dweenk

I am currently rehabbing a Nishiki Sport mixte. I have done the due diligence on bearings, cleaned it up, replaced the drops with upright bars, and added new brake and shifter cables.

The bike screams for fenders and a rack. I have a Pletscher rear rack that will work, but the fenders on hand are black. The bike is a dark burgundy with silver highlights, so I thought the fenders should be silver as well.

I have used Testors spray paint as a kid, and have seen plastic spray paint at Lowe's and Home Depot. I figure this is a one shot deal, so I don't want to screw it up. I plan to leave the underside of the fenders black, so I am olny painting the tops.

Suggestions?

Chombi1 

IIRC, Rustoleum has a line of spray can paints made for plastic. Supposed to work well on things like plastic outdoor patio furniture.
Not sure what color choices they have for the paint, but surely all primary colors are covered.

Hudson308 

You can use almost anything except latex or lacquer paint on plastic. The latex won't stick, and the lacquer can attack the plastic. If the rattle can label doesn't specify if it's lacquer or enamel, then look on the warning label for keytones. Stay away from paints with those.

Surface prep is at least as important as what paint you use. Wipe the parts down with mineral spirits, then rubbing alcohol. Now sand them with 800 grit wet-or-dry paper, then repeat with the mineral spirits then alcohol. The paper will work better if soaked in warm water with a bit of Dawn dish soap added.

Now follow the directions on the rattle can for application.

Lascauxcaveman 

In spades. Obviously, the hard surface should be cleaned, Then scuff-sanded (anywhere from 400 to 800 grit) to give a fine texture for the paint to adhere to. I've had good luck with Rustoleum Vinyl and plastic paint, but I'm not sure it comes in silver. I'd paint those fenders a shade that matches or complements the frame. Silver is grey and grey is boring. Chrome is nice, but there are no 'chrome' paints that are any good.

rhm

Also, there are silver colored plastic fenders that you can buy. Nashbar sometimes has Zefal Paragon fenders in silver for $25 and they're pretty good.

Aluminum fenders are also quite nice.

top506

Planet Bike Cascadias can be had in silver.

Top

pesty

+1 for the Rustoleum plastic specific paints.

I've used it to re-paint some electric ride-on firetrucks for my kids that had become horribly sun-bleached. Some 1/2 decent prep to clean up the surface and it turns out pretty well. Also holds up fairly well to normal use.

dweenk

OK, the consensus seems to favor Rustoleum plastic paint. I am not buying fenders, since I have a pair of black Esge fenders that a neighbor gave me, and I will most likely sell the bike in the spring.

I'll start shopping now. Thanks all.