New lacquer over old?

[Ian_H]

I have a zaskar in team colours ('05, so not overly retro!) and in my younger days was far to enthusiastic with the muc off - at least this is what I attribute the lack of lacquer to!

As a result the deep glossy blue is now mainly a dull and scratched blue, although there parts where the lacquer remains ok. I had considered a full strip and repaint, but given that its not a single colour, and the decals etc, it could get quite pricey.

I was thinking about just getting it relaquered? I know when it's wet the scratches are all hidden, and the same if you go over it with panel wipe so whilst it wouldn't be perfect I reckon it might be a lot better, for not too much cash - assuming its ok to apply new lacquer over the traces of the old...

Des anyone know?

 

[Rampage]

Any pictures?

 

[Ian_H]

I'll take some. Might be a day or two before I can now though, so watch this space!

 

[painter09]

think i will watch the space to

 

[lewis1641]

scratches and imperfections will not be hidden by lacquer, it will show them up even more i am afraid

 

[zetecmk2]

some imperfections will show up more with a new clear coat, mainly stone chips as the new laquer will create a shiny radius that reflects light from any angle. this can be sorted by touching in the chips after the re spray, then carefully flatting and polishing the touch in. most scratches in the old laquer will all but dissapear when the new laquer is applied......yes, if you know it's there, you will see it.....but no other bugger will!!
just look at any c pillar on a car that has had the qtr blown in......acceptable!

 

[Ian_H]

Ok, slight delay there but i've uploaded some photos to my drop box - hopefully this will work, if someone can embed them within the post for me i'll be grateful!

Photo 1 is the top tube - fairly typical scratching under the cables, but you can see that the gloss is all but gone. Photo 2 is the same, but with wet panel wipe on - hence my though that new laquer woul help hide the scratches (not completely, but well). The third pic is the seat tube which is is scuffed typical of the whole frame, but notice how there is a patch with laquer still on between the cage mounts - this is where i removed a sticker this week, and shows how the oringinal gloss has gone.

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/96037180/IMG_01.JPG
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/96037180/IMG_02.JPG
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/96037180/IMG_03.JPG

 

[unkleGsif]

Deep chips to the blue base layer will need top be addressed seperately, but if the damage is to the clear only, then just a gentle rub down or flatting of the whole frame to get rid of the deepest of scratches (but paying particular attention to the areas of scuffing with 6/800 then 1000/1200 before a coat of new lacquer will do wonders

G

 

[Rampage]

Have you tried giving it a very good polish?

 

[Ian_H]

There are some bad chips around the chainstays and BB, I accept that these are not going to be helped by new laquer, but I was hoping the overall effect would be an improvement.

I havent tried a good polish yet - I've considered it but i'm worried about either making things worse, or making it such that a re-laquer is less effective. What would you use, something like a car polish? Autoglym etc?