orangeology

question for the folks in NY NJ or Tri State area.
any recommendation for "affordable and relatively good quality" shop for having a frame painted?
this is for a daily rider, not a museum quality restoration.
just someone 'know' of painting bike frame, and does reliable and durable job, i mean.

single color minded plan. options open for both traditional paint work and powder coat.
(let us please not going debate what's better in this thread, tho)

checked with a couple shops in the city, all quoted well above $300 for single color job not even including extra clear coat.
thought there could be better options, no?

with no good results of searching, i am about drive up to Union City or Rt. 1&9 and have it done at those cheap auto-body shops.
if it goes wrong, i can simply strip it out again. why not? maybe worth TOFTT experience.

thanks for your inputs in advance!

Citoyen du Monde

I have had good results from the Color Factory in Waretown NJ. More than acceptable quality at an affordable price. Give Bruce a call: 609-242-0665. I never spent $200 with Bruce, even when there were multiple colors and clear coat.

puchfinnland

go to your local Body shop and ask-
they are pros, they paint every day.

200 bucks no more will get you a stunning paint job, if you strip it bare metal

Citoyen du Monde

I have seen more disastrous paint jobs from body shops than from anywhere else. The reason is that painting a flat surface requires a completely different motion than what you do when you paint small tubes. To be a good body shop painter, you need long even arm-length strokes, to be a good bike painter, you need short wrist motions. A skilled body shop painter should be able to do a good job, but truth is that few have the patience to do it well.

gomango

Agreed.

At the $200 price point you mentioned, it seems like an easy solution to just make the call.

@op Give them a call and don't forget to post results when they finish the work for you.

orangeology

thanks for all inputs.
will definitely call Color Factory, a bit far from where i live but why not?
(a minor concern is that it's one of the towns struck hard by Sandy.)

will definitely share/post the result whatever i end up with.
in search mode for a while, tho.
thanks

Citoyen du Monde

I live about an hour's drive away from Bruce but still ship by UPS (less than $15 in shipping each way). I forgot to factor in Sandy, but if it has been hit, this is all the more reason to put a bit of money into the local economy... A call will clear up whether he is taking on more work.

orangeology

making total sense. thanks!

Velognome 

+1 for local NJ, Good for basic paint. If your going to ship it, I'd consider Franklin Frames in Ohio. Jack does some fantastic work for a reasonable price.

jettore

Since you say it's a daily rider you might want to powder coat especially if you are using it for errands and locking it to bike racks. It will withstand daily abuse better.

Velognome 

Violation of OP's request

Your penance shall be great....what kinda good stuff can you offer up for forgiveness...Campy parts, Nitto bars? PM for shipping details

orangeology

@jettore
thanks for the advice. while i am still open for powder coat options—i do have some powder coated outdoor metal furniture, being amazed by it's durability in fact—i also still fancy the shiny glossy bike paint.

@Velognome
thanks for policing the thread.
when you get the penance from him, don't forget my portion please. ha

@CdM
i've called Bruce at Color Factory. the estimated pricing sounded better than good—well below 200 even including return shipping.
he's sending me some emails with photos and 'packet' sheet through snail mail. sounded very nice guy.
pending what i am gonna see in the emai and mail, i am attempted doing it.

definitely will share the progress and the result here when made.
thanks!

Velognome 

Amen brother! All ye Cycle heathens repent for the winter draws near. Offer your sacrifice, your unspotted chrome or if thou has not, then an unblemished pannier or two tires shall be thy gift.

jettore

Violation of the OP's requests and Penance? I'm gonna have to file a countersuit for defaming my message board name with these false allegations. According the the OP, he said no debating. Now we all know that powder coating is more durable then paint. Now other aspects can be debated but that's for another thread obviously.

I'll expect a full retraction on the front page of tomorrows newspaper.

jettore

That's a great price. Can you please post pics when you get it back?

robertorolfo

Hey everyone, sorry for bringing an 11 year old thread back to life, but I thought it was better than starting a new one.

So, all these years later, who are local people turning to for frame painting in the NY metro area? I have a Rossin Max frame that someone painted at home with a spray can. I'm looking to have it stripped (carefully) and repainted. Nothing fancy, as I plan on riding the finished product, so just a fairly simple, competent job.

1989Pre 

Another vote for Bruce Risely @ Color Factory. He did the blue bike for me 3 years ago, and the yellow one 20 years ago.

mhespenheide 

If you get up to Hartford CT, I've heard a good recommendation for Plas-Tec Coatings for powdercoat. But I didn't use them personally before moving out of the area.

Charles Wahl

I can recommend Chelsea Bicycles of NJ, in Union City (586 32nd St) near the Lincoln Tunnel, without reservation. They used to have a store in Manhattan (Chelsea, 26th St) until they lost their lease due to a building in danger of structural failure; but even then they had the store in NJ. Rafael Vazquez is the proprietor and bike surgeon/painter. He works in "poliuretano" as he says (automotive urethane for us gringos), not powder coat, at least on the 3 frames he's painted for me:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/131757...57627515256413
https://www.flickr.com/photos/131757...57621302206676
https://www.flickr.com/photos/131757...57618662892487
Hmm -- from consulting the current website, it looks like they may have reopened the Chelsea store again (130 W 26th St, 646 230 7715) -- if you're in Queens, that would be closer. I'll have to drop by and see if that's true, so I can give them some more work!

robertorolfo

Thanks for this tip. I've googled a bit and there are some other favorable quotes on some other forums, and his prices were certainly good 10-15 years ago (have no idea what they would be now). He's a little far away, but I'll keep it in mind.

Very nice pics. If they are indeed open again in Chelsea, that would be super convenient for me. I can just schlep the frame into work with me one day and drop it off... I'm going to reach out for a quote.

ascherer 

Please let us know, I didn't know they were (potentially) back and might be interested in having a frame done as well. Thanks!

Catnap 

In NYC, many folks have recommended Arcane Moto. I haven't worked with them personally but they come highly recommended. In Ridgewood Queens / Bushwick area I have had good results at The Powder Touch. They will strip the frame and do a 1-color powder coat for $200. A few years ago, Horse Cycles in Brooklyn blasted and powder coated a frame for me, I think it was $200 or so, and did a good job. Outside of NYC, I've had great results with the folks at Groody Bros in Kansas.

greg3rd48 

I’ve used Arcane twice and had excellent experiences.

robertorolfo

Will do. I was just out of town for a wedding, and sent an inquiry using the form on their website before I left, and they didn't reply. I'm going to give them a call today or tomorrow.

Thanks for the interesting recommendations. I'll look into it.

I'm a little worried about the stripping/blasting work more than anything. Some of the steel on these frames is incredibly thin, and I know that some of the more aggressive methods of paint removal can be detrimental.

Are they just doing powder coating, or more traditional paint work as well?

greg3rd48 

Just powder coating as far as I know...