Boxerworks.com

A tip for painting fenders:

The fenders will sit securely over the cheapest plastic saw horses available at Harbor Freight.

Once you're done painting, they'll actually look better (they being the saw horses).

Definitely sounds like the voice of experience.

Haha, great edit audiowize... I was thinking why would I want to import cheap saw horse's from my homeland only to paint them to make them look better...

Yes, that exercise also confirmed the need for more secure mounting of parts.
It is all a progressive learning curve that will ultimately leed me back to leaning into curves

A friend recently asked about my old jacket, it was destroyed by rats when in storage. I did however manage to salvage a 30y/o hand painted logo that will take pride of place on my new jacket, after it is repainted...

Time for another update on my slow progress -

After my 'practice' attempt of colour on 3 pieces, it left me pondering the replies ive had here & elsewhere... and also my options. So I let this all rattle around in my head whilst I stripped the 'practice work' & continued prepping the other fairing components.

A fish out of water, lets do the 1st coat of primer / filler... inside & out -



The insides were sanded, primed & sanded once. The exterior 2nd & 3rd coats got a guide coat & hand sanding treatment. After to the 3rd external coat of primer, I painted all interior surfaces with a low sheen matt black and used the remainder as an external guide coat for final blocking down.



All non metal fairing & body pieces are now finished painted inside, fully primmed, cured & colour ready outside.





OK.... now on to the tank & seat cowling.

The seat cowling was externally stripped several weeks ago for a seat & roundel test fitting -



I am very pleased with the condition of the tank after stripping & close inspection. I found only 2 minor dents and a very mild 'worm casting' type of surface rust.




The underside is in excellent condition with absolutely no rust or deterioration marks at all!
As apposed to 'rub' or wear' marks... there are some 'built up' areas that are, IMO, caused from 'smudge transfer' from the main wiring loom's outer plastic cover.... they sanded out fairly easily.
All the spots of braising at fuel spigots & over flow (top & bottom) are in excellent order and cleaned up like new after a wire brushing.



A couple tiny bits of bog fill then a sanding -



Tank & seat cowling are now ready for the primmer / filler process's. (it is a waiting game for suitably sunny warm day in the middle of a damp winter)

I will hold off painting colour until I have completed the 'colour ready' process on the tank & seat cowling... the more practice I get before spraying the final colour, the better... I need it! lols

Addressing a previous note - Molasses as rust a remover & prohibitor
Obviously getting pic's of the inside of the tank are a bit hard, so here is another 'experimental' piece...
Before -



After -



Being a broke, tight ass pensioner ( & greenie ), I will use this method for all the nuts, bolts & bits as well as do another complete tank flush treatment after it is painted.

Under the circumstances, I am still aiming at a late September / early October completion & birthday ride, though I am starting to admit... it is a tough ask.

Nice work and I am glad that it is you that is doing it, not me.

However, I would prefer to be doing that job than fixing up the stuff around here in order to put the place on the market. Not fun at all. MC work is better.

Great work, Joe, and a really entertaining and educational thread. Hang in there & keep the posts coming.

If a guy's gotta turn 50, October looks like a fine month to do so...

Nailhead wrote: If a guy's gotta turn 50, October looks like a fine month to do so...

Whoa! +1

Mal S7 wrote:

Nailhead wrote: If a guy's gotta turn 50, October looks like a fine month to do so...

Whoa! +1

Yeah, Joe doesn't look a day over 39.

Nailhead, welcome aboard.

ps: Joe, the energy, money, time and sweat you are throwing at Betsy is well above the call of duty.
I totally approve.

I know what you mean, Duane.
Since I started restoration on Betsy last year, I have helped build a 3b/room off grid cottage. Now I wish I said no as im getting far behind the eight ball, time wise.
Good Luck with your sale mate.

Thank you & Welcome aboard, Nailhead. You will have to give us the run down on your signature toys - Nice

Trying to come up with a quick 1 liner about looking 39... must be my beauty cream..... nope, I got nothing.

Final coat of primmer / filler going on tank & seat cowling today.

Im running out of room in my house - main frame & 2 box's of finished parts in my b'room, sub frame - wheels & 3 box's of finished parts in spare room, complete new front end in pieces + 6 fairing panels hanging in lounge room, fairing brackets hanging in kitchen, box's & box's of completely & half cleaned parts in the carport.
A fairly standard 'Boxer' house full of box's.

Next week I shall install frame & wheel bearings & begin to assemble a rolling chassis.

What is the best method to clean & tidy up the electrical connections & wiring harness ? ... WD40 & rag ?