wumpsdad

Hi folx,

I recently sanded my daughters bike, cleaned it, undercoated it and let dry for 24 hours, then gave several coats of spray from a rattle can. It ended up looking fantastic, but paint is scratching off too quickly. What can I do [after touch ups] to protect the finish from scratches?
A clear varnish? Any recomendations?
I used an outdoor paint, but that means I suppose weatherproof not scratch resistant.
Perhaps I should have sanded the undercoat too? It felt rough like fine sandpaper already.

Any help is greatfully appreciated.



Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Panthers007

Clear coat the frame with rust-inhibiting clear spray-paint.

illwafer

the paint will continue to harden for approximately 30 days. it will still be softer than a professional job, but stronger than it is today. it's just one of those things you have to accept like buying a new car and getting a dent in it. not much you can do.

nivekdodge

you may have solved your own issue. If the paint beside the scratch will come off with your nail, not digging at it harder than you would at your own skin, then yes the topcoat is not bonding to the primer.

Velo Dog

Right. I painted a bunch of rebuilt kids' bikes with our club a few years ago, and we really took pains with prep and primer. They looked terrific when we were done, but even good rattlecan paint is much softer than the factory stuff.