Vinyl Decals: Before of After Paint & Clear Coat?

Having my tank painting by a local body shop. They have a great rep but are very busy. For my own info, when painting tank are decals/pinstriping put on after the paint but before the clear coat, or at the very end of the process?

It can be done either way, but under the clear is more durable.

Nessism wrote:

It can be done either way, but under the clear is more durable.
 

Thanks.
I have also read, after making this post, that many ppl prefer to put it OVER the clear, as sometimes it "ribbons" under the clear. I think for this project, Im going to have them put it over the clear so in the future, replacing it wont involve having to go under the clear coat.

These stripes are under the clear.

Edit: with stripes under the clear, abrasion of the tank will result in a clear coat scuff, but the stripes will be unaffected.  With stripes over the clear, any scuffing will damage the stripe. 

017 by nessism , on Flickr

P1010846 by nessism , on Flickr

Nessism wrote:

These stripes are under the clear.

017 by nessism , on Flickr

P1010846 by nessism , on Flickr
 

Thanks. I did more research. It seems back in the day they put them OVER the clear, so Im going to go over.

38 years ago i did my Z, painting was done under the clear coat and still beautiful.

willemZ900 wrote:

38 years ago i did my Z, painting was done under the clear coat and still beautiful.
 

Thanks for your input. Im glad it worked out for you, but mine will be done OVER the clear coat.

I have stock paint KZ650 B2 and KZ650 C2 tanks (never repainted) and the striping is definitely under the clear coat, can't get a finger nail to catch on it.

Your "research" seems to be flawed.

Injected wrote:

I have stock paint KZ650 B2 and KZ650 C2 tanks (never repainted) and the striping is definitely under the clear coat, can't get a finger nail to catch on it.

Your "research" seems to be flawed.






 

*sigh*

Several notable vintage car and motorcycle painters have said they prefer to put VINYL pinstriping OVER the clear. This from 2005 but there are TONS of the same comments made from then until now.

 
 


Thats what Im doing.  BOOM!


 

It's probably time to move on with this, it looks like your mind is made up

You'll regret that if you ever spill fuel on the stripes. Vinyl melts in petrol.
The correct way to do it is 2 coats of clear, vinyl, then 2 coats of clear over that. You need to seal the vynil against fuel and the vinyl edges against weather. Water and sun heat will soon have them peeling unless they are sealed. 
To get the best results you also need to use 2k clear for the best protection against fuel spills. 
 

Warren3200gt wrote:

You'll regret that if you ever spill fuel on the stripes. Vynil melts in petrol.
The correct way to do it is 2 coats of clear, vinyl, then 2 coats of clear over that. You need to seal the vynil against fuel and the vinyl edges against weather. Water and sun heat will soon have them peeling unless they are sealed. 
To get the best results you also need to use 2k clear for the best protection against fuel spills. 





 

I have the original tank. I can assure you, unless it was redone later, the pinstripes are OVER the clear.

If petrol eats them, or the sun causes them to peel, I get another set.

This is MUCH easier than having to take off CLEAR COAT to get to them in the event something happens with them under the clear. 

Ive got a lot of bikes. I take care of them all.