NorthWest Kayak Anglers

Kayak Fishing => Drillin' & Cuttin' => Topic started by: Yarjammer on March 08, 2009, 02:23:48 PM

Title: How To: Painting a shark mouth on your bow
Post by: Yarjammer on March 08, 2009, 02:23:48 PM
After the discussion a week or so ago about custom painting on our yaks, I decided to give it a go...  Here is a basic photo tutorial of how I went about doing it.

Before you start make sure you have the following available:
*Acetone/Toulene/Laquer Thinner
*Paint masking tape
*X-acto knife or equivalent
*Drop cloth
*Desired paint colors (I used Krylon Fusion paint for the red and Fascolor RC car body paint for the black)
*Spray clear coating
*3M/Scotch white tape for teeth (I would use the Fascolor paint in white if I had to do it again.)
*1" foam brush
*200 or 400 grit sandpaper
*lint-free cloth
Title: Re: How To: Painting a shark mouth on your bow
Post by: Yarjammer on March 08, 2009, 02:27:33 PM
More pic's...
Title: Re: How To: Painting a shark mouth on your bow
Post by: Yarjammer on March 08, 2009, 02:43:34 PM
Here is the basic process I went through:

1. Thoroughly clean the bow with the lacquer thinner and a lint free cloth

2. Wrap the rest of the yak with your drop cloth to protect it from any over spray

3. Begin masking of the bow in the general form that you want you mouth to look like

4. Use your X-acto knife to "clean" it up and smooth out the shape

5. Lightly sand the unmasked area with 200 or 400 grit sandpaper

6. Thouroughly clean the unmasked area again to remove any dust

7. Begin applying the background spray paint in multiple light coats (I used about 7)

8. Let stand for about an hour or so and remove the masking tape

9. Begin cutting the small teeth out of the white tape, leaving a tag end for application

10. Trim the tag ends off to follow the contour of the mouth.

11. Apply the tape over the rest of the mouth.  Make sure to minimize the overlap and do not smooth over the tape to much

12. Use the X-acto knife to cut out the remaining teeth

13. Remove the unneeded tape and smooth down on the teeth

14. Use the black paint and a small foam brush to outline the mouth and teeth.  Make sure to slightly overlap the white tape (this will help seal the tape

15. Let stand for about an hour or so

16. Begin applying the clear coat in multiple light coats (I used about 10)

17. Let cure for about a week.


I tested it last week with Yessnoo and it help up great after a day on the water.  It does chip a little bit, but you really have to try to do it.  I'm sure the results will be even better when the ambient air temp is higher.
Title: Re: How To: Painting a shark mouth on your bow
Post by: bad lattitude on March 08, 2009, 05:39:40 PM
Yeah, dude! Killer!
Title: Re: How To: Painting a shark mouth on your bow
Post by: INSAYN on March 08, 2009, 09:43:35 PM
Nice work! 

I wonder if vinyl print sticker from a sign shop would hold up to abuse better than paint? 
Title: Re: How To: Painting a shark mouth on your bow
Post by: goldendog on March 08, 2009, 10:01:03 PM
Yarjammer,

Beautiful job! All you need now are the eyes!
Title: Re: How To: Painting a shark mouth on your bow
Post by: bad lattitude on March 08, 2009, 10:04:16 PM
Nice work! 

I wonder if vinyl print sticker from a sign shop would hold up to abuse better than paint? 

I picked up a quote from a guy that would make stickers for me. I'm not sure how he'd get it to fit the curves of the bow of the boat, but I guess that's why he's the pro.

I also asked how much to have him make up some pictures of my wife to stick up on the sides like the old aircraft pilots did.
Title: Re: How To: Painting a shark mouth on your bow
Post by: [WR] on March 08, 2009, 10:16:52 PM
damnn, bomber nose art on a yak..who would'a thunk it.... >:D

hey, Yar, now you gots to change the avatar pic!!

Title: Re: How To: Painting a shark mouth on your bow
Post by: ZeeHawk on March 09, 2009, 09:15:25 AM
Nice work Yar! Very nice and clean. A really good thing Yar did was to put his design in a place that takes little abuse. I think everything we try to stick on our yaks will get ripped/scraped off at some point but putting it in a place that takes little abuse will make it go a long way. Also doing a kick ass job like Yar doesn't hurt either! ;)

Z
Title: Re: How To: Painting a shark mouth on your bow
Post by: Yarjammer on March 09, 2009, 10:08:22 AM
Thanks guys!  I think the decal idea might work, but it would be cost prohibitive compared to the relatively low budget attempt I did unless you did a bulk purchase.  One additional step/option might be in order to make it more permanent and require zero touchup- using the headlight rockchip film in lieu of a clear coat.

I was nervous about the design being obscured while on the water, but yessnoo said it is almost completely visible and unsubmerged.  This is probably due more to the fact the aft end is loaded pretty heavily compared to the bow.

I know a few of you guys have been on the fence about doing it... now its your turn to take a leap of faith and join the Tigershark Yak Revolution!
Title: Re: How To: Painting a shark mouth on your bow
Post by: bjoakland on March 09, 2009, 06:48:31 PM
Very nice, Yarjammer, very nice indeed. Really nice write up as well!

I've considered pimpin' my yak out for a while, but I'm not sure I'm gonna keep it around forever and want to be able to sell it clean. I may apply some reflective vinyl striping for fun and safety. Here's an easy source linked up for any interested in where to get striping by the roll. (Sign Warehouse - Universal Pinstriping (http://sign-supplies.signwarehouse.com/search/index?query=universal+pinstriping)) Reflective striping can be put on nearly any smooth surface, so you could make your 'yak light up BIG in any low light condition.

I'm a sign guy.  If anybody has questions, just ask.  I can write it up and post on the subject if there is enough interest.  Yarjammer's approach is more practical than a pure vinyl graphic of this size, unless you want to take the time to learn the methods used in hand patterning, cutting and applying vinyl (which I'd be willing to share here.)

Title: Re: How To: Painting a shark mouth on your bow
Post by: ZeeHawk on March 10, 2009, 10:00:09 AM
I'm a sign guy.  If anybody has questions, just ask.  I can write it up and post on the subject if there is enough interest.  Yarjammer's approach is more practical than a pure vinyl graphic of this size, unless you want to take the time to learn the methods used in hand patterning, cutting and applying vinyl (which I'd be willing to share here.)

Cool. I think a lot of us would like to do it but the most prohibitive factor would be how much it would cost. I'm sure a sticker the size of Yar's spitfire mouth would take some coin.

Z
Title: Re: How To: Painting a shark mouth on your bow
Post by: bjoakland on March 10, 2009, 04:09:33 PM
  Well, I'm in the biz (temporarily out on medical leave) and have connections, but I can tell you that it isn't hard to get your hands on scrap material of that size and various colors. If you can find a shop that isn't desperate for cash (the bigger the better), you could probably walk out with enough vinyl to do something similar for $40 or less, depending on the size.  It's the labor that is so costly. I'd have to say that at my work we wouldn't touch doing this kind of thing for less than $225, and that would have to be a very simple design. That buys you 2 1/2 hours and materials.  :'(  Unfortunately, there is no standard that would be useful for the kind of design we're looking at here. When I think of the waterline and exposed hull of the kayaks that I've seen, the variation is tremendous.  They end up being custom every time.  This is one of the reasons why Yarjammer's approach is so practical. He's created the original shape in place, on the finished surface, with traditional painting techniques. Good way to go.
  I guess I'll think about doing something that I can take photos of as I go along. I do have the time these days.  How much interest is there in learning to do this by hand using vinyl? (of course in a new thread...)

-edit-
  I called the shop and asked our painter about making paint stick to plastics.  He only had one answer for it. Akzo Nobel makes a line of paint called GripFlex that is used to custom color the interior of acrylic and polycarbonate illuminated sign faces.  It requires 8 to 12 coats sprayed very thin with only 5 minutes flash time between coats (depending on temp). I don't think it's worth all this work, but just more info for those interested.
Title: Re: How To: Painting a shark mouth on your bow
Post by: Yarjammer on March 13, 2009, 04:19:21 PM
I would also recommend Parma 's FasKolor paint.  I use it for painting RC Car/Truck bodies.  I am fairly sure it shares the same properties as the Akzo Nobel and is actually available to mere mortals. YM, where do you buy this Akzo Nobel?  I can't find any place that actually sells it.

http://www.parmapse.com/fas1.html
Title: Re: How To: Painting a shark mouth on your bow
Post by: bjoakland on March 13, 2009, 06:26:03 PM
Lemme take a look.  I'll see what I can find for distributors.  Akzo Nobel is an industrial supplier, so they may not make any effort to establish retail sales.  I'll see what I can find out.

News at 11.
Title: Re: How To: Painting a shark mouth on your bow
Post by: Madoc on May 19, 2009, 12:14:04 AM
Great post.

I would suggest a layering approach - clean the area, and then apply a layer or three of white primer, and then mask the teeth.  then spray the red, line, and clear coat.