Which clear coat over which spray paint?
I'm spray painting over the original paint on a very old steel frame, mainly because I can't find the color I want except in spray paint and I don't want to pay a pro yet to take a chance on a color I'm not positive about.
Are there any suggestions for which spray paint to use? Should I add a clear coat of some kind for protection? |
Most bike paint is enamel. So an enamel based primer/paint/clear most likely work. Very few lacquers were used in production. Spraying a lacquer over an enamel can be problematic so if in doubt test on a "hidden" spot. Andy
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Originally Posted by Andrew R Stewart
(Post 20825548)
Most bike paint is enamel. So an enamel based primer/paint/clear most likely work. Very few lacquers were used in production. Spraying a lacquer over an enamel can be problematic so if in doubt test on a "hidden" spot. Andy
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Originally Posted by kjaioqhbkqb
(Post 20826128)
Thanks! For some reason I thought frames were usually powder coated. In any case, enamel sounds great. Thanks again.
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Originally Posted by Andrew R Stewart
(Post 20826184)
You qualified the age of the bike to what I think would be before widespread use of PC. Andy
If it were powder coated, would that change the choice of enamel? |
Powder coating comes in any color you can imagine. Depending on what kind and level of fancy you want it runs from $100 to $500. It's the prep work & set up you are paying for. Any reputable PC'er will chemical strip/media blast, de-rust in a phosphoric acid bath, passivate, then process in whatever color you want & be done in about 1 to 2 weeks.
You end up with an essentially new frame in any color you can dream. I favor Prismatic Powders high gloss, but it comes in a variety of gloss levels, textures, candy, chrome, transluscents, etc... Painters claim paint is better coverage & rust protection. PC'ers make the same claim. Both are more durable than spray paint from the home improvement store. 1 gallon of stripper, 15 dollars 3 cans of primer, 24 dollars 3 cans of Rustoleum Enamel 24 dollars 3 cans of clear gloss 24 dollars sand paper, time, etc...no phosphoric acid derust/passivation dip My money says a single color, 1 shot powder coat will be cheaper, simpler, and more durable finish than a home job. |
Originally Posted by base2
(Post 20826310)
Powder coating comes in any color you can imagine. Depending on what kind and level of fancy you want it runs from $100 to $500. It's the prep work & set up you are paying for. Any reputable PC'er will chemical strip/media blast, de-rust in a phosphoric acid bath, passivate, then process in whatever color you want & be done in about 1 to 2 weeks.
You end up with an essentially new frame in any color you can dream. I favor Prismatic Powders high gloss, but it comes in a variety of gloss levels, textures, candy, chrome, transluscents, etc... Painters claim paint is better coverage & rust protection. PC'ers make the same claim. Both are more durable than spray paint from the home improvement store. 1 gallon of stripper, 15 dollars 3 cans of primer, 24 dollars 3 cans of Rustoleum Enamel 24 dollars 3 cans of clear gloss 24 dollars sand paper, time, etc...no phosphoric acid derust/passivation dip My money says a single color, 1 shot powder coat will be cheaper, simpler, and more durable finish than a home job. If you've done painting and familar with and understand the full prep (98% of the work), you can get a decent quality job with rattle cans. No match for a proper powder coat but can still be good. You can pick up a can, wipe of dirt and paint it to. It is up to your expectations. |
Originally Posted by u235
(Post 20826366)
If it takes 3 cans of each paint, primer and clear coat to do a bike frame you have an EXTREMELY large frame. One can can do multiple coats.
If you've done painting and familar with and understand the full prep (98% of the work), you can get a decent quality job with rattle cans. No match for a proper powder coat but can still be good. You can pick up a can, wipe of dirt and paint it to. It is up to your expectations. The whole "drop-off, pick up" aspect of powder makes labor considerations a no brainer. It would just cost too, too many more dollars in my time value alone to do a rattle-can job at home. Let alone the quality of the final product done by professionals would be head & shoulders above. Worth considering. |
Originally Posted by kjaioqhbkqb
(Post 20825418)
I'm spray painting over the original paint on a very old steel frame, mainly because I can't find the color I want except in spray paint and I don't want to pay a pro yet to take a chance on a color I'm not positive about.
Are there any suggestions for which spray paint to use? Should I add a clear coat of some kind for protection? If that is the case go to the local Do it Center Home Depot Lowes whatever and get the cheapest paint you can find, $4-5 a can. Buy 2 of each primer, paint and a clear about $30 plus some 600 or so grit wet/dry sand paper. Sand the original paint wipe it down with lacquer thinner and primer it sand the primer with wet sandpaper put on a couple of coats of primer sanding in between then spray the color do the same sand wet then the final clear no sanding. It won't be the most durable finish but assuming it is only a temp finish it will be good enough. Satisfaction of doing a job yourself --- Priceless And to add yes I have done exactly this, I wanted to see if I wanted a mat/satin finish as opposed to a glossy finish or not. |
Originally Posted by wsteve464
(Post 20827113)
Sounds like you are going to do a temporary paint job until you figure out what color you want from a pro?
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Originally Posted by wsteve464
(Post 20827113)
Sounds like you are going to do a temporary paint job until you figure out what color you want from a pro?
If that is the case go to the local Do it Center Home Depot Lowes whatever and get the cheapest paint you can find, $4-5 a can. Buy 2 of each primer, paint and a clear about $30 plus some 600 or so grit wet/dry sand paper. Sand the original paint wipe it down with lacquer thinner and primer it sand the primer with wet sandpaper put on a couple of coats of primer sanding in between then spray the color do the same sand wet then the final clear no sanding. It won't be the most durable finish but assuming it is only a temp finish it will be good enough. Satisfaction of doing a job yourself --- Priceless And to add yes I have done exactly this, I wanted to see if I wanted a mat/satin finish as opposed to a glossy finish or not. |
Originally Posted by u235
(Post 20827370)
I'll add one step in here.. Use a purpose made tack cloth ($2) just before any painting, not between coats but any time after sanding or away from it for a few hours. Chemically cleaned and lint free are musts and honestly each of those steps only takes a few minutes.. If sanding between coats I switch to super fine steel wool instead of sandpaper myself, I find I can do a more even and controlled sanding of pipes and round things like frames vs sandpaper..
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Originally Posted by kjaioqhbkqb
(Post 20827797)
Good idea; I understand what you mean. One of the reasons I inquired about a clear coat is because in testing different colors on different sections of a scrap tube I noticed that I could pretty easily scrape away the paint with my thumbnail.
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I've had great luck with Duplicolor rattlecan paint from the auto parts store. It goes on well and dries quickly. It's a laquer. I also like their self etching primer. I cover all of it with 2 part rattlecan clear from the internet. Search for 2k clearcoat. Everybody says the clear is nasty if you breathe it so use proper precautions and a good quality mask with filters. I've found the stuff to be very durable and have a nice glossy surface. As far as interactions with other types of paint, I've only tried Duplicolor applied over powdercoat and the 2k clear over Duplicolor and also over the powdercoat. In all of those cases there were no bad interactions and the clear is nice and glossy and, so far, durable. |
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