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Old 08-28-11 | 01:48 PM
  #3  
frenchbikefan
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 491
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From: phoenix

Bikes: Miyata 110, Schwinn super le tour 12.2, Schwinn super sport, Lemond Zurich

If you are looking for a lasting finish don't rattle can the bike. It will not hold up and your paint will be scratched and pitted in no time for the most part. Some people have had good luck with enamel paints and a home built "box" to heat dry the paint in. there are also some engine block paints on the market that seem to hold up well on bikes. On the other hand a powder coat will cost you a little more money (I've seen as cheap as $75 and as expensive as $200) if you go that route make sure you are working with a powder coater who knows bike frames, knows to use walnut shell media to strip it, and packs the threads with paper before spraying. *if the threads are not packed you will have a horrible time cleaning them to reassemble your bicycle* As for decals there are many places on the web that will make you a small decal set to your specifications, decals can't be used under a powder coat because the curing process is too hot. Then when the bike is powder coated, you can apply your decal and spray a matte clear coat over it to protect it from scratching. If you are dead set on using rattle cans, make sure you get the bike stripped down as completely as possible and then clean with mineral spirits. Spray a vehicle primer, let it dry for a couple of days, spray your black enamel paint, wait a good long while between coats (if the paint is not completely dry you will get gummy paint and it will scratch easier) then hang the bike somewhere dry and hot for a week or two. Finally they make a matte finish clear coat, spray that on the bike, and then let dry for another week or two. That will give you the best result with rattle can paints.
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