Bicycle Mechanics - DIY Bike Paint!

Hi all, I just ordered that super cheap steal frame (http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=130&subcategory=1176&brand=&sku=5699&storetype=&estoreid=) (seen below) from Nashbar. Its blue with no decals, which I dig. My fork (also below) is also free of any stickers, and is black. So I'm wondering how hard it would be to paint a black gradient leading up to the steerer tube so the entire front end of the bike would be black, and the rear blue. Would it be as simple as heading down to Walmart for some spraypaint and having at it, or are there some other concerns I need to take into consideration?

http://members.lycos.co.uk/thisisdil/frame.jpg
http://members.lycos.co.uk/thisisdil/fork.jpg

what paint are you planning to use? urethane? acrylic? enamel?

will you be applying clear coats? (it would help if we knew what the orginal(blue) paint is?

I had been planning on using an acrylic enamel on the tip that I could spray it over urethane and lacquer (if they are what was used previously). a2psyklnut got the same frame (it was damaged in shipping however) and he tells me that the paint job looked rushed. That said, I don't have very high hopes for it's current paint job. I don't know what type of paint was on it already. In fact, I sort of assumed it was a standardized thing where most bikes use a certain type.

I would certainly like to clear coat it when all is done, but I don't know if its ok to put one clear coat on top of another, in the case of the previously painted areas.

These are two ways I have it pictured in my head. Unfortunately for me, my hands are never quite as articulate as my head.

http://members.lycos.co.uk/thisisdil/pinframe.jpg
http://members.lycos.co.uk/thisisdil/paintedframe.jpg

how are you going to make the fade/transition? just gonna spray it?

Originally posted by tFUnK
how are you going to make the fade/transition? just gonna spray it?
Well, thats the plan. I'll try it on a PVC pipe first to see if its doable. If not I'll go for the stripes.

well, i think you need the right tools.. I don't know if the "spray can" can do a very good job when you fade... Are you fond of model toys(cars, tanks, planes, etc...) If you are, you can use the "airbrush"(the one that you use to paint them) on the bike... It just works like a regular (automotive) spray but is finer...

With this tool, you have more control over what you paint on... Take note that you will be making several coats of paint on the dark parts and less on the fade part...

Please do not forget adequate ventilation for safety.

Originally posted by FOG
Please do not forget adequate ventilation for safety.
Yeah, NO Smoking eather!:D

Hey Dil, is that your actual frame?

I called Nashbar and they're finally sending my 2nd frame out to me.

I like the idea of your paint scheme. I might try something similar. Let me know how yours turns out!

BTW, just bought some other stuff from Pricepoint yesterday.

You gonna build yours up as a single speed or regular?

L8R

Hey all I've done a total of 15 frames with the spray can method, I'll see if I have some pics somewhere... It can be done, with a normal lacquer. A lot of ppl that I have sprayed frames for really like the looks of the duplicolor mirage paint. however I would definitely suggest getting a separate clear gloss to put over. Their clearcoat doesn't leave a gloss, it's more of a shiny matte finish. It still looks good if you like for the finish to be a little textured. Any other questions, shoot me a pm or an email at jcivic00@hotmail.com

I've spraypainted a fade somethign liek what you want.. you can use a spray can, and when spraying it, just back the can away from the bike when you want it to fade.... it might take some practice.. like you said, a PVC pipe would be the way to go... it shouldn't be that hard though.. good luck.. let us know how it came out

Jeff

Originally posted by a2psyklnut
Hey Dil, is that your actual frame?

I called Nashbar and they're finally sending my 2nd frame out to me.

I like the idea of your paint scheme. I might try something similar. Let me know how yours turns out!

BTW, just bought some other stuff from Pricepoint yesterday.

You gonna build yours up as a single speed or regular?

L8R

Thats the picture of the frame I hijacked from the nashbar page. I havn't the slightest idea how accurate it is. Its blue though! I'm taking the parts from my old Norco Nitro and throwing them over to this frame. That is save a few parts; headset, fork, brakes, shifters. I scored a Marz EXR coil (Hoooopefully not the ******** elastomer one) on ebay for $50. So now I'm just waiting for everything to get here so I can have some fun with it. Makes me wish Nashbar didn't send through regular mail :sleep:


Originally posted by SipperPhoto
I've spraypainted a fade somethign liek what you want.. you can use a spray can, and when spraying it, just back the can away from the bike when you want it to fade.... it might take some practice.. like you said, a PVC pipe would be the way to go... it shouldn't be that hard though.. good luck.. let us know how it came out

Jeff

Thats the plan. I'll grab some pics if its not too terribly ugly :D

Frame came today and I got the painting all done. I'll update when I get her all put together.

Pics are at this thread (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=29346).