This occurred to me half way through one of those biker build off shows. They were putting flames on a black tank and part way through they had flatted off the black coat and applied the red base for the flames so the tank looked like a black denim SB tank with red gloss flames on it. I thought they should stop there ans just add some contrasting pinstripes around the flames. So has anybody ever seen a part gloss part matt paint scheme? How practical is it to do and to maintain?

 

a flat paint job with shiny flames is an old hot-rod style paint job. It looks really cool on some old fenderless hot-rods, it would probably look cool on the right bike as well. Biggest problem would be not being able to bury all the paint lines under clearcoat. People think if you can feel an edge, its a decal.
I've got some old parts lying around, maybe I'll get a chance to test spray a tank in this scheme. If someone asks, I'll just tell them its a "Limey" paint job.
If someone out there has done one already, post up some pics, I'm sure it would look pretty sweet!

 

uhhhhhh....you can add flattening agent to a clear coat to keep the dull dull....and mask off the dull and put nomal clear over the flames.....barely wetsand the edge....and you wont feel a thing......

 

[blockquote]
much depends on how good the painter is. case in point, i had flames put on my bike , the paint started coming off. the dude which i have known for a very long time f'd me. he would not stand behind his work and i am out my hard earned money. find the best painter to do the work,which i thought i did,but i still got screwed . old saying here buyer beware !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

if i would not go to jail i would just set his house on fire (j/k) [/blockquote]

 

Lets see... If you...

Shoot black basecoat.
Mask and shoot the red flames
REMOVE mask and shoot a couple of coats of clear for the gloss and protection
Mask the flames out again (this time covering them) and shoot a coat of clear with the flattening agent
Buff carefully.

You should have a durable coat of paint with the desire effect and minimal leading edge. No?

 

So....tell us. How do you really feel? HAHA, I laughed when I read that.

 

I was hoping to leave the denim black completely alone and add the flames in gloss onto it, then pinstripe over the paintline to hide it.

 

I've wondered about taping off pinstripes or flames on the denim and then just buffing them. I think this would give it contrast but no so drastic. Anybody wanna give it a try on their bike first?

 

Is this what you are thinking about.
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That's nice! Wanna give the scoop on what the process was?