if any of you guys have a rockhopper in the trash pile, please do send them my way.. :) Those are pretty nice frames!

I agree on the great job the poster did lining out the steps for a good paint job, Gonna help me out a lot, Thanks!

[QUOTE=jallen]if any of you guys have a rockhopper in the trash pile, please do send them my way.. :) Those are pretty nice frames!

Can you believe it? Being a bike geek in Sacrament Co is heaven. Home owners are allowed to haul thier heavy trash to the street in front of thier houses a few times a year and belive it or not, not just frames, but complete bicycles. Most of its your wall mart brands. But Ive found a real nice reliegh frame once. A real old MTN bike that I got rid of. (I cant remember the make or what happened to it) It had grips like on a motor cycle and the break levers were also like a motor cycles. (geeze it was just last year. Im going nuts!) Thier just bikes people don't want around anymore. Still see a road bike or two.

Kerk, if you don't mind one more question about your paint job (which looks great, btw), here goes: When you wet-sanded between coats, how did you clean the frame off before you shot the next coat?

First wipe down with a damp cotton rag. Then wipe with a clean cotton rag with a little rubbing alcohol on it. You will be surprised at the amount of paint on your rag.

Hmmmm good advice about alcohol on rag. I will incorporate that my next paint job :)

so you didn't strip the frame all the way down to bare steel?
I'm thinking about embarking on a bike painting journey, and it seems it would be easier and cheaper if I could avoid stripping it right down...

Generally speaking it is more favorable to go completely down to bare metal. The old paint can have imperfections hidden within until the top coat sets up, showing pits or lines. At very worst it could be hiding rust/corrosion underneath.
I prefer a wire wheel in my angle grinder for this. It takes paint off in no effort at all but it wont damage the steel. A complete frame strip with that takes about 30 mins relaxing.

For in between coats, the wet sanding should be just enough to 'haze' the paint enough that you see one continuous surface. No 'orange peel', or low spots.

Could you do this with a wire wheel in a drill? I don't have an angle grinder.

I used to do that before I got the grinder. It works well enough but once you use a grinder it is hard to step back :) There are a lot of sales, I got my Makita 4.5 inch grinder for 60(75 with bag).

No, I didn't take it down to the metal. But, you are taking a chance if you don't. So far it has worked out good for me.

lacquering frame
 

hi,

i've just re sprayed my mtb frame, i was going to let a local place do it for me but due to money i opted to try it my self. (which came out quite nice:D) ive done about 2 or 3 coats of primer then 4plus of the main colour about 1 and half cans.
i want to lacauer it but dont want to use a can because ppl have said its thin and not so good.!!?? so im thinking of taking it to a body shop so they can whack some on for me!

i would like if any of you could tell me if the lacquer is going to protect the paint from chips, scratches and stacks atall. and if spray can lacquer is going to be any diff from the stuff they have in a car repair garage! thicker, stronger or even worth puttin it on?

thanks

craig

Have you thought about powder coating it ? and it holds up better then paint

re
 

Powder coating is a great way to finish off a bike. For some reason the pictures are not loading for this bike, would love to see what it looks like.

I specialize in powder coating bicycles, if you have any questions about the process I will be glad to help.

If interested, here is our FaceBook page, we have several bikes posted that have been powder coated.

http://www.facebook.com/note.php?sav...t/185783299918

Holy old thread resurrection Batman!

hey, firstly thanks for your replys and help.

id thought of powdercoating but then when i found out prices i thought balls to that, id always wanted to spray my frame, little challenge and adventure lol. so 5 days later i had the finish product lime green, for a first time paint job im quite proud, no runs, even layers! (ill post a pic wen i get it bac)
i was goin to lacquer it with spary can lacquer, alot of ppl said its rubish?? thin not gr8! so i bit the bullet and took it to a alloy paint shop, 20 quid 2 coats of lacquer? i dnt no how much protection it will provide? if any.? or if it wil just make it shinny?

warlord: if i had known about your bike sparyin experience i would of prob asked more questions than jumpin in not knowing much lol but its done now so i guess ill just keep praying it comes out alrite!

craig

Man old thread;

I can't recommend a good laqure, but i can recommend getting it powder coated. My local industrial place charged me 50$ for the frame--sanding and everything. I got it done in a jet black. I picked it up today and its so glossy it looks wet. 50$ is about the cost of all the supplies for painting.