Paint Tip

I found an easy way to mask up a curved edge, mask up close with tape then with an artist brush 'paint' on clear silicone (try to get a thick coat on)
when dry just peel it off. Pic' shows a section of rotor I did as a spearmint.

 

Oil works too, or grease and is easier to remove when the paint dries.

 

ya, when we paint semi rims, we spear this nasty grease on the tires and power wash it off

 

Yeh, when painting brake rotors I didn't think oil or grease was such a good idea.

 

You have a point. I used brake cleaner to washit off, but you have to be careful of the new paint.

 

Masking tape is pretty easy to use, too........

 

Come to think of it, silicone is slippery as hell too! Not good to use on brake discs.

 

not silicone grease, silicone sealer, it sets, then when you pull it off it leaves no residue.

 

It won't go round tight corners

 

paint the whole thing it'll ware right off, the first ride

 

I disagree about the silicone sealer. Put some on a screw driver handle, let it set, then take it off. Now try to turn a screw with it - it'll feel like you sprayed silicone on it. It leaves a residue behind that's very slippery. I wouldn't get it close to any brake discs or pads.
Also, silicone is the worst enemy of paint. Ask anyone who owns a body shop, that paints cars, etc. Once it gets in the air, it'll screw up a good paint job but good.

 

I'd worry about paint sticking to my brake if I painted the whole rotor. I use masking tape then cut it with some 220 sandpaper on the sharp inner edge. Sand the edge and the unwanted tape will peel right off. A razor blade will also work.

 

ya, if you lay down the masking tape right, have a sharp blade and steady hand, you can do wonders, painting my cb750 engines i got progressively better as i found points to rest my hand and such

 

Use bacon grease- - bio-degradable, and cleans up better.

 

If you use fine line masking tape to go around the corners and then cover the rest with wide stuff it works great and takes no time at all. Any circle. How do you think painters do it? And their time is money.

 

Put on the brakes and the dogs will come running for the bacon !

 

Don't use Masking Tape.
Masking Tape is for Paper and Primer

When you want a Fine Line following a Curve or Bends and Angles ... Use Vinyl.

Black Electric Tape is good for Masking edges.
Lay-down the Electric Tape making the Paint Line
Then, ... Lay-on Masking Tape if need be ... putting the Masking Tape on the Vinyl making your CLEAN EDGE,

Vinyl Masking Tape is available in a wide variety of widths and colors.
Use it for Stripes
Making Flames

 

silicone sealer repels paint, that's why it makes good masking.
Polock, tell us you were only joking, before some idiot paints his rotors.

 

Fine line makes vinyl tape (16" - 1/8") for masking curves, etc. I use it for laying out flames with tight corners. It's an option for doing rotors or anything round or curvy.
Another trick when doing wheels (or brake discs in this case) is to use a bowl, pail or anything the correct size to cover the area you want to block off (they give you some funny looks when your digging thru their tupperware!)
When I painted my wheels and engine, I did everything by hand using a small brush (3/4") and thinnned the paint so there are no brush lines at all. It looks like it's been sprayed on. I've been hand painting for many years, so it's second nature for me. It's not hard with a steady hand.

 

i agree with you wouldnt get to fancy .when ever i paint rotor centers take a peice of sandpaper give it a quick block sand it comes right off. I used to run a machine shop and was taught after turning a rotor you take a peice of sandpaper while its still on the machine and turning sand it lightly so it breaks the very fine line that the arbor leaves and the pads will seat a little better. but what ever works