General Cycling Discussion - Good cheap way to paint a bike

Found an early 80's Schwinn Traveler at the co-op that I'm thinking of getting to convert into a fixed commuter. The paint is really bad, but the bike seems to be in good shape. Is there any way I could go about painting it cheaply? What kind of options are out there?
Thanks.

I believe that most bikes are anodized. I would think its fairly expensive to anodize a bike as when I anodized my paintball gun blue to black fade it cost around $120.

Strip the old paint, use spray can primer and spray can automotive touch-up paint. Of course, sand in between. Fast and cheap....about $15. Perfect for that fixer-commuter.

George

Most bikes are not anodized. They are painted, just like cars and motorcycles. Spray paint will work, but auto paint is better than rustoleum or krylon. If you aren't fussy about color, you might be able to get a local body shop to do it with the leftovers from a car they are already working on.

well then I guess im wrong, just disregaurd my other post.

If the auto shop is so willing you would still have to do all the prep work, stripping or sanding, masking threads
degrease and cleaning etc. Don't let anyone sandblast the frame. It is fast but only really cheap steel bikes have thick enough tubing to sustain sand blast. Glass bead is less abrasive. Spray can paint is easy but will
be a lot softer than auto paint in the long run. Steve

If it is a cheap old bike: sand down the rusty spots, scuff the rest of the paint, wipe it doen with a lint free cloth and laquer thinner, let that evapoate, then spray it down with your favorite color(As an LBS guy, I of course reccomend buying that paint from a local independent auto parts supplier :D )

A technique used to remove all of the paint from a bike that I restored last year, was high pressure water. The company that did it was in Evansville Indiana. It prevents any removal of the base material.

find a local high school with an industrial arts class and let the students give-it-a-shot...:)

i like 'the fixer's' suggestion.