Best Value for money Frame Painters?

I've got a steel frame/fork/stem/handlebar in need of new paint <light metallic blue is my prefered option>

can anyone recommend any frame builder/ specialist frame painters? I'm not looking for the cheapest, just the best value for money. I've seen friends bikes with argos paint & the finish was pretty good, but the paint chipped pretty easily. its going to be a light use rider so fairly durable paint required. Its fairly rare so totally trustworthy & not likely to damage or loose it would also be cool!
I would happily paint strip it myself if that'll make life easier/ potentially cheaper. If the company prefer to media blast the paint off themselves I'd vastly prefer, even insist on walnut shells rather than sand blasting as I'm not 100% on the frame integrity (maybe i'll paint strip it first just to be certain!)

actual recommendations appreciated

Bob Jackson in Leeds did a great job of mine. I have heard both good and bad about Vaz Finishes.

Sadly most wet coat paints chip easily, but it's worth going for a stove enamel rather than a flam finish, which is definitely more fragile if also even nicer.

I've used Vaz in London before. They've been going for 25 years of so and are reasonably priced.

If yu want powder, I'd use Hutchcoat in York. Great guys, mates of Gil

well you must have seen my newly greened 93 clockwork, that was bob jackson, it looks great.

i think the issue you have is getting tough paint. i think argos would be tougher coz it's powder coat but i think the finish is better from bob, my 07 clockwork has bob jackson paint and that does seem to chip relatively easily, but sometimes i think it's down to being very careful with the paint/bike generally. i never lean the bikes against walls or other bikes if i can help it and i keep them propper clean to reduce grit scuffing etc but lets face it there are always the times when you drop a spanner on the chainstay! :x i've done that before! my cougar was colortec near dartford tunnel, think chas roberts use them.

here's my examples.

Mike
If you are going down the single colour route, and want powdercoating I would recommend Triple S powdercoaters....not the cheapest but great finish.
http://tinyurl.com/5g3ahr

have to say harry, that is blinking cheap! and looks good quality, if their paint is good enough to go on cars i'd guess it's nice enough for a bike frame.

jonnyboy666":2ocqs6t8 said:

have to say harry, that is blinking cheap! and looks good quality, if their paint is good enough to go on cars i'd guess it's nice enough for a bike frame.

Click to expand...

Used them a lot when I was throwing money at restoring motorcycles...rather than bikes....you might find the final price higher than the suggested, but its worth it.

might give them a try for my aluminium O, i only want a single colour frame and fork, was gonna go to bob for it but a simple one colour probably wouldn't need their pefection!

thanks for suggestions guys

yeh single colour for the frame/fork/bar/stem

Bob Jackson's is right near me, I ll happily sort it out for you down there, just send me the frame and ill look after it. No, really. I will.