Help Me Paint My Frame!

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mattwilkinson
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Help Me Paint My Frame!

Postby mattwilkinson » Mon Dec 17, 2012 8:59 pm

Hey guys,

So I just picked up an old road bike for $10.50 off ebay...
The frame needs a bit of work, And I'd like to paint it a matte black colour.
Pretty much, I have no idea what i'm doing.

To achieve this colour I presume I need.

Primer
Flat Black Paint
Clear Coat?

Also, Do I need to strip all of the paint off the frame before? Do I need to get it to a bare metal look or just roughen up the old paint?
I don't have a sander, And I presume sanding by hand would take ages.
Can I get a sanding attachment to my drill? and what do you think is the best attachment?

Also,
I presume these are the things to take off the bike:

Wheels
Chain
Cranks
Derailleurs
Stem, Bars
Fork
Seatpost


Do I need to take the BB and headset off?
I might have the BB tool in a toolkit, But theres no way I would know how to remove and install BB and headsets. Can I just cover it in a tape?

Thankyou,
Matt

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Mustang
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Re: Help Me Paint My Frame!

Postby Mustang » Mon Dec 17, 2012 9:28 pm

Think you may get a better reception in "Retro Biking"
Distance Goal 4000km
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mattwilkinson
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Re: Help Me Paint My Frame!

Postby mattwilkinson » Mon Dec 17, 2012 10:03 pm

Yeah I was torn between forums,
If a mod would like to move it that would be fine.

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greyhoundtom
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Re: Help Me Paint My Frame!

Postby greyhoundtom » Mon Dec 17, 2012 10:06 pm

mattwilkinson wrote:Hey guys,

So I just picked up an old road bike for $10.50 off ebay...
Mustang wrote:Think you may get a better reception in "Retro Biking"
More importantly they will also be able to tell you if that particular frame is actually worth painting. :wink:

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HLC
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Re: Help Me Paint My Frame!

Postby HLC » Mon Dec 17, 2012 10:11 pm


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15wilsonwu
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Re: Help Me Paint My Frame!

Postby 15wilsonwu » Mon Dec 17, 2012 10:38 pm

2015 BMC TimeMachine TMR02
- Ultegra 6800
- Shimano RS31

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Mulger bill
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Re: Help Me Paint My Frame!

Postby Mulger bill » Tue Dec 18, 2012 12:01 am

Not so sure about Retro, methinks the Shed would be a better option.

Much better IMO to fully strip the parts then tape up the BB threads and each end of the HT. Plenty of good video advice out there. There's also been some great threads here on painting including at least one very comprehensive photo essay from go to whoa. If you do rattlecan, get them from your local carshop instead of a hardware joint.
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drubie
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Re: Help Me Paint My Frame!

Postby drubie » Tue Dec 18, 2012 9:09 am

I concur with MB - just tape up the bottom bracket if you aren't comfortable with removing it on a $10.50 bike. I would remove the headset cups though and paint the forks by themselves.

Matt black is hard to go wrong with - although it is totally unforgiving on chips in the original finish. The new paint needs a "key" to stick to, when I did my mountain bike this is what I did:

- flat down the paint chips in the original finish to blend them back in
- sand the whole bike to leave a "key" for the top coats.
- hit it with primer from a rattle can (supercheap is fine for this) although you can get away with just doing the exposed metal if the frame is still largely painted.
- note where the worst of the chips in the finish underneath are, big ones hit with a bit of putty, sand it, re-prime. Huge dents I would use a bit of metal putty instead.
- alternatively, hit those areas with spray putty (it's like a very thick primer) then sand that back.
- once you're happy, hit with the first coat of matt black. Any areas that still show the underlying flaws hit with spray putty and sand again.
- two more coats of matt black
- reassemble.

When painting - do lots of light coats to build up the finish rather than trying to get the colour even with the first shot - much less chance of getting runs in it that way.

It's tough to get a good job around the BB area if you don't remove it, but for a hack bike it just doesn't matter that much. People will notice the finish on the top tube and around the head tube a lot more than the oily bits underneath.
So we get the leaders we deserve and we elect, we get the companies and the products that we ask for, right? And we have to ask for different things. – Paul Gilding
but really, that's rubbish. We get none of it because the choices are illusory.

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Re: Help Me Paint My Frame!

Postby jacks1071 » Tue Dec 18, 2012 9:33 am

I think you just over capitalised on the frame :-)
Our Website is: http://www.kotavelo.com.au" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; Find us on Facebook by searching for "Kotavelo"

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mattwilkinson
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Re: Help Me Paint My Frame!

Postby mattwilkinson » Tue Dec 18, 2012 9:41 am

Bike is here:
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/271120103767 ... 476wt_1417" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Thinking of converting into a Single Speed/Flip Flop.
Matte black frame and might buy some deep rims.

Would this be a good 'setup?'

2-3 layers of primer (Grey or White?)
2+ Layers of matte black (Until I get it even)
2-3 Layers of clear coat (Do you use clear coat?)



Can someone reccomend me the best spraypaint to use?
Some people swear to never ever use enamel but some people say to stay away from laquer.
What do I use?


Matt

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drubie
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Re: Help Me Paint My Frame!

Postby drubie » Tue Dec 18, 2012 11:12 am

mattwilkinson wrote: Can someone reccomend me the best spraypaint to use?
Some people swear to never ever use enamel but some people say to stay away from laquer.
What do I use?


Matt
You don't clear coat matt black - it defeats the purpose of having it matt black! You might be tempted to hit it with a satin finish clear top coat but really, why bother when it'll just end up looking glazed rather than matt.

Just use the $4 cans from Supercheap - you'll spend more on primer and primer/filler than matt black paint, trust me. You don't need 3 coats of primer, you just need one. You might need several "goes" with the primer/filler but only because it's easy to miss things if you are inexperienced.

Buy lots of wet'n'dry sandpaper in really fine grit (600-1200). Let everything dry properly between coats. If you mess it up, just do it again. It's not like raising a child, it's a bike frame.

edit:
Image
So we get the leaders we deserve and we elect, we get the companies and the products that we ask for, right? And we have to ask for different things. – Paul Gilding
but really, that's rubbish. We get none of it because the choices are illusory.

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mattwilkinson
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Re: Help Me Paint My Frame!

Postby mattwilkinson » Tue Dec 18, 2012 11:31 am

When I sand down the frame, Do I take all the paint off?

Like this
Image

Or do I leave some paint on?

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drubie
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Re: Help Me Paint My Frame!

Postby drubie » Tue Dec 18, 2012 1:56 pm

No need to take all the paint off - just flat it down and take it down to the metal only where there is rust or deep chips in the original paint. Its a wasted effort otherwise.
So we get the leaders we deserve and we elect, we get the companies and the products that we ask for, right? And we have to ask for different things. – Paul Gilding
but really, that's rubbish. We get none of it because the choices are illusory.

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winstonw
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Re: Help Me Paint My Frame!

Postby winstonw » Tue Dec 18, 2012 2:00 pm

[quote="drubie"]edit:
http://i601.photobucket.com/albums/tt95 ... 47_908.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

that is one fine lookin bicycle Mr Rubie. Are the gold bits painted by you, or bought that way?

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Re: Help Me Paint My Frame!

Postby bychosis » Tue Dec 18, 2012 2:05 pm

I was going to repaint a frame a while back, it had a fair bit of surface rust under the paint and plenty of chips. I figured it was easier to get a paintable surface by stripping off all the paint than to try and smooth each of the individual imperfections.

Inspect your frame, see if you wilbe happy with the finish if you fix individual imperfections then make the call. If its a knockabout sand it to roughen the surface then paint. If its a full on resto then back to bare metal you go.
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Re: Help Me Paint My Frame!

Postby drubie » Tue Dec 18, 2012 3:22 pm

winstonw wrote:
that is one fine lookin bicycle Mr Rubie. Are the gold bits painted by you, or bought that way?
(threadjack)
Frame is from the dump - given away.
Bars, seatpost, stem are from cyclingdeal - Venzo box of goodies. They were already gold. A headset came in the box but I couldn't use it (44mm!)
Cranks and tyres from there as well (Kenda "small block 8").
Gold anodised headset from LBS (one that was supposed to be used with a scooter), red chain from there too.
Brakes are "Bengal" hydraulic units from Ebay. I bought them simply because they were already gold.
Hubs from dx.com (Quanto == Quando!) red anodised out of the box.
Rims from chainreactioncycles
Spokes from ebay after I got the rims and hubs and measured everything so I knew what length to order.
Mosso fork from ebay.
(/threadjack)

The frame is aluminium and looked like it had been inside a cement mixer, so I just flatted off the worst of the chips, filled a few dents with metal putty, hit it with etch primer and then spray putty. Flatted it off again, filled the bits I missed with spray putty. Two coats of matt black from supercheap. It isn't 100% close up but I wasn't too careful, I needed it to look a little beaten down like a "rat rod". Not sure I quite achieved that but it's actually a really nice little bike to ride. Attracts a lot of attention.
So we get the leaders we deserve and we elect, we get the companies and the products that we ask for, right? And we have to ask for different things. – Paul Gilding
but really, that's rubbish. We get none of it because the choices are illusory.

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mattwilkinson
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Re: Help Me Paint My Frame!

Postby mattwilkinson » Sat Dec 22, 2012 4:49 pm


You don't clear coat matt black
If I did what would happen, Would I have a Satin/Matte finish or would it turn glossy?

I am torn between satin & matte.

How does this sound?



Remove paint with stripper & sandpaper.
Could I use a sander? Like one of these?
Image

I have a mate with a spray gun so I might be able to get him to do it for me.
Sandable Grey Primer (1-2 Coats, If a mate gets it right first go.)

Flat Black Coat (2-3, Depending how even it is)

Clear Coat?? (How scratched will it get when I lock it against poles and such when I don't have a coat?)

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Re: Help Me Paint My Frame!

Postby damhooligan » Sat Dec 22, 2012 7:11 pm

mattwilkinson wrote: I am torn between satin & matte.
You could have it powdercoated, as their finishes are more satin then gloss...
And if its to shiny, you can sand it back with 1500 grit sanding paper, and you wil have a matt black bike !
mattwilkinson wrote: How does this sound?

Remove paint with stripper & sandpaper.
Could I use a sander? Like one of these?

I have a mate with a spray gun so I might be able to get him to do it for me.
Sandable Grey Primer (1-2 Coats, If a mate gets it right first go.)

Flat Black Coat (2-3, Depending how even it is)

Clear Coat?? (How scratched will it get when I lock it against poles and such when I don't have a coat?)

I would avoid paint stripper, its not that fast, it wil be very messy, and its not a product without dangers..

You are better of with a sander, like your picture.

Paint in a can does not contain hardner, meaning the paint wil stay soft, and wil be more prone to scratches.
Clearcoat from a gun , mixed with hardner wil provide more protection.
You can always sand the clear to remove the gloss, but to keep the clear to provide protection.

if you got a spraygunn, there is another cheap alternative, you can mix hardner into the black basecoat.
This wil make the black stronger, and this wil give it a semi gloss.

All the above options are budget diy options.
for the bestest results, I use primer , black , but followed with a matt clearcoat.
this gives good protection, and it looks awesome..:

Image



have fun... 8)
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mattwilkinson
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Re: Help Me Paint My Frame!

Postby mattwilkinson » Sat Dec 22, 2012 8:24 pm

damhooligan wrote:
mattwilkinson wrote: I am torn between satin & matte.
You could have it powdercoated, as their finishes are more satin then gloss...
And if its to shiny, you can sand it back with 1500 grit sanding paper, and you wil have a matt black bike !
mattwilkinson wrote: How does this sound?

Remove paint with stripper & sandpaper.
Could I use a sander? Like one of these?

I have a mate with a spray gun so I might be able to get him to do it for me.
Sandable Grey Primer (1-2 Coats, If a mate gets it right first go.)

Flat Black Coat (2-3, Depending how even it is)

Clear Coat?? (How scratched will it get when I lock it against poles and such when I don't have a coat?)

I would avoid paint stripper, its not that fast, it wil be very messy, and its not a product without dangers..

You are better of with a sander, like your picture.

Paint in a can does not contain hardner, meaning the paint wil stay soft, and wil be more prone to scratches.
Clearcoat from a gun , mixed with hardner wil provide more protection.
You can always sand the clear to remove the gloss, but to keep the clear to provide protection.

if you got a spraygunn, there is another cheap alternative, you can mix hardner into the black basecoat.
This wil make the black stronger, and this wil give it a semi gloss.

All the above options are budget diy options.
for the bestest results, I use primer , black , but followed with a matt clearcoat.
this gives good protection, and it looks awesome..:

Image



have fun... 8)

Did you paint yours with a spray gun?
Which brand paint/primer/clear coat did you use?

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mattwilkinson
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Re: Help Me Paint My Frame!

Postby mattwilkinson » Sat Dec 22, 2012 9:06 pm

Also,

Would I want Laquer or Enamel for a spray gun?

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Re: Help Me Paint My Frame!

Postby Mulger bill » Sun Dec 23, 2012 2:18 am

mattwilkinson wrote:Did you paint yours with a spray gun?
Which brand paint/primer/clear coat did you use?
That's Hoolies trade Matt, he's showed us some of his custom jobs before. :)

Shaun
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Re: Help Me Paint My Frame!

Postby munga » Mon Dec 24, 2012 9:33 am

that's a nice looking frame for $10. bargain!
pull everything off it and weigh the bare frame. if you're going to get into this retro bike caper, buy the right tools and do it properly.

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Re: Help Me Paint My Frame!

Postby damhooligan » Mon Dec 24, 2012 7:44 pm

Mulger bill wrote:
mattwilkinson wrote:Did you paint yours with a spray gun?
Which brand paint/primer/clear coat did you use?
That's Hoolies trade Matt, he's showed us some of his custom jobs before. :)

Shaun
Yep..

And matt. I used a spray gun.
And automotive 2 pack paints.
The dutch have one word to describe the aussie MHL, this word is ;
SCHIJNVEILIGHEID !!

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Re: Help Me Paint My Frame!

Postby mitzikatzi » Wed Dec 26, 2012 11:00 am

damhooligan wrote:..snip...

You could have it powdercoated, as their finishes are more satin then gloss...
And if its to shiny, you can sand it back with 1500 grit sanding paper, and you wil have a matt black bike !

..snip...

Powder coat might be the cheapest option. A bike frame can be powder coated for $80 to $150 if you ring around.

When you add up the cost of paint, primer, filler, wet & dry and your time (labour) $80 is not very much.

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Re: Help Me Paint My Frame!

Postby AnthonyRochester » Fri Dec 28, 2012 7:58 pm

I've just re-painted an old bike frame. I don't really know if its cheaper than powdercoating or not, and it is a lot of hard work, but I think it is more rewarding to do it yourself. I did use paint stripper, and its definitely easier than sanding, but be careful about spending too much time with it and breathing it in. This was my process:
- remove everything from the frame (including headset cups but I left the bottom bracket in)
- use paint stripper to get most of the pain off (tip: apply it heavily)
- sand off the remaining paint with fairly coarse sandpaper, then go over it again with finer sandpaper (this is probably the most time consuming step)
- hang the frame and fork separately and securely
- use a spray on wax and grease remover
- mask bits that need masking
- 3 coats of primer
- light sanding ~600g
- 4 coats of colour (acrylic - white knight touch up - because they have the best colours)
- wait 5 days to make sure its properly dry
- fine wet sand ~800g to smooth the surface
- 4 coats of clear (acrylic lacquer)
- wait for a week for it to harden before putting the bike together

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