Mountain Biking - Painting frame.

Ok, So I want to paint my 4300 frame.

my three choices are these: powdercoating, or take it to the autobody, or do it myself.
If I go to the autobody or powdercoat it, it will cost me minimally a 100 dollars. The color I'm currently thinking is tangerine metallic, that honda puts on the element.
http://img191.imageshack.us/img191/173/tangerinemetallicfr4.jpg

My biggest question, is what do people think is my best bet? Should I do it myself with spray paint and clear coat. How should I go about taking the paint off the bike. Thats my biggest problem. I've already had many suggestions. Sand it, use naval jelly, paint thinners. Just wondering if anyone has experience with painting, and can give me the safest, cleanest, and easiest way to get the paint off.


If I was to spray paint it, does it have to be a certain kind of paint? or can I just use anything?

Heres the current pic, everything stripped off. Cleansed it with dawn and used degreaser on greasy parts.

http://img438.imageshack.us/img438/3553/picture017em6.jpg

I like the colour it is now..

I recently paid to have mine re-sprayed, I think it is hard to get the paint tough enough without putting it into an oven.

You can do it yourself, rub down & reapply a few times, but I would suspect the paint will mark a little easier.

I think that there is spray paint specially for metal... but to get the paint of your frame you ( that is what I would do) could take a buffer and get all of

Just wondering if anyone has experience with painting, and can give me the safest, cleanest, and easiest way to get the paint off.

Pay someone to media blast it.

theres this airkraft coat remover, its a spray. this guy used it with great results... check comuter pics... page 40 on wards... im lazy.

I think Powdercoating is the way to go.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Trek-7000ZX-bike-frame-tires-used_W0QQitemZ180008388591QQihZ008QQcategoryZ98083QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem


Heres an ebay listing for a better trek frame, in that ugly color, with a bunch of parts, for $299 buy it now. You are going to have almost that in that 4300 frame by the time you are done.

I think Powdercoating is the way to go.
+1

I recently did the DIY rattle can paint job on a beater. Now I'm counting the days til the paint chips all the way off, then its off to a powdercoater.

+1

I recently did the DIY rattle can paint job on a beater. Now I'm counting the days til the paint chips all the way off, then its off to a powdercoater.

I wish rattlecan paint was more durable...I can do a kick-a$$ job with the stuff and make it look totally custom, but breathe on it wrong and it disintegrates.

i would encourage you to leave it as is. you do not know what you are getting yourself into. the only way to get and an equally good as "factory" finish is to have it media blasted and probably powdercoated. to have someone do these will cost around 300 dollars.

I'm not buying a frame off ebay, and I'm not keeping it as is. I hate the frame color, and the whole reason I got this frame is to try out painting a frame.

I just wanted to know tips for taking the current paint off, and repainting it. I may or may not take it to an auto body to get painted, and it will definitely be under 300, if I buy the paint and already have the frame down to the metal.

I woulnd't recommend sanding it. I once bought a trek 4500 frame to do what you're doing now, and it was a waste of time. The paint was really hard to get off, we tried sanding it and it ended up looking like ****...

I was thinking of having my next bruiser frame custom painted. I'd only have it done professionally though.

I'm trying to avoid having to pay for sand blasting. I'm calling around to auto bodys as we speak, so far they all are asking me to bring it in so they can see it.

you can get it powdercoated for about 50 bucks...

you can get it powdercoated for about 50 bucks...
Where?

you can get it powdercoated for about 50 bucks...
most places will be more...they might do black, white, or red. i guarantee he cannot get his color choice for 50 bucks

yea, the ssf place for powdercoating just called them. 125 for a stock color powdercoat including sand blasting. If I sanded it myself it would be less. But they might have to fine tune it by sand blasting if I don't do a good enough job.

I called about 6 auto bodies, 3 of them were illiterates who told me to bring it in. One guy was helpful, he estimated 100 dollars, most of that is in supplies. For primer, paint, and clearcoat.

If you're just going to powdercoat over it without sanding the layer of paint you have on right now, then it's not going to last very long. The paint is gonna stick onto the bottom layer and not the metal frame, so it's easy to chip it off. Unless this frame means a lot to you, then get some professionals to do it.

For those of you that have used the rattle can method on your frames, what kind of spray paint did you use?? Was it the hardware store generic stuff or this stuff http://duplicolor.com/products/wheel.html you find at automotive stores.

The reason i ask is my friend decided to paint the rims on his car black and used the wheel specific paint and its been pretty durable. Plus its cheap so if it chips just touch it up.

Plus you only spent $100 on the frame, if it were me I wouldn't be able to justify spending more for the paintjob than I did for the frame in the first place. But that might just be me since I'm a cheap b*****d

If you're just going to powdercoat over it without sanding the layer of paint you have on right now, then it's not going to last very long. The paint is gonna stick onto the bottom layer and not the metal frame, so it's easy to chip it off. Unless this frame means a lot to you, then get some professionals to do it.
Powdercoating is a process mostly only professionals do, therefore no I'm not trying to powdercoat anything myself.

I recommend what others have said...For what you want to pay, is it better off left alone. The rattle can will last only weeks. A decent powder job SHOULD cost at least $150. Auto Paint is about the same. Maybe you can sneak it in with someone elses paint job (use their color) to save a few. This is if you want it to last for a while. If you do not care about longevity use the rattle can and just keep re-coating it.

Another thing, aluminum requires a special primer to make the paint stick. In the old days they used zinc chromate, thats that green colored stuff you see inside old airplane bodies. Now they have some new primers, but regular paint out of a rattle can is not going to stick to bare aluminum for very long.

Put that thing up on ebay, I bet you get your money back.

Here's (http://www.bikewebsite.com/paint.htm) a quick tutorial on painting a frame.

The first set of isntructions involves sand blasting, so go down to "2" if you don't have an air compressor and gun.

Honestly, I'd take it to a professional because DIY can be fun and there's a chance it'll come out how you'd like it but with my experience of painting stuff other then art (I've done modded computer cases. And you think a bikes going to be hard to paint? Heh...) it's very hard to learn and do well, especially the first time.

Then again, you got this frame cheap and you can learn how to paint on this. Emtpy canvas.

But on that notion, I recommend giving it to a professional and asking them if you can stand off to the side and watch what they do and how they do it so you can learn.

Good luck and I think it'll look great in that color (but airbrushing some frames would be badass) so however you do it, best of luck.

Another thing, aluminum requires a special primer to make the paint stick. In the old days they used zinc chromate, thats that green colored stuff you see inside old airplane bodies. Now they have some new primers, but regular paint out of a rattle can is not going to stick to bare aluminum for very long.

Put that thing up on ebay, I bet you get your money back.
Why are you never helpful?

Why are you never helpful?

ok, nevermind all that non-helpful stuff I just said

ok, nevermind all that non-helpful stuff I just said
I don't think you know how long I've been looking on craigslist for something I can work with. All the good deals go instantly, and any newer bikes usually even 4300s people are asking over 200 for.

I don't think you know how long I've been looking on craigslist for something I can work with. All the good deals go instantly, and any newer bikes usually even 4300s people are asking over 200 for.

Thats why you should save some money and buy a decent bike that you want to ride. If you want to go into the bicycle mechanic, or frame building or painting business, there are other ways.

ok, nevermind all that non-helpful stuff I just said

Giving the techincal compositions of primers in history doesn't help his current cause, which is painting his bike.

And nor does putting it on ebay. That doesn't get it painted.


Thats why you should save some money and buy a decent bike that you want to ride. If you want to go into the bicycle mechanic, or frame building or painting business, there are other ways.

Check his sig, and read the original post. You are going soo off topic it's amazing.

Thats why you should save some money and buy a decent bike that you want to ride. If you want to go into the bicycle mechanic, or frame building or painting business, there are other ways.
My whole line of reasoning, if I must explain myself is this- I've been yearning for a rockhopper pro for the last 6 months. I finally got the job and 2 weeks before I would have had the money for the bike. The job ended and the found the permanent person( I was temp). I got to the point where I just wanted something, anything practically bike wise. I found out I had to pay 400 in insurance, and so I started searching craigslist. Here I am with the 4300 frame. Something to work with, I don't even care what it is anymore.

Plus, I already said Im not going to risk messing anything up on the 930, and even If I did buy the rockhopper I definitely wouldn't experiment on that.

Here's an idea:

Just ride your bike and resist the geekitude associated with obsessing over putting a completely unnecessary new coat of paint on a perfectly serviceable frame.

Your best bet would be to strip that antiquated 930 and build up the newer frame with the scavenged parts.

You will notice an incredible difference when you're riding the completely mediocre fire roads which you apparently love so much!

What's wrong with my antiquated 930 if all I ride is mediocre fire roads? Don't the two seem to match perfectly?

Honestly, I was trying to help you. I repainted my bmx bike when I was like 14. I wish I hadn't, and I wish I hadn't sold it either.. its now worth way more than I paid originally. Anyway, we all have to learn our own lessons I guess. hank is right, build up the new frame with the other parts.. although, your trek is probably 130mm rear spacing, so it may not all work.

What's wrong with my antiquated 930 if all I ride is mediocre fire roads? Don't the two seem to match perfectly?

You need all of the help you can get.

Maybe a frame with more modern geometry would help you negotiate those incredibly challenging, and massive, 4" cracks in the trail surface instead of stopping and/or falling every time you get near one.

Or you could just continue to obsess about painting instead of actually riding.

I think you'll go the latter route.

The 930 already has been upgraded with new parts. That trusty old Trek really rides nice. I would go ahead and play with that 4300 frame, do as you initially wanted to do, and learn how to build your bike. If this new bike ends up better than the 930, so be it. If not, then use it as your beater. Whatever you do, don't let anybody stop you from accomplishing your goal. If you decide to spend the money, it is not costing too much if you learn from it. Whatever you do, keep moving ahead and make yourself better by learning. Do it because it is YOUR decision and not what everyone else wants. The end result is for YOU, and nobody else.

You need all of the help you can get.

Maybe a frame with more modern geometry would help you negotiate those incredibly challenging, and massive, 4" cracks in the trail surface instead of stopping and/or falling every time you get near one.

Or you could just continue to obsess about painting instead of actually riding.

I think you'll go the latter route.
Look at my custom title, I'm an immature kiddie. Of course I need all the help I can get. I mean, I must be out of my mind wanting to paint a frame. I hadn't realized painting frames had become taboo in our society. I'm going to see if my health insurance company covers a psychiatrist.

I hadn't realized painting frames had become taboo in our society.

Hey, if that kind of hyperbole makes you feel better about yourself, go for it!

The fact remains that the new frame has better geometry and as you know, you need all of the help that you can get.

If you're looking at maximising your riding experience, you would strip the 930. If you're more concerned about doing a sh|tty DIY paint job on the newer frame, you'll continue to ride the 930 and spawn seemingly endless threads about the trials and tribulations that you encounter "working" on the new frame instead of actually riding.

Hanky poo posted, and now it seems this thread is of no use anymore :D

Thx to the select few who actually adressed my questions. I've already figured my plan of action, and have set my mind too it, as I'm obsessed. I'll continue to ride my out of date ride, on mediocre fire roads while obsessing over painting my frame.