PAINTING BIKES - Who's the best?
Thread started by
warrenpeace at 08.16.10 - 9:57 am
So I'm looking to paint some frames. I know very little about it. I'm sure it's something I can do myself but I would rather just pay someone else right now. Nothing too complicated. Anyone have any experiences or references they want to share? I'm sure this has been a thread before so I apologize.
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Very easy to achieve good results if you're using a rattlecan (spray paint), and not so easy if you're using a real sprayer.
Either way, you have to take it apart, clean it and sand it (unless you're an Angelope or one of their ilk). :^)
petr0lb0mb08.16.10 - 10:31 am
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Sorry, I just woke up. Now, I see that you are asking for
WHO'S the best.
Well, I think you should clarify what kind of paint job you're looking for.
Rattlecan or real paint.
petr0lb0mb08.16.10 - 10:37 am
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did you get your frames painted yet? hit me at ghostgatos@yahoo.com and I can shoot them for ya
ghostcat77 responding to a
comment by warrenpeace
09.2.10 - 9:15 pm
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Frame Prep.
To strip bike frames completely I use brush–on (not aerosol) Aircraft Stripper. With the brush on variety you can load it on, let it dry and get almost all the paint off in an hour or so. Be careful though, this stuff is EXTREMELY TOXIC!
If you only want to sand down the current paint, my favorite method is to use 180grit wet/dry sandpaper. I keep a bucket next to me and rinse off the paper when its starts to clog with old paint. The wet sanding cuts through the paint pretty quick but it still takes awhile.
I tape off all the holes and trim the excess with an exacto. I stuff a roll of newspaper in the seat tube because I’ve seen motorcycle builders do this so I feel cool. Get decent masking tape that sticks well but doesn’t pull off paint. I have found that the blue house painters tape doesn’t stick well enough for detail work but is fine for masking big areas.
If you can, wait for a warm, dry day. It will help the paint bond well.
Rustoleum Painter’s Touch primer and clear coat are my favorite. The primer dries super quick and bonds really well. The clear doesn’t yellow and doesn’t sag as much if you load it on too thick. I also really like Rusoleums American Accents paint. It comes in a ton of colors and they are almost all satin finish so each coat/layer bonds well. (No I don’t work for Rustoleum, it’s just what my hardware store had and I like it.)
I lay down two coats of primer and generally two coats of paint for each color. On my bike I used three for the base tan color.
I do a light sanding between coats of color with 600grit wet/dry paper. The paper cuts through low spots pretty quick so don’t stay in one area too long. I don’t sand when doing the detail bits.
I like to use allot of clear for extra protection. Don’t load it up in one big coat, use a couple light coats and let them dry in between.
Hope that helps ;)
Ninja biker09.2.10 - 9:34 pm
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I'll second Olympic Powdercoating - I've had two frames done there and been very happy with the results. Much tougher than paint and they do all the prep. You just bring them your bare frame and pick it up about a week later. About $90 for frame & fork.
mr rollers responding to a
comment by ruinedbyidiots
09.2.10 - 11:04 pm
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For custom shit, I can help out... I paint custom cars, bikes are easier... Haven't done much bike painting since my last Low Rider (candy midnight green, sick), but I love spraying so if u want to help prep, you buy the materials, I'll do the spraying, u just buy lunch...
MannysCarWash09.3.10 - 12:10 pm
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Paul frm ATOMIC paints siiiiiiiiiiiiick. Checkum outs.
profoscurity09.3.10 - 12:36 pm
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