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Touch up paint for Vintage bikes ?

Old 04-01-22, 07:37 AM
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1964Supersport
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Touch up paint for Vintage bikes ?

I'm wondering if anyone has tried to find touch up paint for their Vintage bike ? At this point I don't want to repaint the whole bike instead just touch up a few places. I have always loved the color of blue my 64 Supersport is. The other day I was sitting next to a late model Camry that looked very close to my bikes color. I was thinking I could just get a tube of touch up from Toyota and use it on my bike. I know it wouldn't be perfect but it might be really close. Anyone else come up with another way. It would be nice if a computer color match could be done but probably not possible. I appreciate everyone's thoughts and comments.
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Old 04-01-22, 07:43 AM
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https://vintageschwinn.com/product/touch-up-paints/
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Old 04-01-22, 09:50 AM
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Thank you so much for this information. I just need to find out which blue I have.
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Old 04-01-22, 09:53 AM
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There's others as well.
​​​​​​https://www.koolestuff.com/store/p65...chuppaint.html
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Old 04-01-22, 09:56 AM
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Testors® modeling enamel, found at hobby stores, comes in hundreds of colors and can be mixed to match almost any frame. It's very durable once applied.
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Old 04-01-22, 02:55 PM
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Originally Posted by dedhed
There's others as well.
​​​​​​https://www.koolestuff.com/store/p65...chuppaint.html
Thank you for that information !
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Old 04-01-22, 02:57 PM
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Originally Posted by Rolla
Testors® modeling enamel, found at hobby stores, comes in hundreds of colors and can be mixed to match almost any frame. It's very durable once applied.
Thank you for that information !
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Old 04-01-22, 03:08 PM
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I'd be very surprised if the Schwinn touch-up paint matched the paint of a nearly 60 yo bike. Paints fade. Yours might be a long ways from what is was when new. If you like it, I think you are probably better off matching what you've got rather than going through all the work and finding the touch-ups stand out like sore thumbs.
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Old 04-01-22, 03:55 PM
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Originally Posted by 79pmooney
I'd be very surprised if the Schwinn touch-up paint matched the paint of a nearly 60 yo bike. Paints fade. Yours might be a long ways from what is was when new. If you like it, I think you are probably better off matching what you've got rather than going through all the work and finding the touch-ups stand out like sore thumbs.
What's my best way to try and match ? Thanks !
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Old 04-01-22, 04:00 PM
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Originally Posted by Rolla
Testors® modeling enamel, found at hobby stores, comes in hundreds of colors and can be mixed to match almost any frame. It's very durable once applied.
And use the "6 foot rule" to evaluate the color match and the touch up job. Better yet, the 10 foot rule.
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Old 04-01-22, 04:22 PM
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I'm sure it can be done if you are skillful enough but think about this: There's "perfect match" and there's "not exactly". "Not exactly" usually draws your attention to the blemish that you are trying to hide.
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Old 04-01-22, 04:27 PM
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If your bike looks something like the one below, I'd buy an assortment of different blues and start mixing small amounts to see if you can get it close.


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Old 04-01-22, 04:34 PM
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Nail polish. Very durable and so many colors.
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Old 04-01-22, 05:30 PM
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Originally Posted by Rolla
If your bike looks something like the one below, I'd buy an assortment of different blues and start mixing small amounts to see if you can get it close.


Yes that looks just like my bike.
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Old 04-01-22, 05:54 PM
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Current Testors paint does not seem as durable as in the past. Recently I bought some at Hobby Lobby for touching up a frame and was surprised when Johnsons paste wax dissolved it. And no, the Testors paint was not their water-based stuff.

Montana Colors Hardcore spray paint is gloss finish and durable. It's made for graffiti artists and available at Blick Art.
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Old 04-01-22, 11:41 PM
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Originally Posted by Rolla
Testors® modeling enamel, found at hobby stores, comes in hundreds of colors and can be mixed to match almost any frame. It's very durable once applied.
This is what I use. I used to build models as a kid. I use a really fine camel hair brush for scratches and rubs and can fill a scratch with no overrun to the paint After a day or two of drying, wax with true carnauba auto wax, do NOT use a silicone wax.

With vintage paint you can match the color exactly, but matching the years of sun fade, etc. is where you get a real challenge.
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Old 04-02-22, 12:56 AM
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Originally Posted by spelger
Nail polish. Very durable and so many colors.
Agreed, nail polish shops typically allow you to try the colours at the shop itself. I'll recommend chipping a small piece of the paint from some inconspicuous spot like the bottom bracket and using that to colour match. This ensures that the touch up matchs your current bike paint
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Old 04-03-22, 06:26 PM
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Originally Posted by spelger
Nail polish. Very durable and so many colors.
Grant Peterson at Rivbike recommends Sally Hansen brand!
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Old 04-03-22, 08:04 PM
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Originally Posted by Causual_Cyclist
Agreed, nail polish shops typically allow you to try the colours at the shop itself. I'll recommend chipping a small piece of the paint from some inconspicuous spot like the bottom bracket and using that to colour match. This ensures that the touch up matchs your current bike paint
Just take your bike right into the drugstore and find the right color.

I mean, seriously, I thought everyone used nail polish if they need to fix a scratched bike frame.
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Old 04-03-22, 10:34 PM
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1964Supersport
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Originally Posted by Koyote
Just take your bike right into the drugstore and find the right color.

I mean, seriously, I thought everyone used nail polish if they need to fix a scratched bike frame.
I've been away from bikes for a lot of years, I'm not up on everything.
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Old 04-04-22, 06:26 AM
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Originally Posted by 1964Supersport
I've been away from bikes for a lot of years, I'm not up on everything.
No, sorry, the nail polish comment wasn't really for you.
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