Counting down
Jan. 17th, 2011 17:34![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
torquillI picked up more clearcoat today, and went to work. I got the back fender done in its entirety, resprayed the fork, and strung up the frame to do an initial coat. I had a few mishaps (like when I accidentally got close enough to trap bubbles in it, wiped it off hastily, and took some paint with it) but they were easily retouched. The back fender looks great, and so does the fork. I want to sand down and re-apply on one side of the gas tank again (my problem child) and do the second coat on the frame; it looks like tomorrow will have more of this lovely warm weather in the afternoon (72 in the booth!), so I should be able to do that handily. Then I ought to be done with large-scale spraying!
I blasted and painted an undercarriage strut for the fender today, using Yet Another Can Of Aluminum Paint I Found In The Garage. This one was Ace, not Rustoleum, but as I wasn't trying to match anything, that was fine. Imagine my astonishment when it dried in 2-3 minutes -- the stuff I had been using isn't touchable for 2-3 HOURS, which has been a never-ending source of frustration. For what it's worth, the Rustoleum is far more durable once it eventually sets (full hardness takes 2-3 weeks without an oven, I think), but I might have saved myself some aggravation with the pieces that don't need incredible durability. Like the trim around the head on the frame which was still soft enough for the tape to take it off, and then needed retouch with a brush. *sigh*
Once I start reassembly, I'll want to paint the heads of a few screws to make them blend in, but beyond that, I don't foresee a need for more paint after tomorrow. (Oh, I need to sign it, but that's a little different.) I have to hunt for pinstriping (curse you, 3M, for not making something even close to what I need) and do a little polishing... the front fender fell over while I was rummaging today, and all it got was a single small scuff on it. The power of hardened clearcoat. :)
Both hubs are reassembled now, but I'll hold off on the tires and tubes to give the rims just a little more time to harden up. Ditto threading the handlebars through the gooseneck -- I'm paranoid about scuffing those handlebars now. Perhaps it's time to look into baking pieces.
So many parts to this bike... I painted twenty-four (counting the strut today), then there are all the internals. If you leave the back hub completely out of it, I still have fourteen pieces for the front hub, the bottom bracket, and the head unit... not counting the chain, axle nuts, the nut and bolt to hold the seatpost, assorted screws/bolts/nuts to hold it all together, and things like the tires and tubes. This feels more like a motorcycle than a bicycle. I guess even my beater bike has that many parts, but how often does one totally disassemble a mountain bike?
I'm not sure how this cruiser is going to get delivered once it's assembled... I'll keep thinking on it. I should also mutter at the owner that she'll need a good lock for this puppy; I suspect its theft probability has soared by a couple of orders of magnitude.
Side note: Romana isn't nearly so much fun when she's burdened with the Presidency. She always was the responsible one, I suppose...
I blasted and painted an undercarriage strut for the fender today, using Yet Another Can Of Aluminum Paint I Found In The Garage. This one was Ace, not Rustoleum, but as I wasn't trying to match anything, that was fine. Imagine my astonishment when it dried in 2-3 minutes -- the stuff I had been using isn't touchable for 2-3 HOURS, which has been a never-ending source of frustration. For what it's worth, the Rustoleum is far more durable once it eventually sets (full hardness takes 2-3 weeks without an oven, I think), but I might have saved myself some aggravation with the pieces that don't need incredible durability. Like the trim around the head on the frame which was still soft enough for the tape to take it off, and then needed retouch with a brush. *sigh*
Once I start reassembly, I'll want to paint the heads of a few screws to make them blend in, but beyond that, I don't foresee a need for more paint after tomorrow. (Oh, I need to sign it, but that's a little different.) I have to hunt for pinstriping (curse you, 3M, for not making something even close to what I need) and do a little polishing... the front fender fell over while I was rummaging today, and all it got was a single small scuff on it. The power of hardened clearcoat. :)
Both hubs are reassembled now, but I'll hold off on the tires and tubes to give the rims just a little more time to harden up. Ditto threading the handlebars through the gooseneck -- I'm paranoid about scuffing those handlebars now. Perhaps it's time to look into baking pieces.
So many parts to this bike... I painted twenty-four (counting the strut today), then there are all the internals. If you leave the back hub completely out of it, I still have fourteen pieces for the front hub, the bottom bracket, and the head unit... not counting the chain, axle nuts, the nut and bolt to hold the seatpost, assorted screws/bolts/nuts to hold it all together, and things like the tires and tubes. This feels more like a motorcycle than a bicycle. I guess even my beater bike has that many parts, but how often does one totally disassemble a mountain bike?
I'm not sure how this cruiser is going to get delivered once it's assembled... I'll keep thinking on it. I should also mutter at the owner that she'll need a good lock for this puppy; I suspect its theft probability has soared by a couple of orders of magnitude.
Side note: Romana isn't nearly so much fun when she's burdened with the Presidency. She always was the responsible one, I suppose...
