[Aguacate]

Well, I've finally decided to do something about the scratches the previous owner put into my tank. Apparently he had to push the bike a long ways (ran out of gas) and forgot to remove his belt buckle.

So I was thinking... I could get some touch up paint and take the scratches out. Or... I could scratch the whole thing up so it looks like it was that way on purpose!! At first glance the scratches kind of give the bike some attitude, then you realize they weren't intentional because it's only in that one spot. But if I did the whole thing...

Any ideas of how to go about doing this?

Or is this a dumb idea?

 

[Aguacate]

Alright, once I find a time machine, I'll ask you for suggestions on which one

 

[Aguacate]

I think the point he was making is that the carbon piece will cover the scratches so you won't have to repair them.

Ahhh, gotcha.

As for scratching the whole tank. You have 2 options depending on the look you want.

1. hit the whole tank with a grinder and clear coat over it.

2. ride the bike off road and lay it down a few times in the sand.

Hmmm, I like number 2.

I'm looking for random, but with a sense of direction, like if you could make the scratches resemble the way shaggy hair goes. What would the grinder look like? Also, what is the clear coat for?

What about some super rough steel wool?

 

[Aguacate]

Cool, thanks for the pic, I guess that's not quite what I'm looking for after all.

Now about the sand idea...

 

[Aguacate]

If the steel is not exposed to the atmosphere for long, or contaminated with skin oils/acids it shouldn't. The real issue is adhesion. Clear is not intended to stick to lots of bare metal.

So if it's just scratches tho, do you think the clear coating would bond to the paint around the scratch and end it covering it in the process?

Also, if it did rust, would it just be cosmetic or would it damage the integrity of the tank?

 

[Aguacate]

Yeah, I know sanding it down and repainting it would probably end up being easier and everything, I just thought it would be a cool idea. Given that it's done well, of course.

I've never seen anything like it before, which would make it cool, but then again, maybe there's a reason why I've never seen it.

Sounds like it's a harder process than I originally imagined though :'(

Quit making it sound so hard... :-\