17th Jun 2011, 15:54

I have seen several posts on this site asking where one can purchase the black/blue paint for a 1982 650 Maxim. I also wanted to paint the tank on my 1981 650 Maxim the black/blue color, even though it was black with the red fleck from the factory. I found a place where it can be purchased in spray cans or pint size cans. I received an email from them with several pages of painting recommendations and a price list for their products. The information they sent me was invaluable for a novice painter. Their phone number is 1-404-235-4097.

I found a Co. on the internet where I purchased a 4 oz. container of what they called Canadian Blue metal flake for $12.99 and a cost of about $3.50 shipping www.paintwithpearl.com. I then went to my local auto body supply company and purchased all the supplies I would need to do a base coat clear coat process. When I left the supply company, I was $190.00 poorer.

Fortunately I own a good spray gun and air compressor, and have some experience painting cars, as it was a hobby of mine years ago; however I never used metal flake. I had no idea as to how much metal flake I should use, as the four oz. container was said to be for a gallon of paint. I wanted the density of the metal flake to be as close to factory as possible, even though the color match of the metal flake was still in question. I decided to go high-tech and use the proverbial l pinch method. Two small pinches were placed in the four ounces of clear and two ounces of hardener and spayed over the base coat twice. I then shot two more coats of straight clear to level out the metal flake. The next day I sanded the clear with 2000 wet/dry sand paper and buffed out the tank. I was very pleased with the finished product, as it puts the factory paint job to shame. The paint job did end up having about three times as many metal flakes as the factory paint, but when the sun light shines on it, WOW.

I also own a 1982 650 Maxim, which has the black/blue factory painted gas tank, which is in mint condition. The color of the metal flake from the factory and the color of the metal flake I purchased is a perfect match, in my opinion.