DIY Network

Painting #1: Preparing Parts From "Classic Rides" episode DCLR-107

In this seventh episode of nine, host Kevin Tetz (seen here with the stripped down bike) and his guests paint the '65 Electra Glide, install new handlebars and headlights and complete the electrical restoration.

In the seventh week of this nine-week restoration, the DIY project bike -- a '65 Harley-Davidson Electra Glide -- will receive a paint job and have a new handlebar and headlights installed. In the first segment guest Nate Chase, an automotive painter and designer, joins host Kevin Tetz to prep the bike for painting by stripping the old paint and applying body filler to create a smooth finish on the fenders and gas tank.

For the past six weeks the project bike has been stripped down to the bare bones and now it's time to build it back up. Kevin and Nate have a lot of work to do in a short amount of time.

Getting Started

• The gas tanks of the project bike had issues that included a fuel leak, which is why they're being replaced, but if you want to restore the original tanks on your bike and you want to know if they have a leak, here's a tip from Kevin and Nate:

  With the fuel lines plugged and the cap sealed, insert an air hose into the tank and spray it with soapy water. If there's an air leak, you'll see some bubbles.

  Note: Due to the fact that the new tanks for the project bike arrived with a few dings and dents, which would stand out after the paint job, the areas have to be patched with body filler and then sanded to create a smooth surface.

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	Figure A
	Figure B
	Figure C
	Figure D

• The first thing to do is to use a solvent-based cleaner to remove the petroleum coating on the new tanks, and then mix up the body filler putty -- a few tablespoons of the filler plus a small amount of hardener (about 5 percent). Mix well.

  Tip: When the filler changes to a solid color (figure A) you'll know that the two components are mixed thoroughly.

• Give the tanks a light skim coat because you don't want to create extra work. You just want to get enough to fill the low spot (figure B). The filler dries quickly so you just want to mix a little at a time and use immediately.

• Apply the body filler to the tank and spread it evenly over the low areas, and let it dry for approximately 10 minutes before sanding.

• While the filler putty is drying, you can go ahead and prep the fenders by using a dual-action sander to cut into the top layer of old paint. This will create a "tooth" for the new paint to adhere. Use abrasive pads to get into the tight spots.

  The idea is not to have any shiny spots whatsoever because paint will "not" stick to any shiny parts. You need the mechanical bond "tooth" effect. And before sanding wipe it with lacquer thinner to remove the resin coating. The sanding will be in three stages:

  1. Start with 80-grit sandpaper for leveling and shaping.

  2. Progress to 180-grit sandpaper. During this step you may want to "block" instead of even sanding, which means you take the leading edge of the block of the sander and the flat surface to recreate the contour (the crown) of the panel you're working on (figure C).

  3. Finish with 320-grit sandpaper.

  Note: On larger areas it helps to apply a "guide coat" (figure D) -- a contrasting colored graphite powder that reveals the high and low areas. Use a finer 180-grit sandpaper to level those areas.

• When the fender is completely sanded, wipe it down with cleaner to remove the sanding dust.

In the next segment Kevin and Nate share some painting techniques.

RESOURCES :

The Eastwood Company

The Eastwood Company is a supplier of automotive-restoration parts, tools and supplies.

The Easthill Group, Inc.
The Eastwood Company
Website: www.eastwoodco.com

Restoration Parts (Custom Chrome)
Custom Chrome
Website: www.customchrome.com

Motorcycle Restoration Parts (In the Wind Motorcycle Parts)
In Wind Motorcycle Parts
508 Lovell Rd.
Knoxville, TN 37932
Phone: 865-560-5650 or 865-777-0884
Fax: 865-777-0886

Norton Abrasives

Sandpapers, cleaners, abrasives and bodywork supplies.
Website: www.nortonautomotive.com

Auto Body Color and Supply
Phone: 615-726-0361 (Nashville Store)

Motostorm Chrome Paint
Website: www.motostorm.com

Also available through Innate Technologies (see contact information, below, under the Guest entry for Nate Chase).

Keller Wallace Street Rods
6340 Clinton Highway
Knoxville, TN 37912
Phone: 865-680-3623

GUESTS :

William "Dunk" Dunkelberger
Restoration Coordinator / Mechanic
Harrly Hoggs & Piggletts
1409 Piney Rd.
Maryville, TN 37803
Phone: 865-681-7699
E-mail: hoggsandpiggletts@yahoo.com

Nate Chase
Automotive Painter and Designer
Innate Technologies
PO Box 540691
Omaha, NE 68154
Phone: 702-651-6551
E-mail: E-mail: sales@innate.com
Website: www.innate.com