Graphics
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:cheer: Hello everyone I have just retired and have just repainted my motorcycle, it turned out nice. I would like to put some graphice on it and am not sure if I should put a clear coat on first and then graphics, followed by another clear coat then 1500 wet sand one more coat clear then sand and buff. Sorry to bother you all with this but I have always wanted to try and now I have the time. Thank You for your help Jim
:welc no question is a bother.it depends on the graphics.i usually put down a clear base for example basf diamonts 00 clear base over the color to lock down the metallic.then do graphics,then 2 coats clear let dry a day or two,then wet sand with 1500 or 2000 then buff.alot of people also use ppg dbc500 that works well to in between coats,or colors
The way Ive done them without issue is to base, clear, wet sand 800, graphics, then clear again. If you want ‘no edges’ you will have to wet sand 800 again and clear again.
I wouldnt wet sand clear with 1500 if you are going to reclear again. I once did it that way and the clear did not lay out nice over the 1500. I would stick with 800 wet for reclearing.
Hope this helps, other more experienced people will be along shortly with their suggestions.
:agree with jack, that’s the sand way I do it, but I’d get a graphic made spare and stick it on a piece of card or spare metal and clear cost that first, before your bike parts. As some graphics do crinkle on edges or if there colors the dy on them can run.
A test price will save you so much work if it goes wrong, I find it better to do more light coats of clear then 2 wet coats as it has been none for the graphics to in stick and float ( if there a cheaper graphic ) 🙂
:cheers Thank you very much for the help when I get it done I will try to post some photos if I can figure it out. Thanks From Alaska Jim
Good point by Rikka, lighter coats over the graphics is a good idea. I have seen some graphic bubble up after a while as well I dont know if it was because of the graphic itself or the clear application being wrong.
I always find it good to do a test graphic, there’s so many things that can go wrong, some graphics the glue reacts, the colours can bleach, even some cheaper ones you can’t even degrease over with solvent that is, also I have seen the trouble you can get if you don’t lightly scotch the graphic, to test the scotch if you lightly scotch it then degrease it you shouldn’t see the light scotch marks, if you can then its not a good idea I’m not saying it happens all the time but if you don’t scotch the graphic the clear coat does got milky and separates and flakes off in time. If you can buy an extra sticker or two and do little tests on them to see what you can an cant do 🙂
three good coats of clear over the grafix 400 DA reclear ,been doing bikes like this for the past ten years or so 😉
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