Hi,

Sorry maybe this belongs in a different thread, I couldn't find the most appropriate straight away.

I've been collecting random stickers for a few years with the idea of using these to 'paint' a frame and I recently came across a frame that might be good to try it on. Will this work if I strip the current paint, put the stickers on and cover it with a simple clear lacquer to finish it off? Are there any foreseeable problems I should be aware of?

Thanks in advance

I stripped the paint of my aluminum cx bike and sprayed a laquer to try to give it a little luster. The lacquer flaked off entirely in the following weeks.
Granted: I bought the cheapest I could find and had no idea what I was doing. Obviously people have succesfully coated aluminum, but this is just to say that it can be done wrong.
Steel might be a different story, if that's what you're working with.
Lacquer might also do strange things to the stickers.

If this is aluminum I think it would be neat to leave it raw. The stickers would wear down and bleach much. Could be neat.

Stickers can have a base material that can stretch or contract with age and temps, paint tend to not do so. Paint likes even/smooth surfaces with no cracks or gaps to flow into or cover. Stickers often will have thick edges and are applied with uneven layers. But it's your bike. I might not strip off the OEM paint though... Andy

yeah I remember a friend having a similar flakey experience.

Thanks for the advice...

thanks for all these tips... Unfortunately the existing layer of paint is really shoddy, so I might just leave this one.

Is yours an aluminum bike? I think the raw look is pretty elegant, so if you're not happy with the paint give it a shot. Here's what mine looks like.

For clear coat an automotive type might be best, you certainly want some UV protection built in to the clearcoat.
Non-UV protected finishes do poorly outdoors. It would also slow the bleaching of the stickers by the UV.

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Bikes Not Bombs Sticker is on my Bike.