sanding down my frame?

[USMC 500]

I just finished a COMPLETE tear down on my 98 500.  Does anyone have any suggestions for stripping off the factory paint from the frame and swing arm that can be done in my garage.  Thinking of going from Kawi green to a 2004 silver.  I'd like to paint them at home and was wondering if anyone has had any luck with a painting method other than powder coating.  If I am a complete idiot please feel free to tell me so ......

[Purpletj]

Im currently doing a resto project also. Mine has been sandblasted and painted. I will let you know how it works out.

[USMC 500]

Thanks alot buddy.  I had an idea to use high temp caliper paint and MULITPLE coats of clear........

[KXcam22]

USMC,
 Sandblasting the the best way to go for stripping the OEM paint.  consider using a polyeurethane 2 part enamel car paint like IMRON.  It is usually sprayed but I have painted frames using a foam brush with phenominal results.  Cam.

[ThrottleJunky]

I'm with you CAM!  That DUPONT IMRON is some TOUGH stuff and stays looking WET!

[Hillclimb#42]

powder coat is 100 bucks here for a frame. another 50 and they sandblast it for you. I tried painting and after an entire weekend of prep and paint, it was scratching-up every ride.  150 is so worth it, when you're considering durability. This price is for standard colors like black, white, silver, and a few others that I forget.

[mdw471]

I agree with Hillclimb#42, sandblasting and powder coating is the best.

Keep in mind we are only building race bikes, not show pieces....so we still spray bomb frames.

Instead of sandblasting down to bare metal, we use spray on self-cleaning oven cleaner. The cleaner gets rid of grease, grime, dirt and loosens up the failed chips. Most importantly it takes the sheen/haze off the existing paint AND the frame is still 'primed' with the factory paint.

Mark

p.s. I can remember unloading a freshly sandblasted frame after a 30 minute drive home and getting faint rust streaks on my tee shirt.

[USMC 500]

LOLL..........cool guys.  Thanks for all the info.  I started off the other day cleaning my air filter and I ended up with a "to the bare frame" tear down and a diassembled engine........It might have been easier to buy a new bike, oh wait, they don't make the KX500 anymore .......

[hillclimber147]

Aircraft paint stripper works great on the swingarms. You can give it a light sanding afterwards to get a factory bike look.

[BasketCase]

That frame looks brand new as it sits, save yourself a lot of work and just put black plastic's on it.

[RoostDaddy]

Aircraft paint stripper works great on the swingarms. You can give it a light sanding afterwards to get a factory bike look.

X2 on that, plus you can do the same with the sub-frame.  Unless you feel like sanding and polishing both of them to a mirror finish.

[Rd]

Be very careful spraying Imron.
http://www.bronkalla.com/upkeep/spray_imron.htm

I agree with MDW471. If you are not changing colors the factory paint is a good base.

[Johnniespeed]

Sandblasting is so cheap here in Michigan, that hand sanding is hard to justify, the cost of sand paper and time wasted.  I own a pressure blaster, but still send my stuff out to have it done professionally. I only use my blaster when a spot is missed or for a late night fix. 
 Powder coating while costly, turns out so nice and is so easy to deal with, just pick out the color and pick up the great looking part. I own all the painting stuff, regulators, respirators etc, and I utilize powder as much as possible. My powdercoater preheats the parts in his oven before spraying the powder, it helps the powder flow into the corners and seems to eliminate the chipping other powder coaters complain about.

[RoostDaddy]

I agree with you guys on powdercoating, as my K5 was done close to 10 years ago and still looks amazing.  I personally would do this any day over tradional paint (unless DOUGH906 would do a custom paint job like his for peanuts.)
But USMC states he "was wondering if anyone has had any luck with a painting method other than powder coating."

[USMC 500]

Just finished pounding out the bearings from the swingarm pivot and shock pivot........and while I was at it I pounded out the steering head races...........THE INSANITY CONTINUES WITH PROJECT "I WAS ONLY GONNA CLEAN THE AIR FILTER"!!!....Now I gotta decide wether to powder coat, annodize, or home paint the frame, sub frame and swingarm.......