Advice please - respraying my frame

[orange71]

I want to do this myself to keep costs down.

Last time I did this I got some primer on bare metal, then couple of layers of paint, then layer of lacquer - but it never hardened and you could pick it off with your nails.

Where did I go wrong? What can I do to ensure I get a reasonably tough finish? Is it in the quality of the paint or the preparation or as I suspect - both?

 

[barry2017]

Really, you won't be able to achieve the durability of stove enamel or powdercoating with anything else.
Are you sure no-one could do powder coating down your way?

 

[cce]

a few decent rattlecans is getting on for the cost of a powdercoat

 

[JeRkY]

If you have an oven large enough to bake the frame in between layers you can toughen it up. But even then it will still be soft.

It really is a false economy. paint stripper, primer, Paint and abraisives will set you back £25-30 easy and it will flake at the first opportunity. A cheap powder coat can be sourced for £30 ish from what I have seen banded around here and will provide a much tougher and depending how hot you are with a rattle can, better finish.

If you want good wet paint finish, then you need to pay for it. Frame only starts at around £75 from Bob jacksons (whom I would recomend) My Genesis ended up costing me around £125 inc decals.

 

[ferrus]

Didn't someone mention recently that Derwent Enamellers powder coat frame and forks for £25? !
They're based at Kingsway Park Close, Derby so are your 'local-shop-for-local-people'.

 

[PurpleFrog]

I take it from the above that the paranoia you sometimes hear about powder coating being bad for steel frames, because of the oven bit, is misplaced? I did notice at one of the main UK powedercoaters they say they can coat ally frames and "mild steel" - but is chromolly really mild steel??? http://www.windridge.co.uk/content.php/410

 

[orange71]

Problem is I want it a metallic cobalt blue and Derwent enamellers can't do this in powdercoat

 

[barry2017]

Have you phoned up Eddison's? I don't know who he uses to enamel frames, but he's quite local to you, and very helpful.

 

[orange71]

who are they?

 

[fingers]

I can wholeheartedly recommend Bob Jacksons - amazing finish and service, even on my pain in the ass 2 colour and loads of pivots RTS...

And I think you cant beat a good enamel paint finish - much prefer it to powdercoat.