Honda-SOHC

SOHC.co.uk Forums => CB500/550 => Topic started by: Alexgill2001 on November 11, 2025, 08:43:17 PM

Title: How to paint the letters on light and kill switch control
Post by: Alexgill2001 on November 11, 2025, 08:43:17 PM

Evening all, I have wanted to recolour the red writing on the right hand light and kill switch control. Initially I used acrylic paint and a cotton bud to fill the embossed letters, however when I went to wipe the surface it removed the black paint!! Argh!! 

I then took it all back to bare metal, primed it and then sprayed it black (oil based paint). Used the red acrylic again and it again reacted and removed the black as above (I didn't realised oil and acrylic didn't mix!).

Starred again, bought red from the same company as the black paint (oil based) and yet again after wiping away it removed the black!!

Any one have any tips and/or what paint to use for both the black and red that won't react?

Thanks!

Title: Re: How to paint the letters on light and kill switch control
Post by: McCabe-Thiele (Ted) on November 11, 2025, 10:37:11 PM

Had the paint fully hardened?

Title: Re: How to paint the letters on light and kill switch control
Post by: Oddjob on November 11, 2025, 10:43:40 PM

I got mine ceramic coated in satin black. Filled the letters etc with red paint and wiped off excess. It seems to be impervious to thinners and brake fluid. Cost me £5 a half casing at the time. Probably £10 now.

Title: Re: How to paint the letters on light and kill switch control
Post by: AshimotoK0 on November 11, 2025, 10:46:40 PM

Paint with PJ1 satin black. Bake at 150 deg C then paint with Humbrol enamel.

Title: Re: How to paint the letters on light and kill switch control
Post by: Alexgill2001 on November 12, 2025, 06:51:26 AM

Thank you for the advice so far, looks like I'll have to take it off/apart to get it in the oven! Can I ask, is there any advice to take it apart? Do I have to cut some cables?

Currently I've managed to tape up and cover the whole bike to avoid over spray!

Title: Re: How to paint the letters on light and kill switch control
Post by: neat street on November 12, 2025, 09:17:19 AM

No cable cutting required, but do take some pictures when taking apart, suprising how quick you forget. easy enough but fiddly.

Title: Re: How to paint the letters on light and kill switch control
Post by: Oddjob on November 12, 2025, 09:41:51 AM

The kill switch needs to be desolded to remove it but the rest is straightforward.

Title: Re: How to paint the letters on light and kill switch control
Post by: JezzaPeach on November 12, 2025, 10:54:24 AM

Not sure but just wondering if one of those paint pens with the very small metal tip might help.

Title: Re: How to paint the letters on light and kill switch control
Post by: neat street on November 12, 2025, 10:56:54 AM

No, tried and failed, the `paint` is not heavy enough to do the job, I used humbrel enamel model paint.

Title: Re: How to paint the letters on light and kill switch control
Post by: Spitfire on November 13, 2025, 09:59:02 AM

I also used Humbrol enamel model paint on my switchgear, Humbrol 21 Gloss black on the switches and Humbrol 19 Gloss red, these come in 14 ml tinlets.
I took the switches off the bike and put them on a pair of handle bars and used my airbrush for the Black.
Once the black was fully dry a couple of days later the red was painted with a brush, excesss was wiped off with a cotton bud.
Note that some people say that the latters should be orange in which case it would be Humbrol 18 Gloss orange.
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/img922/8727/vl4liM.jpg)