Limpy
XS650 Enthusiast
I am building my first bike, a tracker from a 1980 Special. I have disassembled down to the frame and cut off all of the pieces you all (and Omar) told me to. I listened to you and used an angle grinder and 1/8th inch cutting wheels and 40 and 80 grit flappy flappy flappy wheels. That all worked great.
By the way, I weighed the naked frame - no swing arm - before surgery 53 pounds and after 44 pounds. To verify I weighed the pile of parts at 8 pounds, the last pound is black dust all over my garage.
How much do I need to clean up the grind marks before powder coat?
I have been using 120 grit long strips of sand paper and cleaned it up pretty well. There are a lot of crappy welds that I won't spend much time on. I realize the really visible areas need to be clean but there are a lot of areas that may not need so much time. I intend to powder coat in light to medium grey flat finish to mask some of the imperfections. (Is there a color that masks the imperfections of the rider?!?)
I know you guys hassle newbies for not posting pictures so here are a couple. I bought the bike in May 2011, the first pic is December 2011 just before I started tear down. Before you say it, the lunch box on the back came off the first day and was just set here for the picture. Note the work table, you guys showed me how to make that too. The second pic was a few minutes ago and the last is the front right down tube. I polished it with a strip of 120 paper like a shoe shine. The black paint that still shows are weld imperfections.
By the way, I weighed the naked frame - no swing arm - before surgery 53 pounds and after 44 pounds. To verify I weighed the pile of parts at 8 pounds, the last pound is black dust all over my garage.
How much do I need to clean up the grind marks before powder coat?
I have been using 120 grit long strips of sand paper and cleaned it up pretty well. There are a lot of crappy welds that I won't spend much time on. I realize the really visible areas need to be clean but there are a lot of areas that may not need so much time. I intend to powder coat in light to medium grey flat finish to mask some of the imperfections. (Is there a color that masks the imperfections of the rider?!?)
I know you guys hassle newbies for not posting pictures so here are a couple. I bought the bike in May 2011, the first pic is December 2011 just before I started tear down. Before you say it, the lunch box on the back came off the first day and was just set here for the picture. Note the work table, you guys showed me how to make that too. The second pic was a few minutes ago and the last is the front right down tube. I polished it with a strip of 120 paper like a shoe shine. The black paint that still shows are weld imperfections.