KICKS KORNER
Though your finish may be dry to the touch in an hour or two, it
will not be fully cured for at least 72 to 96 hours. It can be cut
with regular compounds if you have a run or imperfections, but it
is best to leave it for a week or two before cutting to make sure
Kicks Korner
the coating is hard, runs may take longer to cure because of
With Blair Elliott
their added thickness.
Hi Kicks, I have two polished aluminium fenders which a
Hope this has helped,... good luck.
friend wants me to do some art and pin striping on for his
Hi, my friend wants me to paint his helmet but it’s pretty
bike, but I have no idea what I can use to protect it. Can I just
old and the stickers on it are pretty much permanently stuck
use normal automotive clear coat, or will it just peel off? Any
there. I managed to pick some of the larger pieces off, but
ideas of what I could use, thanks! T.J.
some of them are just impossible to take off. Should I just
Hello TJ,... good to hear from you. You are right, most automo-
sand them smooth? How would you guys go about fixing this
tive clears are just going to peel off if they don’t have anything
little problem? Once the stripes and stickers are off, will I
to physically, or chemically bond to. There is a two component
need to prime the whole helmet? Thanks for the help! Dan
clear coat called “Glisten PC” from Por-15 designed for spray
I would only sand them off as a last resort. There are a couple
or brush application over all metal surfaces, including highly pol-
of other methods that I would try first. If you are going to being
ished aluminium and chrome surfaces. Glisten PC will not leave
doing a lot of this type of work in the future,... I would consider
brush marks, and will dry in less than one hour, but will take 3-4
buying a handy tool called a “Stripe Eliminator”. This unique tool
days to reach maximum hardness. When it’s first dry to the
safely and quickly removes striping, decals, and moulding adhe-
touch, it will appear to be very soft. Avoid touching it for several
sives, from most surfaces without burning or discolouring them.
days until it becomes hard and tough. Accidental contact could
This soft resilient wheel erases striping away, and leaves the
damage the surface before full cure has taken place. It should
surface looking like new. It basically looks like a soft hockey puck,
never crack, chip, peel, or yellow, and is very flexible as well. You
and works best with a low RPM electric or variable speed air
didn’t mention if the fenders are freshly polished,... or if they
drill. Most applications only require 800-1200 RPM’s and you’ll
have an existing clear. If the existing clear is badly damaged
find that the slower it turns,... the better it works. If you run it too
or is oxidizing, it would be best to remove the old coatings and
fast it can produce heat and mar your finish.
repolish to the desired lustre.
If this is a one time deal,... you could try heating them up with a
The following is from their Technical Data Sheets,... “ To coat
heat gun, or even a hair drier. That will soften the adhesive on
polished metals, such as aluminium, brass, copper, chrome,
the decals and make them easier to pick off,... usually leaving the
nickel, and silver, if the surface has not been polished within 24
glue behind, but a wash with a silicone and wax remover should
hours, it should be buffed or polished to remove any surface
take that off with no problem.
oxidation which may have occurred. The use of a polishing com-
As for priming the whole helmet,... it depends on the condition
pound is advisable, not just a quick wipe with a clean rag. NOTE:
it’s in once the stripes are off. You did say that it was an old
if this step is missed, coating adhesion will be substantially less.
helmet, but if the paint is still in good condition,... then you could
After polishing. Wipe surface to be coated with high evapora-
get away with just sanding and repainting. If the surface is badly
tion lacquer thinner, which will remove 90% of the surface con-
chipped or cracked I wouldn’t advise doing it at all unless it is go-
tamination.
ing to be for display purposes only. Thanks for the letter Dan.
Ensuring perfect adhesion involves using AP129 Metal Prep.
Thank you for this magazine gentlemen, lots of great articles
You may use a brush or sprayer or foaming gun. All metals
and information. The problem that I’m having is with my bondo
should be at room temperature. Never attempt to use AP120
when I’m doing the body work on parts. No matter how hard
outside in hot weather or in direct sunlight. It is a ready to use
I try, I always end up with pinholes in the plastic and have to
liquid. Apply it to metal surfaces for exactly 2 minutes, no lon-
keep reworking the area time and again to get rid of them. I’ve
ger, using a non abrasive cleaning pad, then rinse well with wa-
tried different brands thinking that that was the problem, but
ter and dry. Avoid hard water where possible. Surface to be
I still end up with pinholes. Any suggestions? Craig Cohan
coated must be bone dry before painting. Use of a heat gun on
Pinholes occur when air or gas bubbles become trapped inside
castings is advisable, especially in cooler climates, to dry out
putty or filler during mixing or application, and then are exposed
the pores in the metal and insure the elimination of all moisture
when it is sanded. It’s usually caused by over whipping the hard-
before painting.
ener into the plastic, trapping the air. Try stirring it in slowly with-
Glisten PC Application: Apply a minimum of 2 coats (3 mills).
out flipping it over on itself. Also make sure that you don’t over
Glisten PC may be applied with any type of brush, or even rolled
do the hardener,... more isn’t better,... that, and applying heavy
and it will flow out immediately, eliminating brush marks. Sec-
thick coats can produce excessive heat, which in turn can cause
ond coat may be applied when 1st coat is dry to the touch, usu-
gas bubbles to form inside the product as it cures. Hope you get
ally 15 to 25 minutes. If using a spray gun, you can thin 10% to
it worked out.
20% if required.
Please send your Questions to kickskorner@sympatico.ca
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