Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > General Cycling Discussion
Reload this Page >

Bike Paint That Is Not Spray Paint ??

Notices
General Cycling Discussion Have a cycling related question or comment that doesn't fit in one of the other specialty forums? Drop on in and post in here! When possible, please select the forum above that most fits your post!

Bike Paint That Is Not Spray Paint ??

Old 10-17-19, 07:27 AM
  #1  
SDkid605
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: May 2018
Posts: 15
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times in 3 Posts
Bike Paint That Is Not Spray Paint ??

Is there a hand painting alternative to spray paint ??

My research has led me to Lacquer type auto paints, but is there a cheaper alternative ??
Or, will a clear Lacquer coat seal any paint that I choose ??

I am trying to paint different colors in multiple areas, so hand painting just works better, that's why.
Wife's nail polish seems to work a little, but could get expensive, and make her mad, when I steal her supply of it.

Thanks,
SDkid605

Last edited by SDkid605; 11-13-19 at 10:31 AM.
SDkid605 is offline  
Old 10-17-19, 07:38 AM
  #2  
Lemond1985
Sophomore Member
 
Lemond1985's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2019
Posts: 2,690
Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1628 Post(s)
Liked 1,057 Times in 631 Posts
Some people have had good luck with using boat paint, since it's designed to resist intense sunlight, salt water, wind, rain, etc. I have not tried it myself yet, but see no reason why it would not produce excellent results. There seems to be Decent color selection too, though I'm sure you could pretty easily mix your own custom colors as well:

https://www.overtons.com/brightside-...rt-300452.html

Description: "A hard, high-gloss, one-part polyurethane topside finish. Excellent application characteristics yield that "sprayed-on" look when brush-applied in thin coats. Ideal for use anywhere above the true waterline. Fluro micro-additive for easy cleaning, resistance to staining, and added abrasion resistance. Use with thinner 333. Quart."
Lemond1985 is offline  
Old 10-17-19, 07:53 AM
  #3  
tagaproject6
Senior Member
 
tagaproject6's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 8,550

Bikes: Wilier Izoard XP (Record);Cinelli Xperience (Force);Specialized Allez (Rival);Bianchi Via Nirone 7 (Centaur); Colnago AC-R Disc;Colnago V1r Limited Edition;De Rosa King 3 Limited(Force 22);DeRosa Merak(Red):Pinarello Dogma 65.1 Hydro(Di2)

Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 551 Post(s)
Liked 276 Times in 144 Posts
Pegoretti bikes are hand painted.
tagaproject6 is offline  
Old 10-17-19, 10:15 AM
  #4  
Ogsarg
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Hollister, CA (not the surf town)
Posts: 1,724

Bikes: 2019 Specialized Roubaix Comp Di2, 2009 Roubaix, early 90's Giant Iguana

Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 636 Post(s)
Liked 1,490 Times in 543 Posts
I've seen a few posts on here where bikes were hand painted with a thinned out rustoleum. The results were very impressive. Do a search and you should find details.
Ogsarg is offline  
Old 10-17-19, 10:28 AM
  #5  
TiHabanero
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 4,435
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1726 Post(s)
Liked 1,350 Times in 705 Posts
Painted a bike this spring with Rustoleum in a can. Brushed on without thinning it first. Lays nicely, but if it had been thinned first it would look much better close up. Very durable paint, much better than rattle can. Not sure if thinning it affects durability. Sells for about 9 bucks a pint. Color choice is limited, so you will need to mix to suite.

Edit: I should add this little diddy. A friend of mine went to Hobby Lobby every day for a month, sometimes twice or more in one day, and purchased Testors paint in the 1/4 oz bottles. Used the 40% off coupon each time.
Poured them into a cup to get a half pint total. A little nutty, but the color was what she needed and the quantity had to be enough to do the job. If you only need a few oz of a few colors, this may be a way to do it on the cheap.

Last edited by TiHabanero; 10-17-19 at 10:35 AM.
TiHabanero is offline  
Old 10-17-19, 10:56 AM
  #6  
BlazingPedals
Senior Member
 
BlazingPedals's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Middle of da Mitten
Posts: 12,474

Bikes: Trek 7500, RANS V-Rex, Optima Baron, Velokraft NoCom, M-5 Carbon Highracer, Catrike Speed

Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1511 Post(s)
Liked 733 Times in 454 Posts
Auto body shops buy paint by the quart or gallon and use fancy spray guns. The good paint is not cheap and you have to track down a paint store to supply it. You can buy aerosol sprayers to use with your liquid paint; they're cheaper than buying a compressor and spray equipment. Brushing it on is not likely to produce good results, unless you're painting a house.

BlazingPedals is offline  
Old 10-17-19, 11:04 AM
  #7  
SK 99
Junior Member
 
SK 99's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: Hilliard, OH
Posts: 6
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
You could always try tractor paint as a cheap alternative (cheap compared to automotive paint) that should hold up well. Harbor Freight sprayers are cheap too. Or, simply take your time with rattle can spray paint and wetsand as needed.
SK 99 is offline  
Old 10-17-19, 11:07 AM
  #8  
79pmooney
Senior Member
 
79pmooney's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 12,830

Bikes: (2) ti TiCycles, 2007 w/ triple and 2011 fixed, 1979 Peter Mooney, ~1983 Trek 420 now fixed and ~1973 Raleigh Carlton Competition gravel grinder

Mentioned: 128 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4746 Post(s)
Liked 3,861 Times in 2,510 Posts
I used to paint my winter bikes with 2-part epoxy and a brush. 2 coats. End result was like a thick powder coat. The epoxy flows almost like magic part way into setting up and brush marks disappear. (Just don't even think about correcting any remaining imperfectionas at that point. You will make a huge mess of your paint job!) Made for a very durable paint. Perfect for steel frames in winter salted roads country as commuter that didn't get washed. (No outside faucets turned on and I was not welcome and the dirt that came inside with the bike was expected to leave with it.)

Ben
79pmooney is offline  
Old 10-17-19, 11:15 AM
  #9  
Clem von Jones
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 660
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 151 Post(s)
Liked 23 Times in 16 Posts
For steel frames there's a product called POR15 available on Amazon.com. A pint of that is more than enough. There are YouTube videos demonstrating its virtues. The frame has to be stripped of paint first and etched with phosphoric acid, aka "naval jelly". This stuff looks like it might be better than automotive two part epoxy but I haven't tried it.

Last edited by Clem von Jones; 10-17-19 at 11:20 AM.
Clem von Jones is offline  
Old 10-17-19, 01:09 PM
  #10  
SlowJoeCrow
Full Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Central Oregon
Posts: 457

Bikes: Redline Conquest Pro, Kona Cinder Cone, Trek Fuel EX8(RIP) Pivot Mach 5 frankenbike

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 15 Post(s)
Liked 10 Times in 9 Posts
There are several kinds of enamel paint you can apply with a brush. Car restorers often brush paint when they don't have spray booths. It's worth looking at Eastwood or visiting an automotive paint supplier. Sign paint is another brushable enamel.
SlowJoeCrow is offline  
Old 10-17-19, 01:17 PM
  #11  
Litespud
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Chapel Hill NC
Posts: 1,683

Bikes: 2000 Litespeed Vortex Chorus 10, 1995 DeBernardi Cromor S/S

Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 645 Post(s)
Liked 797 Times in 446 Posts
Originally Posted by Clem von Jones
For steel frames there's a product called POR15 available on Amazon.com. A pint of that is more than enough. There are YouTube videos demonstrating its virtues. The frame has to be stripped of paint first and etched with phosphoric acid, aka "naval jelly". This stuff looks like it might be better than automotive two part epoxy but I haven't tried it.
POR15 is a great rust encapsulator and inhibitor, and tough as nails. I used it extensively when I was rehabbing an old Triumph TR6. The downside is that colors are limited (black and silver only, AFAIK) and it is UV-sensitive. The manufacturer recommends that you give it a top coat with regular paint in direct sunlight applications (A bike would qualify, I think). In which case, why not just use primer and regular paint? I used it on the undercarriage of the TR, so the UV-sensitivity wasn't an issue. POR15 is also a PITA to work with - almost impossible to get off your skin - you'll have to let it wear off eventually - kiss any paintbrush goodbye after use, and if you get any around the rime of the paint can, it'll seal the can permanently - you need to carefully decant a working amount into a disposable container
Litespud is offline  
Old 10-17-19, 01:17 PM
  #12  
TiHabanero
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 4,435
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1726 Post(s)
Liked 1,350 Times in 705 Posts
Por 15 is a good product, however if it is not done perfectly, it does not work as it is intended. I have used it successfully, and unsuccessfully. I'd rather paint it with a brush and do the touch up.
TiHabanero is offline  
Old 10-17-19, 04:37 PM
  #13  
Jicafold
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,084
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 360 Post(s)
Liked 128 Times in 88 Posts
Originally Posted by TiHabanero
Por 15 is a good product, however if it is not done perfectly, it does not work as it is intended. I have used it successfully, and unsuccessfully. I'd rather paint it with a brush and do the touch up.
Unfortunately POR15 is not immune to UV rays. It's only intended for use on cars where it will not see daylight.
Jicafold is offline  

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.