches
   
   Light to medium deep scratching, will need to fill them in I assume and re-cover the tank to get protection. Cutting compund has been mentioned, also that TurtleWax that has the scratch filler lipstick tube thingey. Have no idea what else to use.
   
   Suggestions please on methods/products to use for bogging those scratches and especially a good protectant, clear coat etc.
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2. Diry frame etc.
   
   Basically the frame and the metal bitsies are rather dirty with the usual bits of rust etc. Need some sort of cleaner to eat at the dirt that's deep in the metal grain. Can't for the life of me get it off with a conventional method. Also would love to clean up the surface rust.
   
   So what's a good method to clean up the frame, I'm wanting to go for that polished shiney chrome look.
   

[Blakamin]

Got any pics of the scratches???? you might be able to buff them out but I cant tell coz my view on medium might be different to yours

[kerryg]

1. Your tank has probably got a top clear coat over the base colour. If the scratches are only light you can get a clear coat polishing compound from your local auto supplies shop. It's a light abrasive and with plenty of elbow grease may lessen or remove the scratches. If the scratches are into your base colour it suggests they are deep so I would say polishing them out is unlikely to work, so your idea for using one of the pigmented waxes could be worth looking at. If you're brave you could have a go with very fine wet-and-dry (say 600 or 800 or even finer but that's starting to be a bit more irrevocable if it goes wrong). If you want to protect your paint from further scratching perhaps look at the clear films that bike shops sell.

2. Your frame will no doubt be steel so a polished look is out unless you plate it (it'll rust). Best result will be to take the frame to an abrasive blaster and get it powder coated then wet-painted with a 2-pot paint (you could go for metallic silver if that's the look you want) but that means stripping the bike to the bare frame. Working in situ will involve compromises. Best to get back to bare metal so sandpaper/wire brushes/drill-mounted wire brushes etc may have to be tried. Otherwise there are paint systems that involve a primer coat that renders the rust inert (go to Repco etc and you'll see plenty of products). Don't know how good they are. Back to bare metal is best if it's possible.

[Antallica]

Yeah I'll get some pics of scratches, it basically light scratching all over with the few deep ones.

As for the steel, I can just snap up a nice Ryobi 12v drill we have on mega special, grab some wire brush heads for the drill and I'm away? Sandpaper be any good as well? Those sanding wheels seem to do a good job in car refurbishment.

[FROSTY:Me]

DONT YOU FUCKING DARE !!!!!!!!
The frame is tube steel and as kerry said is gonna be a bitch to strip back and polish.
More to the point I aint gonna rescue ya if ya strip it down for coating and cant put it back together.
But the scratch thing -I'd be tepted to see if a panelbeater can buff em out
They use a bloody big polisher and corse grit cutting compound.
itd only take a couple of secs to polish up your tank.

[Antallica]

Will have to have a chat with a local panelbonker someday then. So what to do with the metal bits? They are rather grubby, just want to clean the shit off it.