I was able to do it this way, but I like the results of the vinyl (specifically vinyl paint mask) much better. I took an exacto blade,and made a miniture scarper type tool, for making the bottom of the chip flat. There was enough of it built up to give me a little depth without going down to the metal so I tried it. I didn't want to get the close-up lenses out again, and go through the vinyl drawing and cutting routine again, so I decided to try and make a 3D chip right in the existing finish. You can see one below, on the left side of the tank.Īs I was doing these fake chips, I realized that I wanted a few more on the other side of the bike. I always try to be cutting edge, so on this one, I added scratches made the same way. On this one, I had to reapply the dark brown after the airbrush color, because too much got down in there. Finally, I uses an orange-brown paint in an airbrush to make a rusty water stain-streak running down from the chip. I primer and paint the fake chip to match the rest of the surface, then, with jeweler's glasses, and a really small brush, I paint the dark brown into the chip area and the fake cracks around it. Next, I pull the vinyl out, leaving a 3D little chip shape.

I let it harden, then sand it to smoothly taper to the surface. Then I apply a thin layer of Bondo or glazing compound over this. I cut a little piece, with slivers coming out from the corners.

The method uses a small piece of adhesive vinyl, the material used for signs. What bondo places, you ask? Well, I used the same faux chip method that I developed for the cattle sign.You can see that page here: It was VERY difficult to overcome that problem, even after using a blow dryer on the affected areas. It made all the Bondo places show up as a grey area on the previously sprayed flat black. That worked, but the extreme amount of solvent must have had a reaction with the bondo I used. There was a point of disaster later on I applied a final coat of very thinned white, to make what watercolor artists call a 'wash'. This time, the flat black worked well, on the first application. The reason I planned on making the blend with chemicals is because I don't always get reliable gun performance with flat paint. I mention that so that this page will be a better DIY article. I also had to carefully fold the sandpaper, and sand the area right next to the vinyl, which was first missed because the paper rode up over the vinyl, and missed that little pocket. I had to be careful not to sand away the paint on the edges of the vinyl, thereby exposing the white color. Normally, when just shooting flat paint and a few effects on the bike, that's not much of a problem. There was a problem with this method though there was a wide vinyl stripe under the paint. With careful application of pressure, and circular motions, I was able to make the blend between gloss and flat. What did end up working was 600 grit wet or dry sandpaper. Not only did the no-sand not affect it, neither did lacquer thinner, brake fluid, Draino dissolved in water, or any of the other tricks I had up my sleeve. But whatever finish was on there was impervious to the chemical. Considering the source of the paint, based on previous experience I thought it would distress easily. To my knowledge, they don't sell the stronger automotive finishes, which is fine, maybe even desirable in a situation like this. The owner said all the paints on the bike were things available at Lowe's. That's the way it would age the underside not being exposed to sun, dust, airborne things that would dull the gloss. I wanted to have the top sides of the pieces void of gloss, but have that smoothly blend into a gloss finish on the underside of certain parts, like the tank, and sides of the fenders. I hoped to put some in a detail gun and selectively spray it on the existing paint of this bike. Below is a picture of a truck door I distressed with the no sand solvent. In the past, I've had good results with the no-sand solvent products. Here's a picture of it at his place, and, one of me as I moved it from the barn to the front porch to work on it under better lighting. I have to say, if I was going to have a motorcycle, it would be this exact one. I was contacted by Curt about making his motorcycle look old, specifically, 'Like it was parked in a barn for 30 years'.

Rat fink motorcycle clipart