Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Ghetto Paint job suggestions?

I can't justify spending $100 to get a $40 frame painted, so I think I'm gonna spray paint it myself. Anyone done this? What should be done to get the nicest finish possible for the least amount of $$$? Clearcoats? Should I strip what's on there before I primer?

dude do what jay rooney did to his pista. buy two yards of stick-on vinyl from your hardware store for $2.50, make paper patterns of each tube going weld to weld, cut out the vinyl and stick it on. job done. benefits are you can change color whenever you feel like it

"Lets see, today....I'm feeling...Green"

Thats actually not a bad idea. And it certainly is within my budget.

look in the fg pictures thread, last couple days, to see it

When I painted my beater I bought a couple of cans of Rustoleum (the color I wanted & a can of primer), hit the whole thing with a medium-grit sandpaper, & wiped it all down with some mineral spirits before painting. That seems to have worked well enough for me, though I probably could've stood to clearcoat it as well. No matter, though, as I can always to a little touch-up if needed.

Spend hours upon hours perfecting your frame and then suddenly within an instant while you were away your bike fell while locked to the signpost and the scratches have emerged. But I spent all that time perfecting it...

The vinyl idea sounds hot. I was going somethingn simililar but with the liquid vinyl they use to coat the handles of tools. I was just going to brush it on and see what happened. Heh, I still might.

That vinyl idea is perfect for me; minimal bike-unrideable time, minimal clean-up, minimal cost. Just one problem. Where does one find adhesive-backed vinyl? Any ideas about the types of retailers that would stock this? I searched Home Depot and Lowes, no dice.

my local hardware store carries it

That vinyl idea is perfect for me; minimal bike-unrideable time, minimal clean-up, minimal cost. Just one problem. Where does one find adhesive-backed vinyl? Any ideas about the types of retailers that would stock this? I searched Home Depot and Lowes, no dice.

I got mine at shop rite. It's cheap and it sticks well, i had to do 2 layers to make it completely opaque.
I found some at lowes but it's "repositionable" you don't want that. it will fall off.
Little hardware stores like ACE/Truevalue might have a "contact paper" display.
i never tried it, but that stuff might work.

anyone remember the insides of automobile trunks in the 70s. that really thick paint, comes out pre textured, that wouldl be cool!

My paint job is the defination of ghetto.

1. Dont take off your headset, back wheel, seat, or anything except your front wheel.
2. Tape plastic bags around things you dont want paint on.
3. Start sanding the paint down then realize its too much work to be doing on a 90 degree day.
4. Coat primer over the existing paint.
5. Paint the color you desire.

Yes, I really did that.

My paint job is the defination of ghetto.


Did someone say 'ghetto paint job'?

http://entirely-adequate.com/images/bikes/bikes/konafull.jpg

What about that floor sealer/paint? It comes in a few different colors and is wear/oil resistant. Don't know if adhesion to steel/Al would be a problem.

http://www.rustoleum.com/EPOXYShield_Tips.asp?TipType=MP#WNTA

What about that floor sealer/paint? It comes in a few different colors and is wear/oil resistant. Don't know if adhesion to steel/Al would be a problem.

http://www.rustoleum.com/EPOXYShield_Tips.asp?TipType=MP#WNTA


I was also thinking about this stuff Hammerite. I remember painting a rusted b-ball rim with it when I was young, and it never rusted again. I think it has fiberglass reinforcing fibers in it.

http://www.kilz.com/pages/default.aspx?NavID=44

I did mine with Dupli-Color spraypaint and it's holding up very, very well. Definitely more durable than Basso's factory paint job. I used sandable primer and their engine enamel, because it comes in low-gloss black. It has to cure, but I had nowhere to ride at the time anyway, so I let it sit for a week and get nice and hard. About 10 months later now and the only scratches are from things that would scratch through any paint job.

I got mine at shop rite. It's cheap and it sticks well, i had to do 2 layers to make it completely opaque.
I found some at lowes but it's "repositionable" you don't want that. it will fall off.
Little hardware stores like ACE/Truevalue might have a "contact paper" display.
i never tried it, but that stuff might work.


i got some at the hardware store on the next block, $1.25 a yard.

couldn't be bothered to do the tricky bits there and then, so i just did the top, down and seat tubes and cut "lugs" in the end :D

looks great!

i got some at the hardware store on the next block, $1.25 a yard.

couldn't be bothered to do the tricky bits there and then, so i just did the top, down and seat tubes and cut "lugs" in the end :D

looks great!

pics?

this evening

what i did:

1. strip the original paint
2. spray on primer and let dry
3. spray on paint in light thin layers...let it dry completely between layers
4. spray on clear coat

cost me about $10 roth of krylon

1. remove everything from the frame
2. strip original paint from frame with aircraft paint stripper, wire brush, rubber gloves, etc
3. spray gray primer that your dad steals from work
4. spray frame with Dupli-color Chevrolet Orange engine enamel.
5. enjoy it while it lasts!
6. repeat steps 1 thru 5.

Ive got a few ideas for you guys!

Truck bed liner! It can be had for cheap at wallymart and comes in spraycans.

Someone said something about that coating inside older car trunks, Ask and you shall recieve!
Eastwood.com trunk paint (http://www.eastwood.com/shopping/product/detailmain.jsp?itemID=100&itemType=PRODUCT&RS=1&keyword=trunk+paint) They ahve all kinds of automotive stuff you could use on a bicycle frame!

Oh...........and if ya want some carbon rear seat stays, wrap them in some of this, even comes in different colors!!!Tape Works Carbon Look Vinyl (http://www.tapeworks.com/CARBONLOOK/carbonlook.html)
Search the site, they have some reflective stuff and hundreds of colors of vinyl including metallic and chrome.

For Vinyl, go to sign shops like Fast signs or something similar, you can buy all you want!
Gotta think outside the box, HD isnt the end all be all to get stuff! :D

eddiebrannan - you talking about the spot on Bleeker and Lafayette?

no, the hardware store on kenmare and mott (southeast corner). they have a few rolls right in the window.

i dare someone to do woodgrain :D

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?p=1572960#post1572960

ooohhh woodgrain mmm...I like that! Someone please bless us with woodgrain.

ooohhh woodgrain mmm...I like that! Someone please bless us with woodgrain.
It's already been done (albeit with contact paper). You'll never guess who...

http://www.sheldonbrown.org/hercules.html

Looks pretty good, he went around the lugs too so he didn't have as many nasty seams.

Might try looking around here to see if they have anything you can use... http://www.eastwoodco.com/index.jsp


They carry everthing, and I mean EVERYTHING, that a person could ever need for restoring a car. They might have some paint you might be interested in. They carry the trunk paint mentioned above( HERE (http://www.eastwoodco.com/jump.jsp?itemID=401&itemType=CATEGORY&iMainCat=400&iSubCat=401) ). Get on there and poke around a little bit and see what you can find.....they have lots of stuff!!

<edit> D"OH! "Chainring" already beat me to it....nevermind. :o

no, the hardware store on kenmare and mott (southeast corner). they have a few rolls right in the window.

i dare someone to do woodgrain :D

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?p=1572960#post1572960

nice job eddie, I like that blue... but maybe i'll do woodgrain next.

re: using vinyl — drop your keys on it by accident and it will scrape through and show the layer underneath. I've done that.

try using plastikote auto spray paint. use 2 coats of primer, 3 of base paint, 2 of clear coat. make sure you give each coat a few days to dry and there you have decent durable coat. also make sure you pick the right combination of lacquer and enamel.

can i borrow that citizen fish video?


Did someone say 'ghetto paint job'?

http://entirely-adequate.com/images/bikes/bikes/konafull.jpg

can i borrow that citizen fish video?

Sure, c'mon by.

I just picked up some Rustoleum brand Appliance Epoxy paint. It's supposed to be "extra" scratch and water resistant. Will try a couple coats when I get my parts all lined up.

I was also thinking about this stuff Hammerite. I remember painting a rusted b-ball rim with it when I was young, and it never rusted again. I think it has fiberglass reinforcing fibers in it.

http://www.kilz.com/pages/default.aspx?NavID=44
I have used hammerite and you have to use their primer and the colors contain silicone, so you can't clear coat the frame. But with Hammerite, you don't raelly need to.
For basic rattle can paint job instructions, search the forum for my recent posts regarding DIY bike painting.
More help? Contact me anytime!
Dr.D

i've always been a fan of the old tube finishing job.

wrap that frame up head to toe in old tubes.

I'm not sure how ghetto this is - it looks pretty sharp to me - but Mike552 stepped me through his process here:

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=174935

1)strip off paint with furniture stripper
2)clean with mineral spirits
3)make curing box out of steel locker, wood box, shed or whatever + borrowed space heater cranked to 10
4)after each step - prime & paint bake overnight to harden
5)use brush on clearcoat, it will go on thicker and + glossy, and clear
6)bake clear for 24-48 hrs
7)if you can be patient this will be the most durable and sexy low budget finish.