It's looking brighter...

[torquill]

I put silver paint on a bunch of the brightwork today: the big head nuts, the odd little basket anchor, the kickstand pieces, the retaining loop for the back wheel, the front fender supports, the top of the head bolt (why not), the crank arm assembly, and the gooseneck. I was a little too optimistic about drying time and turned them over prematurely, so I'll have to sand lightly and touch up the other side, but the unblemished surfaces look much better than I had hoped for. The paint dries semi-gloss, which means they look like rubbed aluminum rather than chrome, but they are definitely reflective metal. I was expecting something more dull. With a clearcoat, they'll look very good indeed.

I had forgotten about the back wheel stay (the flat piece that connects the axle to the retaining loop and keeps it from falling off when the axle nuts are loosened). I pulled it off the axle assembly, sandblasted it, and it's ready to be primed tomorrow... I can't imagine it will take much attention.

The wheels, book rack, frame, handlebars, and one of the gas tank pieces are ready for one more coat of primer (that's seven cans, now). That happens first thing tomorrow, as primer apparently dries much MUCH faster than silver paint. (I had to bring the painted pieces inside once they hit the tacky stage; the dining room smells like paint now.) After primer, it's one more round of wet-sanding and the whole deal is ready for color. Finally. That appears to go much faster and easier than primer, I will say. Maybe it's the fact that I don't have to sand out all the pits in the metal anymore...

The weather looks set to hold, hallelujah. I have about 2-3 hours of prime painting conditions daily in this weather pattern, which ought to be enough to get a coat on everything I have table space for on any given day. Here's to progress. :)

Pictures are up on the Picasa album.

Comments

[amanda-nye.livejournal.com]

So pretty! That bike will look gorgeous when it's done.

[luna-torquill.livejournal.com]

You haven't even seen the color coat yet. :)

[hopeforyou.livejournal.com]

Looks like you've been working pretty hard on it. I look forward to the colour coat photos, or better yet -- seeing it in person.

I would need one hell of a mask to get through painting all that.

[luna-torquill.livejournal.com]

I think my tolerances are better now; I wear my respirator while spraying, and though some of the less harmful volatiles get through (it's a bit smelly) I'm not sensing any bad reactions, even cumulative ones. If I were using Bondo, I'd have to be really careful (it sends me way loopy), but apparently most of the stuff in these cans doesn't hammer on my weak points. That's borne out by reading the labels. You're probably much more sensitive to butane, xylene, and toluene than I am at this point.

The metal paint smells oddly like paraffin while drying. Not sure why.