Calling Graucho the painting God

[dynodon]

Hey buddy when you are using Rustolium do you thin it before you spray? If so what do I thin it with? Paint thinner,naptha,acetone?.....

[dynodon]

bump bump bump

[graucho]

Bump Bump 0OOPS! Ground control to Major Tom. I'm such a space cadet.

Yes, the magic is in the acetone.
1st make sure the Rustolium is oil base. (They do make a latex also. Dont use this!)
Then its 2/1_______(2)two parts acetone....(1)one part Rustolium.
A clear ketchup bottle from walmart or Target $0.89 works great as a paint mixer/storage container. Squirts into the airbrush
jar like a charm. Paint stays fresh for 2 weeks.
Any good rattle can automotive red oxide sandable primer from the auto parts store works good as base primer.

http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll13/grauchosbikes/mixed_paint_pallet.jpg
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll13/grauchosbikes/primer2.jpg

[dynodon]

Thanks Man!! seams kind of thin good thing I asked if I guessed I would make a mess.

[fultondp]

So Graucho,

If you are using plain ol' can paint for the fire, what are you using for the transparent candy layers? I've seen some 1/4 size cans of candy at the hobby store, intended for models, but I've never tried it because it seems kind of expensive for what you get.

Darren

[graucho]

So Graucho,

If you are using plain ol' can paint for the fire, what are you using for the transparent candy layers? I've seen some 1/4 size cans of candy at the hobby store, intended for models, but I've never tried it because it seems kind of expensive for what you get.

Darren

Hi Darren. Your correct about the cost of the candy colors.
http://www.tcpglobal.com/kustomshop/itemdetail.aspx?itemno=KUS+KIT-LFT-CL

Remember that On this forum I'm just painting bikes. Bikes are not a custom motorcycle or a street rod where you would
"puke over the railing" if it didn't turn out. My bikes get used and abused. Since this is what a bike was intended for, I needed
to learn how to "paint "on the cheap" side of the fence.

Here's how I came up with a candy simulation good enough for a bike.....
You know how you go to the hardware store and have them mix you paint? Well they sell a rustoleum neutral base without
the color pigment in it. (its kind of a super light translucent tan color) I then mix the neutral base 2parts acetone to 1 part neutral base. Then I
put a squirt of what ever color I want the candy color to be from my already mixed colors I'm using. Then a few drops silver.

Example.... 4 parts acetone, 2 part neutral base, 1 part brilliant red (already mixed for your main paint job). 1/8th part silver.
A far cry from kustom color's candy color, but a great candy glow good enough for my flamed bikes. I can paint 4 bikes for about 48.00

One little downfall is that its dry to the touch in 24 hrs, but It takes a good month for the paint to get rock solid, but that dosn't
stop me from riding. Get a little scratch? big deal? mix up an eyedropper full of paint and with the airbrush touch it up. With a little
experience with an airbrush you wont believe how easy it is to blend touchups. Especially on solid colors. Theres no perfect pattern
to a flame paint job so there easy to touch up also.

I hoped this helped. I'll talk about this stuff when I start a thread over the winter all about my tips and tricks of painting my bikes.

[Gerald_G]

Good thread thanks - I just bought a mini sprayer, and I have my airbrush as well.

[fultondp]

Thanks for the info Graucho,

Your teachings and examples are raising the bar for all of us.

When I'm done with my Gladiator, I will have to give it a crack...

Darren

[savarin]

Just something I used to do many many years ago.
Get as many bottles of varied nail lacquer as you can from all your female friends, thin them down and use them.
Great for airbrush practice and some excellent custom colours,pearls, metallics, even fine metal flake.

[fultondp]

Great idea! My daughter has hundreds, she won't even know they are gone.

What do you say to your friends when they come over and see all your pretty nail polish jars lined up on the shelf?

Darren

[Gerald_G]

Does rustoleum come in clear coat ? If not what do you use for cc ?

[trikeman]

Does rustoleum come in clear coat ? If not what do you use for cc ?

Yes, but it isn't always easy to find it in anything but a rattle can.

[graucho]

Yes, but it isn't always easy to find it in anything but a rattle can.

Rustoleum rattle can ClearCoat WILL BUBBLE your paint job if you apply it over your
airbrushed mixed rusoleum paint. Rattle can paint to rattle can clear is OK, but NOT airbrush with rattle can clear!

All of the additives and amounts of acetone used in rattle can clear dosn't react with
the airbrush mix. I"m not a chemist so I'm not clear why? but I know they don't mix well. Trust me!

Does rustoleum come in clear coat ? If not what do you use for cc ?

Gerald... back up a few post and notice the unmixed base.
Even though it appears milky tan color it sprays on clear, mixed 2 to 1. Yup, its strange but it works.

[Gerald_G]

Thanks Graucho - I'll look around for unmixed base.
It's ok to mix rustoleum colour with colour I gather.

I'd like a really light pink base coat, and then I plan to lay down layers of progressively darker pinks to create pink camo paint job. I had planned on simply adding a touch of red to white, and then for further layers, a touch more red to darken.

Sound like it'll work ?

[SirJoey]

There goes Graucho again, trying to act like he knows something about painting... :jester:


http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/49/signaturehalloween.jpg