Have you ever painted your bike ?
#1
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Have you ever painted your bike ?
I kinda have some form of obsessive compulsive but it's only with keeping my things clean and looking like new. My bike -just got it a couple of weeks back, used- looks mostly like brand new with the exception of the top tube and a couple other places where there are scratches and it just bugs me to the point where I feel it's affecting my ride, lol. Well, I know it's not affecting my ride but mentally it's bothering me and I cannot stop thinking about it. So, I'm thinking about painting the areas where the scratches are but I'm worried about the results. I know the proper way of painting (sanding, priming, color, clear, wet sanding, rubbing compound, waxing) but I'm still worried about messing things up or paint chipping later since I'm sure factories have a different process of painting. The color of the bike is something like dark charcoal and it's not glossy.
Has anyone tried painting their bike with good results ?
Has anyone tried painting their bike with good results ?
#2
Senior Member
There has been a number of threads the past few months on this, a lot of helpful ideas in them.
#3
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I have done many in the past. Many with good results. But it's a lot of work, and I wouldn't expect your first job to turn out great. Get a junk bike frame and practice. Or, if you really like your latest bike, find a local shop that can powder coat it. It'll be a much tougher finish than any paint job you do yourself and look great.
EDIT: ^^^Rattle can Chevy engine enamel. Sandblasted frame, primer, wet sanding, top coat, wet sanding, buffing and polishing. Most who see it in person can not believe it's rattle can paint. I've likely painted 8-10 bikes prior to this one.
EDIT: ^^^Rattle can Chevy engine enamel. Sandblasted frame, primer, wet sanding, top coat, wet sanding, buffing and polishing. Most who see it in person can not believe it's rattle can paint. I've likely painted 8-10 bikes prior to this one.
Last edited by AlmostTrick; 05-15-19 at 09:09 AM.
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#4
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I would call this result good. I had to strip, did a little brazing and paint. I have about 100 hours of work into the frame including home-making most of the decals and painting, If you include collecting, cleaning, rebuilding other parts and rebuilding the bike there would be over 200 hours, I made plenty of mistakes along the way, but I would call it good enough. I have plans to repaint next winter.
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I kinda have some form of obsessive compulsive but it's only with keeping my things clean and looking like new. My bike -just got it a couple of weeks back, used- looks mostly like brand new with the exception of the top tube and a couple other places where there are scratches and it just bugs me to the point where I feel it's affecting my ride, lol. Well, I know it's not affecting my ride but mentally it's bothering me and I cannot stop thinking about it. So, I'm thinking about painting the areas where the scratches are but I'm worried about the results. I know the proper way of painting (sanding, priming, color, clear, wet sanding, rubbing compound, waxing) but I'm still worried about messing things up or paint chipping later since I'm sure factories have a different process of painting. The color of the bike is something like dark charcoal and it's not glossy.
Has anyone tried painting their bike with good results ?
Has anyone tried painting their bike with good results ?
Someone suggested a "practice frame", I think that's a very good idea, because you will be amazed at how long such a simple job can take, and how poor the results are despite your best efforts. Look at the post above. 200 hours invested, and he's still gonna need to redo it.
#6
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Final touches done
I would agree with the powder coating. Locally, I can get my frame powder coated for $100 with the shop using powder already on hand, and a one stage coating. I recently had a frame done with two stage and special order powder at the cost of $180. It is very durable, takes a good bit to chip/scratch it. I could have spent a lot of time and effort, probably half as much on paint, and the bike woule not have come out anywhere near as nice. The coating also filled some dents and scratches. I did strip the frame myself. Ask the powder coating person about that.
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#7
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It depends on how involved that you want to get.
We repainted a 10 speed for my son many years back.
I am having a custom tandem made for my wife and myself. The color has to be a certain one that is not made by powder coat companies. So....
We repainted a 10 speed for my son many years back.
- Stripped it to bare metal.
- Painted with primer.
- Painted it white.
- Painted it with day glow yellow.
- Painted it with a clear gloss.
I am having a custom tandem made for my wife and myself. The color has to be a certain one that is not made by powder coat companies. So....
- Prime it with bare metal epoxy primer.
- Lightly sand and scuff the primer.
- There is a 10 minute flash time between each coat of paint
- 2 coats single stage urethane automotive paint in the desired color.
- 1 coat 50% single stage color urethane with 50% urethane clear coat. <- not really necessary but it gives a deeper finish.
- 2 coat surethane clear coat.
#9
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With the exception of powder coating, I have never seen a repainted bike with anywhere near the quality or durability of finish found on even the cheapest of bikes. Sometimes they look halfway decent when the paint is fresh, but it starts to chip quickly and looks like junk after a very short time.
#10
Non omnino gravis
Would I consider powdercoat? Absolutely. But in my case, I wanted to paint the bike, so I did. I think all the materials (including stripper and cleaning supplies) ran about 80 bucks.
Factory paint, had the bike about 8 months.
Freshly Duracoated, disassembly, stripping factory paint, coating, reassembling all in same day.
About a year and 12,500 miles later. Many component changes, finish still excellent.
Factory paint, had the bike about 8 months.
Freshly Duracoated, disassembly, stripping factory paint, coating, reassembling all in same day.
About a year and 12,500 miles later. Many component changes, finish still excellent.
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#11
Senior Member
This winter I painted my MTB and my gravel bike with rattle cans.. 98% prep and 2% actual painting. Color changing paint in the front, and change to gloss black in the back, flat black fork. It has been holding up well and I am not "easy" on my bikes or where they sit or lean. Looks better in the sun. Just noticed in my second pic I am in big/big ring (50-36). Something else no one else would do along with paint their own bike . Props to the Deore!
Last edited by u235; 05-15-19 at 09:21 PM.
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Looks great, Your situation is one where it would make sense to DIY. Something different or custom, that would cost a fortune to have someone else do for you, can be done pretty easily, with your own talent being the only limiting factor.
On the other hand, it's not a great feeling to bust your butt on a simple single color bike paint job for a month or more, only to have the final result look not even as good as what you'd see on a bike that sells at Walmart for $100.
On the other hand, it's not a great feeling to bust your butt on a simple single color bike paint job for a month or more, only to have the final result look not even as good as what you'd see on a bike that sells at Walmart for $100.
#13
Interocitor Command
And that is exactly why I haven't bothered to paint any of mine. I'm afraid I would just make them worse as I have zero experience in this department.
#14
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1982 Bianchi Champione del Mondo Before
After
If your obsessive compulsive, have a professional do it, I doubt you’ll be satisfied with the results otherwise.
I am, I did, and very happy with the results.
Tim
Last edited by tkamd73; 05-15-19 at 12:09 PM.
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#15
Cycleway town
Factory paint is hard stuff, and ages like a fine wine.
Brush or rattle-can paint isn't, and doesn't. It's shyte.
It's okay for tidying something up on the cheap, but you'll only ever ruin a perfectly good factory paint job with it once.
I chopped up and shortened a tandem for my current whip. I used etch primer and industrial Hard Hat paint by Rustoleum, but naturally it's proving a temporary cover. I figure I can enjoy a change of colour now and then, at least...
Brush or rattle-can paint isn't, and doesn't. It's shyte.
It's okay for tidying something up on the cheap, but you'll only ever ruin a perfectly good factory paint job with it once.
I chopped up and shortened a tandem for my current whip. I used etch primer and industrial Hard Hat paint by Rustoleum, but naturally it's proving a temporary cover. I figure I can enjoy a change of colour now and then, at least...
#16
Cycleway town
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Cerakote is the future of bike frame coloring. Just sayin'.
#20
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#21
Cycleway town
#23
Senior Member
Factory paint is hard stuff, and ages like a fine wine.
Brush or rattle-can paint isn't, and doesn't. It's shyte.
It's okay for tidying something up on the cheap, but you'll only ever ruin a perfectly good factory paint job with it once.
I chopped up and shortened a tandem for my current whip. I used etch primer and industrial Hard Hat paint by Rustoleum, but naturally it's proving a temporary cover. I figure I can enjoy a change of colour now and then, at least...
Brush or rattle-can paint isn't, and doesn't. It's shyte.
It's okay for tidying something up on the cheap, but you'll only ever ruin a perfectly good factory paint job with it once.
I chopped up and shortened a tandem for my current whip. I used etch primer and industrial Hard Hat paint by Rustoleum, but naturally it's proving a temporary cover. I figure I can enjoy a change of colour now and then, at least...
Last edited by u235; 05-15-19 at 01:46 PM.
#24
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Back in the day I painted a lot of bikes. Rattle can paint jobs are mostly a product of your effort. Put in little effort and get a less than optimal result. Put in a lot of effort with focus on quality prep and prime and you’ll enjoy a paint job that rivals anything a shop can produce. Unfortunately, rattle can paint isn’t very durable or chip resistant, so a lot of effort is spent for a short lived result.
These days I prefer powder coating. There’s really nothing that matches the durability of a quality powder coat. That, and the fact that I can simply drop it off and pick it up all shiny and new.
-Kedosto
These days I prefer powder coating. There’s really nothing that matches the durability of a quality powder coat. That, and the fact that I can simply drop it off and pick it up all shiny and new.
-Kedosto
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#25
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I know nothing about the results, but I saw this paint at one of my local bike shops.
https://spraybike.us/
https://spraybike.us/