Now mind you i do not have any dents that I will admit :shock: :shock: remember greg you are bound to the silence contract :lol: :lol:
But found a cool idea need to get this guys book very interesting person I am sure some of you already have it !!!
http://lifeisaroad.com/stories/2005/02/05/paintlessDentPulling.html
I bought a tool from Harbor Freight that does this same thing -- except it consists of a frame that sits against the surface with large rubber pads, and a screw jack attached to the contact point. You glue the thing on, pull by turning the screw jack until it is even with the original surface. They have a chemical release agent that unglues the beast.
I found that the glue let go too easily, especially on the hot day I was working on the tank (no, I am not saying how I got the dent!!) So I took a can of circuit cleaner (liquid CO2), held it upside down so it squirts the liquid, and cooled the glued joint substantially. After pulling the dent, the glue came loose without the release agent as it warmed up, every time. I took it really slow (I didn't want a bulge instead of a dent) and pulled a bit at a time until it evened out. If you know a dent was there and you look real close, you can find it. If you just walk up to the bike, you probably would never notice it.
I tried one of those and it seems I remember the glue being a sort of hot glue. Is this the same kind or type of glue? If it is I may have to give the CO2 a try.. I was also on about the tighest radius of the tank with a small dent, where on the tank were you working?
OK, I guess I must 'fess up. I dropped the tank off the table just as I was finishing the polish on the repair from the MOOTMAG 7 get-off. Dented it on the right front top -- right at the point of minimum radius on the curved part.
Not sure you would have to have the whole kit. It contains hot glue sticks. As I was trying to avoid another paint job, I used the supplied hot glue instead of what I had in stock. Perhaps other glues would hold better, I don't know.
Certainly if the curve was any tighter this gizmo would not have worked. It was close as it was. I was substantially relieved that it worked as it did. I had already tried leaving the tank in the sun to cook and squirting the dent with liquid CO2 to no avail.
Now, Charles, I still want to know -- how do you pattern your flames?
QuoteNow, Charles, I still want to know -- how do you pattern your flames?
Just depends on how lazy I am at the time. With all the flames out there is real hard not to end up with something close to something that has already been done, but I like mine to be as original as possible. Sometimes I sketch them out on paper, sometimes I use pin stripe masking on the part, usually the smaller parts that don't have to be duplicated from side to side. Once I have the design I like I either transfer it to vinyl masking and cut it with an exacto knife
(http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n99/oldman_05/042.jpg)
(http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n99/oldman_05/044-1.jpg)
(http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n99/oldman_05/050.jpg)
These are painted on and clear coated over.
, or take it to the vinyl sign shop and have them copy and resize and then have them cut the masking on there machine, that way I can get the left and right sides closer to matching. the vinyl masking is hard to work with on rounded tanks so you get enough variance to keep it from looking like decals.
(http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n99/oldman_05/030.jpg)
One cool thing that the shop can do is show you hundreds of designs and then reshape them to match the look your after.
Thank you!
Before or after the "Paint session" you are planning, we need to capture all this know-how for an article on the main web site. That tank, like some of your earlier work, is simply awesome!!
QuoteThank you!
Before or after the "Paint session" you are planning, we need to capture all this know-how for an article on the main web site. That tank, like some of your earlier work, is simply awesome!!
Thanks for the compliments, I don't pretend my stuff is show quality, because it's not, but I do enjoy doing it. I get to ride and enjoy my bikes without the fear of ruining an expensive paint job, or I can change it if I get bored with it. I'm not really a cheapskate or even a tightwad, I'm just financially challenged :-(. If you have noticed there isn't any Kuryakan accessaries on either of my bikes. The paint gun, paint, tape ,sand paper and all, cost less than a set of Kuryakan highway pegs, and I would love to have a set, 8).. I'm looking at trying to find a date for the paint workshop sometime in Sept or early Oct. Y'all throw some dates out that you could or could not make it and I'll work it in. Maybe someone could make a video that day just for entertainment like the pics we take at wrench sessions.
PS I do not claim to be a professional painter or any kind of instructor, but would be excited to share the joys of one of my hobbies to any interested or just to get together with this group..