swingarm polished (kind of..)

[A Yerbury]

having cleaned off most of the crap left there by the bikes previous owner, captain spraypaint, I'm left with a semi polished swingarm (semi polished means not quite the mirror finish that one would pay for but DIY it suits me fine) what is the best thing to treat the metal with, a clear lacquer that is petrol/oils resistant? It would rust if left "bare"? I'd rather not respray it.
thanks.
Alex, male, 33, small brain, knows very little about metal.

[superlight3]

If you've gone back through the original anodising then you're into a whole world of hurt.... :(

You've either got to keep on top of it and polish it regularly, get it sprayed with 2-pack lacquer (very specialist job) or get it dip-anodised (another specialist job).

The problem if you paint it, is that chances are that it'll chip at some point, then water etc gets underneath, then spreads, then looks tatty, then there's nothing you can do about it apart from start all over again.

The choice is yours, but I'd go for the anodising.

Cheers.

Lee.

[M900Dom]

Thatll be a steel swingarm then

And a rusty one soon if you dont Paint it:(

If you want it shiny you will have to take it off and get it Plated, Nickel or chrome , or polish it fully and get it Laquered or clear powdercoated as Lee said

[superlight3]

DOH !! I assumed it was alli.... :rolleyes:

I'm glad you're on the case Dom.

Cheers.

Lee.

[Julie]

Will we be seeing you and your bike at the monster weekend?

[Paranoid Dave]

Or just buy an Ali one and get that polished? Will it fit tho as the ali's are 900?

[M900Dom]

Originally posted by Julie & Ruth
Will we be seeing you and your bike at the monster weekend?

Was that aimed at me ? or someone else ? :confused: :D

If it was me...... Watch this space, IF and its a very big IF at the moment, I can get the bike back together in time then Yes, maybe only as a trailer queen but I am hoping to get it there, would be the Ideal place for its public unveiling ;)

Cheers
Dom

[A Yerbury]

painted steel it is then. black seems to be the new black again! laquer wise what hard wering stuff would you s all recomend? thanks for the tips so far. alex

[Byron Kauffman]

Alex;

Do you have the swingarm off the bike? This would make painting much easier and give you less stuff to mask off. Either way you will need to get it as clean and free of oil and chain lube as possible. Lacquer thinner is my personal favorite. It cuts almost anything and evaporates very fast but be sure you dont get it on anything you shouldnt.
Back before I put the Aluminum arm on my bike I painted the steel one black. Check around your suppliers for either automotive grade spray lacquer paint or epoxy enamel.
The spray lacquer (Krylon or PJ1 brand) will go on thin and clean, dry fast and is very durable. The spray epoxy enamel is slower to dry (usually a day or two up to a week depending on weather conditions). Lacquer will blush or get a whiteish haze if the humidity is high so a good sunny day is best. Both types come in almost any color.
If you have the arm off you could always go with powdercoat. There is a "Near chrome" finish that looks like buffed aluminum and the finish is very durable.

[Pedro]

How about Hammerite for a nice wrinkly finish!!!:D:D

Ped