Advice please - respraying my frame

orange71

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