Framebuilders - paint job question

i have a frame i want to "paint". its an iro which are cro-mo steel. the previous owner removed the paint, gave it a brushed metal look, and a crappy clear coat. ive ridden it for the last year and my sweat has given it some surface rust. i want to remove the rust, bring more of the brushed look back, cover it with pink glitter, and give it a strong clear coat so the glitter doesnt come off. professional looking is not an issue bc i prefer diy anyway. i realize it wont be a smooth finish and exposed skin might get rubbed a little raw but i use a top tube pad so i think that should be a problem.

figured id use steel wool and/or fine sandpaper for the rust and to bring the brushed look back.
mix the glitter in an epoxy (other suggestions? i thought about glitter paint which has small flakes in it but thought it might not adhere too well) and brush 1 or 2 coats on
then clear coat and lacquer it

heres my questions... does that sound like it would work? any recommendations for the glitter (obviously thinner is better)? epoxy recommendation? clear coat or lacquer recommendations? id tape off dropouts and holes but would i need to prep anything else, eg, metal for better adhesion? if everyone says just get a pro job about how much you think it would be since theres no paint and id remove the rust myself? anything else i should be thinking about?

i should add that i am aware of metal flake paint, but my understanding of it is that to not look like total crap it needs to be done with spray gun which i dont have. also i want it to look like bare metal with glitter on it w/out entirely covering it so the brushed metal is still visible. its probably out there but i havent seen that w/ metal flake paint. its usually color x paint w/ color x flake

you are making this too difficult. spray the prepped bike with clear, let it tac up a little, then add your glitter. then put several more clear coats over it, and you are set.

mixing the glitter with the epoxy would probably lead to a messy appearance.

you are making this too difficult. spray the prepped with clear, let it tac up a little, then add your glitter. then put several more clear coats over it, and you are set.

mixing the glitter with the epoxy would probably lead to a messy appearance.

i just figured spreading it on would make it more even (although im worried gravity might make it pool) whereas sprinkling it on might result in concentrated areas. what do i know though? i havent used glitter since elementary school arts and crafts.

I just finished painting my Surly Cross Check and I think it came out great. the paint is from Dupli-Color and is called Metal Specks. http://www.duplicolor.com/products/metalspecks.html They have one in silver which is similar to a bare frame in color.

Here is the color...
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b390/w98seeng/Picture005.jpg

As for your bike, I would use a paint stripper to get the frame down to bare metal. Then I would use a scuff pad, they come in red (general purpose) and gray (ultra fine). this will get the rust off and give the steel a good finish to hold the clear. it also gives the frame a clean finish to it looks better.

As for the sparkle, apply the clear and using a fan about 5 feet away, throw the glitter in front of the fan and let it fly onto the frame, this will give an even finish. then apply a couple of more coats of clear.

Do not use lacquer because it will melt any plastic glitter you use. if it's metal glitter, then it should be OK. Dupli-Color makes a great clear. goes on smooth and glossy.

don't you need primer to make everything adhere to the steel frame? I have wanted a bare metal lugged frame eversince that fabulous DeRosa ad in the early '90s
I was always told it would not work because the clear did not have anything to make it stick to the steel

Don't sprinkle it on by hand, either put it in your hand and blow it on a little at a time or set up a fan and drop small amount in front of it, it will come out looking more natural.