Need advice on how to improve paint job.

[kerryn]

Hi, I have a 1995 Boulder Starship that has a nice deep metallic blue paint job. I am currently overhauling this bike, and I am wondering on some tips for improving the finish of the paint job without a total repaint.

On the whole the paint looks nice but there are some places that have lost its gloss where things like a zip tie has been. I find that when I use a cleaner on the paint and it is still "wet" it absolutely shines and looks beautiful so the underlying paint is fine. It is the lacquer that is dull.

I there a way to get the shine back on these dull areas through polishing and buffing alone, or is the only option to remove the wax, rub down the old lacquer and apply new lacquer?

Any thoughts greatly appreciated.

 

[jimihendrix]

Have you looked into the products used for restoring car paint ?, there is products in the UK called T-cut and also G3 (dont know if these are available in the US ?) but there will be similar products, any cutting compound from an auto accessory place should work, once thats used polish the paint with car wax.

This should work but if the finish is really bad rubbing down the top coat of laquer and re-laquering the paint may be an option.

 

[Easy_Rider]

I doubt you could rub down the laquer without damaging the paint.

Best bet is to use a cutting compound or if it's really bad then some 1500grit wet and dry sandpaper (use it wet) and then polish it up. Be careful though, the laquer won't be very thick and you could easily go through.

Or you could key up the whole frame and re-laquer it.

 

[kerryn]

Thank you for the replies. I am familiar with T-Cut as I'm originally from the UK. I will first try to find a good cutting compound over here and try that approach.

I have some spots on the frame were there are scratches that go through the paint. I was thinking after cutting the finish, using a tinted scratch repairer before waxing and buffing again.

At the end of the day, I am only trying to improve what I have, as the frame in other locations (chain rings, rear triangle) have areas that are down to the Aluminum due to chain suck and mud. So I am not going to the total restoration look here. Perhaps in a couple of years I may try it...

Easy_rider, what do yo mean by key up the whole frame?

 

[Easy_Rider]

If you wanted to repaint/laquer the frame then you need to "key" the surface first so the new paint/laquer can adhere. Essentially lightly scratching the frame, usually done with a pad that looks like (and most likely is) a scotch pad.

 

[kerryn]

Thank you. I thought this might be what you were referring to but I wasn't 100%.

 

[kerryn]

I need some more advice.

I actually had some time this weekend and I started working on my paint using a rubbing compound. It is removing the top coat scratches (like from zip ties) but obviously it does not help the deep flaws. Right now, I have lost the majority of what was left of the gloss on the top coat, but when I wet it up and get deep shine so the paint is still good underneath.

I have a bit more rubbing to do, but obviously can not take it too deep or I'll lose all paint protection.

My question is on the next step.

To get from the deglossed finished back to a "wet look" I figure I need to apply a glaze, polish (or polish then glaze) and then wax. But looking at the auto products out there, most polishes and glazes seemed to be aimed at orbital machine applications. I''m thinking this won't work so well for a bike frame, so I am wondering if anyone has any recommendations for hand applied finishes and also the right order for applying them?

 

[dyna-ti]

Watch the 'karate kid'

Wax on

Wax off

 

[kerryn]

Can I hire the Karate Kid?

Actually I think I have worked it out now. See my Post on my bike thread.

The trouble I was facing was that I was looking at products like Mothers and Meguair's which are too high brow for a humble mountain bike. So I found some TurtleWax in our local home store that seems to be doing the trick.

K.