Brush painting tired Marin Pine Mountain frame.

This is my 1990 pine mountain, which I've owned from new:



As you can see in the pictures below, the frame was very scruffy, covered in chips and scratches:















I wanted to smarten it up a bit, but also cover all the bare metal and scratches so that it doesn't rot away. I'm going to be using the bike as my "commuter/shopper", so I didn't want to spend too much and I didn't want it to look too flashy and attract the attention of thieves when I have to leave it locked up unattended.

I opted for a mid "battleship" grey colour, actually RAL 7005 Mouse Grey brush on paint. There wasn't a great selection of metal paints available locally at B&Q, Wickes etc. and I've never been overly impressed with Hammerite, so I tried some Rustoleum Combicolour: http://www.rust-oleum.eu/cms/publish/co ... pageid=772. I found some positive review on-line and people had managed to get some good results with brush or roller.

Here's my result:











I sanded down the frame and wire brushed some of the awkward bits. I then thinned the paint and applied three coats, flatting down with 1200 grade wet and dry between coats having left the frame and forks on a radiator for 3 or 4 days to harden after each coat. I finally left the frame and forks for two weeks to harden before buffing with some T-Cut and then applying some wax polish.

Over all, I'm quite pleased with the result, it's not spray-paint smooth, but not bad. Only time will tell how durable the finish is, but I'll apply some helicopter tape to help protect it from knocks, so we'll see.

good job I would say! I have an old steel frame Marin that I plan on doing the same with. not sure it will end up quite that good....

I think a lot comes down to the quality of the paint and the Rustoleum stuff seems pretty good. It's a shame they don't sell it in smaller quantities though, I reckon I only used about 200ml and have over 750ml left. I'm now looking around wondering what else I can paint battleship grey.

Good job

Looks like you've done a top job there , well done . May consider doing the same thing myself .
What's helicopter tape though ? And how much did you have to thin the paint down ?
Mike

I thinned the paint "some", I just judged it so that it didn't run too much and was thick enough to cover, but made it a bit thinner to help reduce brush marks.

Helicopter tape is a transparent tape that they use to protect rotor blades on helicopters. I put some on the top and down tubes and I've cut out some small patches to apply in places where I might get cable rub: http://www.biketart.com/76/products/bik ... ction.aspx

That doesn't look bad at all, I just think it needs fluro orange forks and a set of decals, but then I like the look of the late 80's and early 90's Marins.

Carl.

Cheers for the info , worth keeping in mind for future projects

Mike

That looks a nice job i'd visions of thick brush strokes and magnolia emulsion paint



Magnolia :shock: Now that is a colour i have never seen a bike painted.



:? Hmmmmm

dyna-ti":259m91z1 said:

That looks a nice job i'd visions of thick brush strokes and magnolia emulsion paint



Magnolia :shock: Now that is a colour i have never seen a bike painted.



:? Hmmmmm

Click to expand...

Maybe magnolia with apple white seat and headtubes ?