there are lots of posts on painting this is my experience 2 frames
In general it is more work and cost than you would expect.
Key to a good job is good prep.....best prep is take it down to bare metal
Frame one : Rattle can using duplicolor
About 60-80 dollars of materiels.... 2 cans spray paint remover, 2 cans primer, 2 color, 2 clear, sand paper etc Othere people might be able to do with less but a did multple thin coats and there is a lot of overspray, and I am not always efficient
result looked nice but chips easily..... would have been better off powder coating.
Frame 2: Automative paints using preval spayers (rattle can for primer)Cost about $140 as the good stuff costs and is in mimium sizes. used acid etch primer, high fill primer, metallic color and two part polyurethane clear.
Result looks really good and is about 100 times more durable than the rattle can
Basic steps are:
Take frame to bare metal
scuff with scotchgard pad
degrease
Acid etch primer
fill primer
Sand
2-3 color coats, with careful care to recoat times or sanding between coats
3 coats of clear, again careful care paid to recoat times.
bottom line a lot of work, but you can get some great results, but in many cases powedrcoat will be cheaper
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Life is too short not to ride the best bike you have, as much as you can
(looking for Torpado Super light frame/fork or for Raleigh International frame fork 58cm)