Rattle can painting a steel bike frame.......

[1997BlackC5]

I am thinking about having a go at painting my Marin Bear Valley frame gloss black & I am thinking about doing it myself. I wondered if anyone had any tips about stripping the frame Nitromorse/wet & dry etc, do you have to take it back to the bare metal or can you prime a still painted frame that has been flatted back to give a good key? Any particular paint recommendations (or do I just go to Halfords).

Your thoughts on this matter would be much appreaciated.

 

[unkleGsif]

Preperation is the key to a good paint finish, the more you do, the better the results!

You can prime a flatted topcoat, but I wouldnt recommend it, as any existing paint that is not still securely adhered to the metal (specifically thing dropouts and chainstay chips) will only flake off still, taking your new paint with it! Not what you want after all the effort

Best start from scratch, with an etch primer onto the bare metal, then filler primer over that to take out any imperfections. Rub back with a 800grit then 1000grit but without "going through" the filler primer, then top coat

Obviously this is mssively simplified, and a decent result will be had with greater time taken and repitions of stages, but you get the idea

As for products, avoid Halfords if you can, and try and find a local paint specialist such as an Autopaint International outlet (thats who I got most of my 2pack for my beetle from, until I found Paints4U.com)

Good luck
G

 

[hamster]

By the time you have bought and used all the materials, it comes in horribly close on cost to powdercoating! Auto paint also is not hard enough to resist chipping for long.

Black is typically a cheap colour to get powdercoated, as you can often piggyback on another bigger job (e.g. garden gates) in black they are spraying. It's the setup and cleaning the spray equipment that costs.

 

[spike3]

My local truk repair depot quoted £35 to spray a frame Black or white as long as i presented it paint free to them.

 

[Raging_Bulls]

I second the above comments. By the time you have all the materials, the cost will come close.
You also have to spend hours striping the old paint (very dirty and potentially unhealthy job) before you can start cleaning and painting.

And even after all that work, you'll have a paintjob that'll look rubbish after the first few rides. Unless it's properly baked, it'll peel off really quickly.

Trust me, it's easier and (if you factor in the hours you spend on it) less expensive to have it sandblasted and powdercoated by a professional.

 

[MADJEZ]

Yes a professional spray will be better but if the bike didn't cost you much and isn't going to worth much it's probably not worth it.

I've had perfectly good results with rattle can paint. Prep well, put a few coats on it'll look great. I 'bake' mine in the greenhouse for a day or two once done to give a tougher finish.

 

[Chute55uk]

powder coat ftw!

 

[Skinwhistle]

Noting wrong with spraying it yourself! But I had my Alipnestars Cro-Mega shot blasted and Powder Coated for £66 really good job too! So maybe look into that?? Just saying

 

[hamster]

I got one bike powdercoated for £20, alongside a batch of gates.

 

[1997BlackC5]

Thx for all the come backs guys very interesting, no-one has recommended nitromorse!!! I have had 2 bike powder coated before £50 each as per photos attached. it was just this bike is a mess with a nice dent in the top tube. I was just going to fix it up & didn't really want to spend too much on it (see last picture its a Marin Bear Valley 1988 I believe)......