Rattle Canning a Carbon frame...good? bad? ugly?
10-22-08, 12:23 PM
#1
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Rattle Canning a Carbon frame...good? bad? ugly?
I have a Carbon frame which I inherited, which was cracked. Local carbon repair guy is going to repair it cheap-ly.
I want to use it, but it's already ugly, and is going to get uglier with the carbon patch job. It's going to be a beater, essentially, but I still want it to look nice.
Sooo... Can a carbon frame be rattle-can painted? If so, what brand/kind of paint do you use? I know about prep/etc, but yeah.
Gracias!
I want to use it, but it's already ugly, and is going to get uglier with the carbon patch job. It's going to be a beater, essentially, but I still want it to look nice.
Sooo... Can a carbon frame be rattle-can painted? If so, what brand/kind of paint do you use? I know about prep/etc, but yeah.
Gracias!
10-22-08, 12:25 PM
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Unless you have enough experience with a spray can to avoid over- and under-coverage, I'd avoid doing it by hand. It'll end up looking worse.
And it's really easy to over or underspray with a rattle can - the flow rate on those things isn't very consistent or predictable.
And it's really easy to over or underspray with a rattle can - the flow rate on those things isn't very consistent or predictable.
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10-22-08, 12:25 PM
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Don't do it. Rattle-canning is never a good idea. Even if you do it properly on a metal frame (strip, clean, prime, prime, prime, paint, dry, paint, dry, paint, polish), it's going to scratch as soon as you lean it against something.
Sanding down a carbon frame is dangerous because it's hard to distinguish between the clear coat and the resin.
Sanding down a carbon frame is dangerous because it's hard to distinguish between the clear coat and the resin.
10-22-08, 12:31 PM
#4
Tête de Limace
I'd say forego it. It'll likely end up looking worse in the end.
10-22-08, 12:34 PM
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https://www.rickwrench.com/index79mas...llarpaint.html
I'm going to try this on a steel bike. I don't see why it wouldn't work on a carbon as long as you don't sand through the clear coat.
Edit: Rattle can isn't as inconsistent as you think. I've done it with success. Just make sure it's warm enough to keep the pressure up. BUT, the reports of durability are true. The paint job is very delicate. In fact, the bike I'm going to repaint above was the rattle canned project. I just think I didn't prep well enough and didn't let the paint cure in enough heat.
Here's that frame:
I'm going to try this on a steel bike. I don't see why it wouldn't work on a carbon as long as you don't sand through the clear coat.
Edit: Rattle can isn't as inconsistent as you think. I've done it with success. Just make sure it's warm enough to keep the pressure up. BUT, the reports of durability are true. The paint job is very delicate. In fact, the bike I'm going to repaint above was the rattle canned project. I just think I didn't prep well enough and didn't let the paint cure in enough heat.
Here's that frame:
Last edited by huytheskigod; 10-22-08 at 12:39 PM.
10-22-08, 01:04 PM
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That Rickwrench project is sweet looking
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10-22-08, 01:13 PM
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My vote is for yes.
The only sanding you need to do is very lightly, just enough so the new coat has something to bite unto. Clear coat works just as good as a primer as long as it’s firmely adhered (ie not flaking). It takes few months (yes!) to reach final hardness which as others have pointed out, will never be as hard as a shop job but can look just as good.
The only sanding you need to do is very lightly, just enough so the new coat has something to bite unto. Clear coat works just as good as a primer as long as it’s firmely adhered (ie not flaking). It takes few months (yes!) to reach final hardness which as others have pointed out, will never be as hard as a shop job but can look just as good.
10-22-08, 01:20 PM
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I would go to a paint shop and ask about spray bombs they are a little more expensive than krylon at $15 a can but you can pick any color you want in automotive paint and they will mix it for you. then I'd have a pro clear it for you. It isn't that much money to have it cleared. I had a friend paint his motorcycle this way and it turned out perfect.
10-22-08, 01:30 PM
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I vote for leaving it ugly.
10-22-08, 02:03 PM
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I always use Rustoleum spray paint on metal stuff including bike frames and it is pretty tough, much much better than Krylon.
