Frame Painting
 

What is the best way to paint a steel frame? Is that something you can do yourself or are there companies that will do it for you? I heard someone mention powder coating, is that the norm?

If you want superior adhesion and durability, powder coating is awesome. I have hand spray painted a few bikes, but for what you can power coat a bike for its worth the money and you are not out your time.

What's the fun in powdercoating? Unless OP is gonna b doing it himself, which I highly doubt!
Painting can be effective if you can get ur hands on a compressor and spray gun... and some patience.

You can actually do a good job with just Enamel spray can paint. It takes longer, but works ok if you are meticulous. Strip the paint real good, primer the frame so the enamel stays on, lightly sand the enamel, spray on the enamel color, lightly sand, spray on a clear coat. If you are careful, you can make it look real nice.