madfiNch

Hello, I want to learn how to service my bikes, so I thought I'd ask you guys a couple of questions.
First, I have an old Trek road bike that is going to be my guinea pig. I wanted to start by taking the whole thing apart and re-painting the frame. Where can I buy the paint to do this? Would a car-parts place like Checker be a good place to look? Do I have to take the old paint off somehow? My landlady suggested that I take it to an auto shop and have them paint it, do they do that sort of thing? I dunno about that, though, I want this to be my project, and if it's possible for me to come out with a decent looking bike, I want to do it myself.
Another question is if you guys could please recommend a good all-around tool kit to buy. I only have regular household-type tools and a couple of small multi-tools for bikes, so I really need a decent start-up kit.
Lastly, do I need anything else to get started? Do I need a stand, for instance? And if so, what would you recommend?

Thanks a ton! I really appreciate it!

bkaapcke

The Performance "Team" tool kit will get you started. $169.00 retail, often on sale for $99-109.00. I've had mine for two years and have only added a tire gage and cable tensioning pliers. bk

Wordbiker

Buying tools is endless as long as bicycles continue to progress and require new tools.

Cool User Name

I have a whole crapload of car tools, the only problem I have is that the open end wrenches I have are not narrow enough, so I need to find some narrow open end's in middle metric size.

My advice is to buy what you need as you need it rather than buy a full kit right away.

I have a home depot wall mounted bike rack that I use as a stand, the kind that has a wishbone shaped cradle that folds down and holds the top tube. The only thing it doesn't easily work for is read brake adjustments since the rear brake cable runs under the top tube and get held by the rack.

mike

I bought a $10.00 tool kit from Nashbar a couple of years ago. It was on sale, so maybe it was $15.00 original. It is a kit designed to fit in a saddlebag - small, but complete.

Anyway, that kit has nearly everything you need to take a bike apart and put it back together with the exception of a crank puller, some cone wrenches, and a larger wrench - so evidence anyway, that for under $60.00 you can have all the tools you need.

madfiNch

Cool. Thanks a lot you guys, I appreciate the help. I will start by just going with what I have and buying tools as I need them. Also, after looking into the art of painting a bike, it seems like the only way to have it looking decent is to take it to a car shop. I don't need it to look brand new, but I want it to look cool, so maybe that's the best way. For all the time I'd spend sanding it down, it's probably worth the cost.

kmcrawford111

+1 on buying individual tools when you need them. I've wasted a lot of money on tool kits in my lifetime and ended up trying to sell excess later. If you're looking for a portable mini-kit, though, it probably is better to get the very basics so you have them just in case.

operator

Don't take it to a car shop. Try and find a place that powdercoats, and has experience doing it on bicycle frames.

I took it to this place, bare frame and fork. $75 and a week later, I got a brand spankin new powdercoat on my frame.

You don't have to deal with paint strippers, your own time and then more after you finish rattlecanning it. If your bike is supposed to be a beater, then by all means spray paint away. But if not, powdercoat ftw.

Toastytofu

+1 on not taking it to a auto shop...
powdercoating would be a nice idea; however if you do use spray paint try instructables.com, if i remember correctly, somebody posted a nice diy on it.

supton

I picked up the Spin Doctors Essentials kit; it lacks the freewheel tool and BB tools for the cup and cone setups, but seems to be reasonably equipped for later bikes. One still needs a large 3/4" drive rachet, and of course regular open/box wrenches. Some of the tools feel kinda low end, but if I wear out the tools, then it means a) I'm biking a lot, and b) I can justify "good" tools. At the moment neither is true for me.

DMF 

+1 on the Spin Doctor Essential kit. Crank puller, pedal wrench, cassette tool, chain whip, cone wrenches, chain tool, BB tool, hex wrenches, spoke and tire tools, etc.. You'd be hard pressed to buy all those for $40. Nashbar has a similar kit.

I'd go with individual tools only if you already had some of those, or if some don't apply to your bike.

San Rensho 

Agree. I've rattlecanned and the result was always very mediocre. Rattlecan paint can be pretty if you spend a lot of time and elbow grease on it, but it is always very soft. To get a good coat, you have to use a catalyzed automotive paint which is very expensive. I sprayed my bike with Imron once, which is very hard, but the paint alone was about $75. Even using cheap paint, its going to cost you about $50 when all is said and done.

Just had my bike sandblasted and powdercoated for $100 by a guy that does motorcycles and it came out great. The paint hasn't even come off the droputs where the wheels mount. Not quite as smooth and shiny as paint, but much more durable.

madfiNch

Hey, thanks a lot for all your advice. I will definitely look into powdercoating and the Essentials kit!