OzVMX Forum

Clubroom => Tech Talk => Topic started by: kdx Geoff on March 19, 2014, 08:22:39 pm

Title: Tank Polishers Opinions Please
Post by: kdx Geoff on March 19, 2014, 08:22:39 pm

What's the chance of getting some consistent original color ?

This side I've not touched and based on the areas where the decals were, the damage is on the outside.

(http://i1297.photobucket.com/albums/ag23/kdxGeoff/IMAG1482_zps06161198.jpg) (http://s1297.photobucket.com/user/kdxGeoff/media/IMAG1482_zps06161198.jpg.html)

I've put about an hour into this side and the top.

(http://i1297.photobucket.com/albums/ag23/kdxGeoff/IMAG1483_zpsa0e4c4ab.jpg) (http://s1297.photobucket.com/user/kdxGeoff/media/IMAG1483_zpsa0e4c4ab.jpg.html)

The 'no fear' sticker has left its mark.
(http://i1297.photobucket.com/albums/ag23/kdxGeoff/IMAG1484_zpse2daf2f0.jpg) (http://s1297.photobucket.com/user/kdxGeoff/media/IMAG1484_zpse2daf2f0.jpg.html)

l really don't want to paint the tank and lm prepared for say ...... 20 hours of labour.

The scratches and gouges have come out fairly readily so its just a color thing.

Thanks

Geoff
Title: Re: Tank Polishers Opinions Please
Post by: oldfart on March 19, 2014, 08:28:23 pm
Use the back side of a hacksaw blade, as it gives a nice wide and even shave. 
Title: Re: Tank Polishers Opinions Please
Post by: 80-85 husky on March 19, 2014, 09:57:58 pm
I think you've jumped the gun Geoff and missed the sanding with wet and dry section. polishing is last after you scrape and sand all the oxide plastic off. ;D Lazy b
Title: Re: Tank Polishers Opinions Please
Post by: kdx Geoff on March 19, 2014, 10:16:12 pm

Gentlemen, there was no oxide to remove  :)

I went straight to sanding, 120 dry first to remove the deeper marks, 400 dry then wet to clean up the 120 dry and lm now at 800 wet. The surface of the tank is good in its condition but the color......


Title: Re: Tank Polishers Opinions Please
Post by: frostype400 on March 19, 2014, 10:25:49 pm
Should be able to get that reasonable hold a stanley blade sideways pull it back towards your self I find easiest to not make to many marks with it first take what seems like a heap off till you get some decent colour I am doing a IT tank at the moment takes a while the main step is the first scraping down with the stanley blade do the whole thing with a blade first so you don't have to sand for hours.

I had a much worse rm500 tank I got pretty nice last week.

There is sun faded oxidised plastic you wont polish what you have there grab a stanley blade start on a flat section there will be plastic every where take off as much as needed till some decent colour comes back it will seem you are taking to much off but tanks are pretty thick you have a fair bit you can remove.
Title: Re: Tank Polishers Opinions Please
Post by: Lewis on March 19, 2014, 10:30:02 pm
Geoff,bring your tank around and we'll have go at it. Got a few ideas we could try. Lewis
Title: Re: Tank Polishers Opinions Please
Post by: pokey on March 19, 2014, 11:29:48 pm
The acerbis tank on this domi was orange/ pink with stains when I picked it up.

scraped with back of hacksaw blade for more than a few hours
 wet and dry in a few grades
 buffed with rubbing compound and voila.


(http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c274/pokeit1st/dom2.jpg)

Title: Re: Tank Polishers Opinions Please
Post by: kdx Geoff on March 27, 2014, 01:30:49 pm

(http://i1297.photobucket.com/albums/ag23/kdxGeoff/IMAG1524_zps2fa37b12.jpg) (http://s1297.photobucket.com/user/kdxGeoff/media/IMAG1524_zps2fa37b12.jpg.html)

I've spent a couple of hours scraping and sanding just the top looking for an improvement of which lm yet to see, it looks this color anywhere there's been long exposure to the sun. The underneath is fine.

There are some great tank saves out there and lm thinking this is not going to be one of them. Many of the pics of this model kdx tank that l have found on the net show the tank the same dull green which is not too bad until its next to nice green then its really dull. lm confident paint is not an option....what about bleaching ? l imagine the plastic may not like bleach, or a heat gun....

 ???

I'd love to drill a hole and see what color the plastic is all the way through....

Title: Re: Tank Polishers Opinions Please
Post by: pokey on March 27, 2014, 01:49:57 pm
Keep going Geoff and don't be frightened, the plastic is pretty thick and the colour will come. Scrape and keep scraping. Sanding is just to blend the scrape lines after you get colour happening.
Polishing is then done to blend the sanding lines and to get a shine.

 I can see a few scrapes where the colour is just starting to come good.
Title: Re: Tank Polishers Opinions Please
Post by: oldfart on March 27, 2014, 04:45:57 pm
 keep scraping away you will be rewarded in the end.   
Title: Re: Tank Polishers Opinions Please
Post by: kdx Geoff on March 27, 2014, 05:51:35 pm


     ok     :)

Title: Re: Tank Polishers Opinions Please
Post by: Maicoman on March 27, 2014, 11:31:15 pm
What model Kawasaki is that tank off Geoff?
Title: Re: Tank Polishers Opinions Please
Post by: kdx Geoff on March 28, 2014, 10:49:49 am

What model Kawasaki is that tank off Geoff?


Its for an '80/82 era kdx 250/420/450.

Same tank (and color) as this bike at DDR

http://www.ddr.net.au/node/2027


Title: Re: Tank Polishers Opinions Please
Post by: shelpi on March 28, 2014, 11:15:15 am
Thanx for all this as I am doing a Maico 1983 tank as we speak ;)
Title: Re: Tank Polishers Opinions Please
Post by: kdx Geoff on March 28, 2014, 11:20:03 am
Thanx for all this as I am doing a Maico 1983 tank as we speak ;)

How's it looking ?

Title: Re: Tank Polishers Opinions Please
Post by: shelpi on March 28, 2014, 11:30:43 am
Thanx for all this as I am doing a Maico 1983 tank as we speak ;)

How's it looking ?
oh ohw does this mean I havta take a picture :-[
looks a little painted a bit faded and bits of brown stains, useing the scrape method and we are getting there, lots of scrapping :o
Title: Re: Tank Polishers Opinions Please
Post by: kdx Geoff on March 28, 2014, 11:48:48 am
Thanx for all this as I am doing a Maico 1983 tank as we speak ;)

How's it looking ?
oh ohw does this mean I havta take a picture :-[


come on shelpi   ;D

Title: Re: Tank Polishers Opinions Please
Post by: shelpi on March 28, 2014, 11:53:18 am
Thanx for all this as I am doing a Maico 1983 tank as we speak ;)

How's it looking ?
oh ohw does this mean I havta take a picture :-[


come on shelpi   ;D
OK only because you asked nicely ;)
Title: Re: Tank Polishers Opinions Please
Post by: Maicoman on March 28, 2014, 10:34:11 pm

What model Kawasaki is that tank off Geoff?


Its for an '80/82 era kdx 250/420/450.

Same tank (and color) as this bike at DDR


http://www.ddr.net.au/node/2027

Thanks Geoff pretty sure I've got one of those tanks in the shed. From memory it's in real nice condition.
Title: Re: Tank Polishers Opinions Please
Post by: kdx Geoff on March 29, 2014, 12:01:36 pm

PM Sent

Title: Re: Tank Polishers Opinions Please
Post by: shelpi on March 29, 2014, 12:21:27 pm
(http://i1356.photobucket.com/albums/q721/shelpi1/maicotank001_zpsc8d80a2d.jpg) (http://s1356.photobucket.com/user/shelpi1/media/maicotank001_zpsc8d80a2d.jpg.html)
sorta before shot
Title: Re: Tank Polishers Opinions Please
Post by: shelpi on March 29, 2014, 12:26:07 pm
(http://i1356.photobucket.com/albums/q721/shelpi1/maicotank002_zps04798db5.jpg) (http://s1356.photobucket.com/user/shelpi1/media/maicotank002_zps04798db5.jpg.html)
during,        but that browny plastic is softer and wont scrape off, have cut /scrape with a sharp blade and there is good plastic underneath :P
Title: Re: Tank Polishers Opinions Please
Post by: kdx Geoff on March 29, 2014, 12:35:14 pm


Looks like its been painted or varnished......or something  ;D


Title: Re: Tank Polishers Opinions Please
Post by: shelpi on March 29, 2014, 12:52:12 pm


Looks like its been painted or varnished......or something  ;D
yes all of the above ??? just want to know what the or something is ?
Title: Re: Tank Polishers Opinions Please
Post by: oldfart on March 29, 2014, 08:07:15 pm
Do you own a variable speed buffer ???   if so  buy a lambs wool buffing wheel  and apply some Jiff to wheel then   slightly wet the wheel in some water - set to slow speed and buff away until wheel is dry ... repeat above
 Note  *** when wool dries out, ( Lack of water/ jiff )   it will polish the plastic to a certain stage ... if speed is too high it will burn the plastic.
Repeat above jiff/ water  process  and burn mark will be removed.
Hope this is of some help.
Title: Re: Tank Polishers Opinions Please
Post by: shelpi on March 30, 2014, 11:44:30 am
Do you own a variable speed buffer ???   if so  buy a lambs wool buffing wheel  and apply some Jiff to wheel then   slightly wet the wheel in some water - set to slow speed and buff away until wheel is dry ... repeat above
 Note  *** when wool dries out, ( Lack of water/ jiff )   it will polish the plastic to a certain stage ... if speed is too high it will burn the plastic.
Repeat above jiff/ water  process  and burn mark will be removed.
Hope this is of some help.
spot on Oldfart, have been useing Jiff for plastics since the late 70's and the added bonus when left is it gets black oil stains out ;)
Title: Re: Tank Polishers Opinions Please
Post by: Digga on April 07, 2014, 02:20:12 pm
Timely post on plastic tanks everyone as I am just getting onto my Honda 250 which had been 2K painted thx to a prior owner. Followed all the advice above, did the scraping of the paint, then the actual plastic,  dry paper, then 320 & 220 wet, only to see it turn white???

Is this normal & will it come out with steel & polish etc then to a nice original red???

What it came like
(http://i1350.photobucket.com/albums/p765/stevemagnusson/Honda%201982%20CR250/Tank_zps7c6bdc03.png) (http://s1350.photobucket.com/user/stevemagnusson/media/Honda%201982%20CR250/Tank_zps7c6bdc03.png.html)

After scraping LHS
(http://i1350.photobucket.com/albums/p765/stevemagnusson/Honda%201982%20CR250/IMG_0447_zps1a82a9a3.jpg) (http://s1350.photobucket.com/user/stevemagnusson/media/Honda%201982%20CR250/IMG_0447_zps1a82a9a3.jpg.html)

After sanding
(http://i1350.photobucket.com/albums/p765/stevemagnusson/Honda%201982%20CR250/IMG_0448_zpsefffa2a0.jpg) (http://s1350.photobucket.com/user/stevemagnusson/media/Honda%201982%20CR250/IMG_0448_zpsefffa2a0.jpg.html)
(http://i1350.photobucket.com/albums/p765/stevemagnusson/Honda%201982%20CR250/IMG_0449_zps9a108305.jpg) (http://s1350.photobucket.com/user/stevemagnusson/media/Honda%201982%20CR250/IMG_0449_zps9a108305.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Tank Polishers Opinions Please
Post by: shelpi on April 07, 2014, 02:54:22 pm
yep what ya have there are raised grooved plastic on a minute scall, paint will also do this to a point ;) looks like ya still need to sand with a number 1 house brick to get those lows out, then get finner onya sand papergrades then cut and polish
The good folks on here have told us how ;) follow there instructions and youll be ok
Title: Re: Tank Polishers Opinions Please
Post by: Digga on April 07, 2014, 06:09:00 pm
BTW, whats Jiff???
Title: Re: Tank Polishers Opinions Please
Post by: oldfart on April 07, 2014, 07:00:50 pm
Ask you wife  ;)  spelt  "JIF  cream "   in short it is a white fine granular liquid that is used  around the house  for cleaning - sinks - pots - cook tops - tiles etc.
Title: Re: Tank Polishers Opinions Please
Post by: GD66 on April 07, 2014, 07:10:52 pm
Yeah, in the kitchen, Digga.

You know, that big room where the beer fridge is...:)
Title: Re: Tank Polishers Opinions Please
Post by: Tim754 on April 07, 2014, 07:56:17 pm
Do not use as a     personal    cream >:(
Title: Re: Tank Polishers Opinions Please
Post by: Digga on April 07, 2014, 10:08:17 pm
OK, got it thanks. FYI, the beer fridge is in the shed  ;)
Title: Re: Tank Polishers Opinions Please
Post by: GMC on April 08, 2014, 09:12:04 am
Do not use as a     personal    cream >:(

Sounds like a good story in that statement Tim :o
Title: Re: Tank Polishers Opinions Please
Post by: shelpi on April 08, 2014, 10:31:45 am
Do not use as a     personal    cream >:(
OOPS :o ::) :-[ :-X :-\ :'(