Originally Posted by
bellweatherman
I've painted 3 frames, all with terrible amateur looking results. I've also only painted using spray can paints from Home Depot, so maybe that has something to do with my ugly paint jobs. Maybe I should just get one of those airbrush paint sprayers and an air compressor.
One thing I don't get though is keeping the strokes going the same direction on the tube. Is that going to make that much of a difference? I guess I would feel like I'm wasting a ton of paint by doing it that way.
I dont want to diss store bought paint since i know a couple of good brands...but i can say car paint has given great results! its more expensive, but that cost made me prep the frame really good. taped and cleaned all chrome parts, cleaned multiple timese the frame since even the oil from my fingers would damage the paint job, sanded the heck out of the frame, bought a freaking great primer called self etching primer. all this work took me a couple of weeks and it was a pain!
Solid color are much easier to apply since you only need to apply even layers. Metal Flaked colors are very different because you need to have a steady stroke to make the flake alling and be even. If you have a multy direction stroke youll have more flake in some parts, less in others, swirly flake, etc. . Hence i used solid color less headache
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UPDATE: My first attempt at clear was a disaster!
Had to sand the entire frame, retape and be super carefull about the stickers under the bad clear! Used a 1500 soapy sandpaper....
bought the clear coat and repainted, this attempt was worth 1000%!!!!
its looking so good! like it went to a professional! i would post pics, but they dont do justice to the project. When the bike is finished ill pos tsome finished pics.