Fast Eddie

i have a few chromoly frames to paint, does anyone have any recomendations as far as self etching primer as opposed to the usual? thanx, fast eddie outty

Sledbikes

like as in chrome, i sand the frame with 320 then work my way to 800

kemmer

FYI:
chrome != chromoly.

Chrome is a treatment that makes steel look all shiny.
Chromoly is a kind of steel.

Fast Eddie

these are chromoly, not chromed, theyre old bmx bikes

kemmer

Ahh, sorry. I guess you just threw me off a little, I wasn't sure why it would matter that they were chromoly vs. high ten vs. sheet metal etc... I don't really have any suggestions other than to stop in at your neighborhood auto paint supply place. I used some kind of self etching primer on my Vespa and I was happy with the results.

Sledbikes

go with 320(wet)+400(wet)+600(wet)+etching primer+800(wet)+primer again+1000(wet)+paint+800(wet dont do this if its metallic paint or candy paint)+Clear+800(wet)+final Clear+2000(wet)+rubbing compound+waz+glaze. this is how i paint my bicycles

robosauce

rattlecan+rattlecan+beer+rattlecan+beer+red devil high gloss polyeurethane.

Fast Eddie

so...is the idea to rough up the surface a bit so that the primer will stick, then smooth out/wet sand the primer in between coats, the paint? i have a "practice" frame that nees some of my TLR (tender lovin rebuildin) since its my first chromoly paint job i will probably end up painting it black to cover up any mistakes.

can someone tell me, how do you tell the difference between chrome coated, and chromoly, i wanna make sure im identifying it right,

thanx, fast eddie

kemmer

A chrome plated bike would look really shiny, like the bumper of an old car. Chromoly is just a type of steel, and could be painted, chrome plated, powder coated etc... You can't tell chromoly from regular steel just by looking at it and you would paint it the same way you would paint regular steel.

jschatz

Black (gloss) is the hardest color to paint. It shows all imperfections.

San Rensho 

Use phosphoric acid etch on any bare metal. Auto paint supply houses have it.

Sledbikes

x2

Fast Eddie

WOW!!! im glad you guys told me that about the black paint showing imperfections so well, i had no idea. after reading these posts i think i should "play it safe" and just use the acid etch primer on anything i paint, its only a few extra bucks and i suppose its better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. fast eddie outty

hotbike

Zinc Chromate primer is the best. But beware, it is toxic (carcinogen) and you must wear a respirator.

Most chemicles that end in "chromate" are carcinogenic.