Stripping and polishing handlebar controls...

marko
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20 Oct 2005 14:47 #3040 by marko

Replied by marko on topic Stripping and polishing handlebar controls...

I like the polished look. I used aircraft stripper on mine then polished with mothers. lots quicker and still looks great. Stripper burns like crazy if it touches your skin:woohoo: so be careful. Mark

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savedrider
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1975 Z1-B 900

20 Oct 2005 16:02 #3050 by savedrider

Replied by savedrider on topic Stripping and polishing handlebar controls...

Your controls look great LTDrider! I agree the semi/satin finish may have looked a tad better.

Get right or get left! <*{{{><

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savedrider
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1975 Z1-B 900

20 Oct 2005 16:03 #3051 by savedrider

Replied by savedrider on topic Stripping and polishing handlebar controls...

marko wrote:

I like the polished look. I used aircraft stripper on mine then polished with mothers. lots quicker and still looks great. Stripper burns like crazy if it touches your skin:woohoo: so be careful. Mark

I tried dunking mine overnight in Berryman's, but it didn't cut the original paint.

Get right or get left! <*{{{><

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ronboskz650sr
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20 Oct 2005 17:36 #3074 by ronboskz650sr

Replied by ronboskz650sr on topic Stripping and polishing handlebar controls...

You could lighty fog a coat of body color or black in the areas where the letters are, then sand the surface clean, leaving the colored lettering down in the grooves. Then repolish the sanded areas. I like the polished look. Adding the lettering was just an idea I had.

Post edited by: ronboskz650sr, at: 2005/10/20 20:39

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indykaw77
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20 Oct 2005 19:21 #3111 by indykaw77

Replied by indykaw77 on topic Stripping and polishing handlebar controls...

I never saw them polished.....cool look. I kinda like both, tho.....
savedrider, what are your handlebars?? Superbike bars or otherwise?????

Kawasaki Motorcycles...because cars lean th wrong way!

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savedrider
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1975 Z1-B 900

20 Oct 2005 19:45 #3123 by savedrider

Replied by savedrider on topic Stripping and polishing handlebar controls...

indykaw77 wrote:

I never saw them polished.....cool look. I kinda like both, tho.....
savedrider, what are your handlebars?? Superbike bars or otherwise?????

Yup, those would be the superbike bend indy.

Get right or get left! <*{{{><

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dannyg40
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21 Oct 2005 00:51 #3166 by dannyg40

Replied by dannyg40 on topic Stripping and polishing handlebar controls...

ltdrider,
They look great ! Unfortunatly the pictures you posted made me add another project on the "to do" list over the winter on my bike

That really makes a big difference, looks great!

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John68
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21 Oct 2005 03:43 #3174 by John68

Replied by John68 on topic Stripping and polishing handlebar controls...

neat!
That's a neat look for those controls. I have an older Kawasaki that originally had bare aluminum controls. I was contemplating doing the same thing, but have decided on acid dipping the pieces after sanding and buffing, to give it more of a fresh cast look, rather than a mirror reflection.

There are soooo many different things you can do with metal. The possibilities are as endless as the techniques.

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wiredgeorge
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21 Oct 2005 06:41 #3199 by wiredgeorge

Replied by wiredgeorge on topic Stripping and polishing handlebar controls...

I find that brake fluid strips the black paint off switchgear most effectively! bwhahahaha

wiredgeorge Motorcycle Carburetors
Mico TX
www.wgcarbs.com
Too many bikes to list!

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ltdrider
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21 Oct 2005 07:11 #3203 by ltdrider

Replied by ltdrider on topic Stripping and polishing handlebar controls...

WG:
You aint kiddin' about the Dot 3 fluid. I've stripped and repainted my reservoir 3 times. The paint just starts to bubble up under the cap. It's been about 4 months since my last touch-up. Maybe I finally got the cap to seal.

'76 KZ900 LTD (Blaze)
'96 Voyager XII (Dark Star)
'79 KZ650 Cafe Project (Dirty Kurt)
Greensboro, NC

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OKC_Kent
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21 Oct 2005 08:10 #3217 by OKC_Kent

Replied by OKC_Kent on topic Stripping and polishing handlebar controls...

LTDRIDER,

How did you do the lettering? Small brush or big brush and then wipe off? What brand of paint?

Oklahoma City, OK
78 KZ650 B2 82,000+ miles

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ltdrider
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21 Oct 2005 09:37 #3225 by ltdrider

Replied by ltdrider on topic Stripping and polishing handlebar controls...

Kent:
After I painted the pieces black, I used water-based paint (house paint). I just dabbed the paint into the letters, and wiped with a damp rag. The color stays in the letters, and seems quite durable when dry.

'76 KZ900 LTD (Blaze)
'96 Voyager XII (Dark Star)
'79 KZ650 Cafe Project (Dirty Kurt)
Greensboro, NC

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