Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Primer grey as a color choice.

Back in my VW days, I used to see a lot of really cool vintage bugs and other hot rods out at the drag strip that were all primer grey. Some were people who had prepped their cars, but hadn't saved the cash to have them painted, but a few ran them that way because it looked cool.

I'm presently building up an old Medici touring frame as a fixed gear. I haven't really decided on the color scheme -- all black with hand painted lugs or flat black with color applied by my first graders (see link in my sig file).

But I want to ride the bike. I have all the parts. I also would like to know if the frame fits me and see how it rides before I put a lot of time into a paint job.

So would it be cool to run the bike primer grey for a while? I figured I'd just put a little black on the head tube and bottom bracket shell so I don't need to pull those parts when I finally do paint the frame.

What do you all think?

I love that paint job on the bike in your sig. Powder coat it, don't primer it. It will look nicer.
But, I guess if you are doing it for temps. Why not just do it. Primer grey and see how it looks.

I like red or black primer better, grey is so last year.

Do you mean this color?:

http://www.firstflightbikes.com/_borders/Steamroller1.JPG

Battleship grey worked for the bianchi pista..

http://www.fixedgeargallery.com/2005/apr/Jamesinger.htm

I just primered my bmx frame/fork and looks real good. But Im going to get a real snazzy paintjob because I have nothing better to do.

If you do use the primer, make sure you find a sealing primer. A lot of primers won't keep moisture away from the metal underneath, and you'll end up with rust under the paint.

Sounds like a bike posted in the photo sticky long time ago. It looked primer black with red outlining the lugs. They had it parked infront of a Jolly Roger flag. Totally had that rat rod look.
I've been thinking of going with a flat black clear coat. It looked good on the 32 Highboy rat rod I saw the other day.

Side note:Your bike painted by your class makes me smile everytime I see it.

http://velospace.org/node/170

File-cabinet grey? Nah man, it's so soulless. I wonder if it would work if you could get it down to the raw steel with a sandblaster, and then just clear coat it then. No primer, just a ton of clear coat. Didn't some BMX frames come like that back in the day? I think they called it "raw" as the color.

File-cabinet grey? Nah man, it's so soulless. I wonder if it would work if you could get it down to the raw steel with a sandblaster, and then just clear coat it then. No primer, just a ton of clear coat. Didn't some BMX frames come like that back in the day? I think they called it "raw" as the color.
Better yet, strip it down to the bare metal, then scrub it with vinegar, lemon juice, or some other mild acid solution. Leave it on for a while then rinse clean. Really interesting yellow/green/brown patinas will form. Rub the surface rust off with a dry cloth before clear coating.

I used to do this with my metal sculpture. However, I was using muriatic acid (the stuff you use to etch concrete). It's pretty nasty.

i have a 74 gitane track frame that i had powder coated with an industrial metallic grey. i'm way into it. i have some pictures around somewhere.

If you do use the primer, make sure you find a sealing primer. A lot of primers won't keep moisture away from the metal underneath, and you'll end up with rust under the paint.

I actually don't plan on having the setup for very long. I have another bike, so I won't need to ride it in the rain or fog.

i ride the grey bike.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b230/g0balistik/DSCF1082.jpg

Is that a feather in your seatpost collar?

I actually don't plan on having the setup for very long. I have another bike, so I won't need to ride it in the rain or fog.

There is moisture in the air even when it's not raining or foggy. Unless you plan to strip it down to bare metal again before its next paint job, use a sealing primer.

I've been running this Bianchi Pista with just gray primer for the last 3 years.

Better yet, strip it down to the bare metal, then scrub it with vinegar, lemon juice, or some other mild acid solution. Leave it on for a while then rinse clean. Really interesting yellow/green/brown patinas will form. Rub the surface rust off with a dry cloth before clear coating.

I used to do this with my metal sculpture. However, I was using muriatic acid (the stuff you use to etch concrete). It's pretty nasty.

Then why not go all the way and let the surface rust in that random fashion, and preserve that? It would give it a "Fallout" look (if you know the game). I have seen computer cases painted in that style, and it's really cool. I didn't like it at first but then it grew on me. And I am now seriously thinking about it for my beater.I'm just not sure how to "fix" that layer of rust down, protect it effectively.

Ive had multiple primer grey bikes. I like it. And if it get scratched then its easy to touch up with the rattle can.

You could also do black primer on the tubes and something colorful and shiny on the lugs. It would be like the bike version of suede and flames.

http://velospace.org/node/170

that's what i thought you meant....that's imoncrank's bike.

Here's an Idea I havent read here yet:

*Get a "Touch-Up" auto body spray gun (Steal/Borrow/Buy)

*Start with Grey Primer

*To the primer add random "left over" auto body paint which body shops have freely given me before & see what you come up with and do each tube a diff. "Scheme"

*Work's great did it with a old camaro someone gave me

Enjoi

I suppose you can use white primer as well but immore into darker color's

Is that a feather in your seatpost collar?


yes

chicks dig grey.

Well, the frame is now flat black. I'm going to have the color applied by my first graders as I did last year. I promised them they could paint a bike. And they will expect to see me riding it as well. Anyone with kids will know that my ass is grass if I don't come through.

But here's a question. The last bike we did this way came out nice but after a few months of riding it, the color started to look a bit dingey from road dirt. It proved nearly impossible to clean since I never put on a clear coat.

Can clear coat flat paint? What does it look like?

i like the darker primer/powder colors myself- it blends better with grime and the night

Can clear coat flat paint? What does it look like?
The finish will depend on the clear you use. Gloss clear = gloss finish. I'm sure Krylon makes a matte clear, which is what you'll want. And if you decide to go this way, and you're using a matte, or flat, clear, make sure you really shake up that can! Many flat and matte colors use a powder (like talc) as a flatting agent, and it tends to collect at the bottom of the can.

I think it's a damn shame to do a half assed paintjob on a classic italian frame. Unless the paint is really beat, in which case you should touch up, just leave it be. If you really want a primer gray bike, don't let it be your Medici.

I think it's a damn shame to do a half assed paintjob on a classic italian frame. Unless the paint is really beat, in which case you should touch up, just leave it be. If you really want a primer gray bike, don't let it be your Medici.

The paint was crap when I found the frame in a pile destined for recycling. It's a nice frame, but a Medici is actually not Italian. Hand build in LA, yes.

I figure I can always have it powdercoated at some later time. But before I invest a lot of time or money in it, I want to build it up, ride it and make sure it fits me.

one of my shop coworkers used grey primer as an accent color on his 1x1.
now he brags "check out my one by one of a kind."
*groan*

http://www.trophybikes.com/images/ericsurly_lg.jpg

I'm doing an early '80's lugged Concord frame in two-tone gray. The main tubes and headtube I did in ASA 49 gray and when I get back to work I will finish the rest of it with a lighter gray like ANSI 61. The frame is at work now so pics will come when I get it finished.

I think primer only is generally a bad idea. A flat or semi-gloss gray that's actually paint is much better.

Back in my VW days, I used to see a lot of really cool vintage bugs and other hot rods out at the drag strip that were all primer grey. Some were people who had prepped their cars, but hadn't saved the cash to have them painted, but a few ran them that way because it looked cool.

I'm presently building up an old Medici touring frame as a fixed gear. I haven't really decided on the color scheme -- all black with hand painted lugs or flat black with color applied by my first graders (see link in my sig file).

But I want to ride the bike. I have all the parts. I also would like to know if the frame fits me and see how it rides before I put a lot of time into a paint job.

So would it be cool to run the bike primer grey for a while? I figured I'd just put a little black on the head tube and bottom bracket shell so I don't need to pull those parts when I finally do paint the frame.

What do you all think?

http://velospace.org/files/Raleigh.jpg

Note the front fork