Tank Paint

S

sport53

Full member
Location
NE Scotland
Hi All,

I'm new to this site but not new to Laverda's. Previously owned a 78 Jota and a 85 SFC 1000, should have kept both of them, hindsight...

Currently have a 750 SFC rep.

Anyway, this is a general question.

I have a petrol tank that really needs to be repainted, however the tank has been signed with a felt marker pen ( sharpie for our friends from the US of A), and the tank was then clear lacquered over to protect the signature.

Do you think it will be possible to retain the signature and still get a good quality paint job.

I know I will need to speak to a specialist at some point, however the bike is currently in the UK and I am not. So just curious what you guys think?  ::)

Cheers

Bill
 
If the paint is in any way faded, especially if it is metallic it would be almost impossible to match. They do spot paint repair here as long as the paint is as new, or they have tricks like blending in at a natural line (like a knee cutout). Alternative you could carefully mask around the signature and have it as a clearly obvious feature. As you say, it is the painter who will decide. Who autographed it?
 
the painter will need to know what kind of paint is on there now
eg; lacquer, enamel, urethane
the new paint will have to be colour matched to whats around the signature
and best to use the same type of paint as the solvents need to be compatible
i don't think brand is as much an issue as the type
it will require careful blending but it can be done by a talented painter
expect it to be devilishly tricky if its lacquer and the clear is rattle can enamel
best to do some spot work on another portion before working around the signature
alternatively get another tank and hang this one one the wall
if the person who signed it is still in this world
perhaps it can get signed again
 
The paint colour is red (not metalflake) and the paint beneath the signature is in good condition. The paint is probably original. The signature covers an area of maybe 150mm x 100mm. If the signature was smaller I wouldn't mind making a feature of it, but I think it covers too big an area for that.

I guess I need to fess up here, the signature is Arturo Magni and it's not a Laverda tank  :o

Arturo is still around so I suppose it might be possible for him to sign it again, but logistically difficult.

I think I just need to let an paint expert have a look at it and take it from there, it would be a shame to loose it though as it's obviously part of the bikes history.

Thanks for the responses.
 
Sometimes painting things isn't the right answer. Patina is the new object of desire.
 
sell the mv with its signed tank and get the rest of the SF2 to go with your SF2 tank  ;)
Then you can have enough left over to retire on and join in on all the fun here.
:D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top