I'm considering adding frame painting to the mix of things I do with bikes (just for me, not for others). Somewhere between rattle can and Joe Bell. I have a couple frames which really need to be refinished. What kind of equipment is required for a home setup? Can I get away with an airbrush and a small pancake compressor? What about drying? Is heat required, or does it simply accelerate the process?

Prep
Prep
Prep
Prep

Practice
Practice

Trial
Error
Trial
Error

Somewhat
Somewhat

Success!

75% of the job is painstaking prep. Assuming steel. Oxidation to bare metal begins the instant it is bare metal. So, once prepped, some kind of coating needs to follow, asap, so not only do you prepare the metal frame, you prepare to coat it, as well.

I am not sure an airbrush is the tool, but flash on the edges of round tubing is the main issue. I would ask crank_addict on that one. He's painted, knows the business, the material, etc, and he's local enough.

There are "upper level" rattle cans that have had good results here on BF, and I imagine using an air compressor and sprayer may help. Many painters are now using HVLP process, with more volume, less pressure. There are complete sprayer systems available from $80 to $600 that advertise the flexibility you may need. Of course, there are much more expensive systems, but these are bikes.....

You would really need to determine what kind of paint you want to use, as far as primer, base, and possibly clear, and then see what system works for you. Do you want to wet sand in an hour, wait a day, etc.

I understand bake-on finishes, etc, but the best results, from my experience, come when you paint the frame, let it dry, and then put it away and forget it, let the calendar turn a few pages, then come back to it.

+1 on "air brush is for touch-up.

Dean

Patience.

The ideal tool is the yellow pages, p for powder coaters

I have good results with this Harbor Freight HVLP "touch-up" gun. https://www.harborfreight.com/hvlp-d...gun-46719.html
I use a 120 volt compressor with an 8 gallon tank. It works ok for this small gun but it is important to stop spraying while the compressor is running to recharge the tank: Otherwise you run the risk of dropping pressure below the gun's requirements. Also you can exceed the duty cycle of the compressor, causing the thermal switch to cut it off if it is running continuously.

I made a crude drying closet out of a bike box and a small electric space heater.

As others have pointed out, prep and patience are required. A healthy dose of humility is also very handy. You will make mistakes. If you are like me you will spend hours sanding out drips. You will curse those large-panel decals that want to wrinkle as you apply them. You will spend hours wet-sanding that clear coat that went on a little rough. As you are proudly assembling your newly-painted bike you will discover that little area under the down tube where the primer is peeking through the color coat.

I have painted 7 frames so far: I'm still making new mistakes. I will always be an amateur. I will never paint a frame as nicely as a pro but I enjoy the learning process immensely. For me it's the most satisfying part of bike restoration.

This bit of wisdom from Joe Bell will give you an idea of the process: How We Paint Bikes at Joe Bell Professional Bicycle Refinishing

Brent

Got all that. Thanks for the response. I was mostly asking about equipment. I'm happy to make mistakes. Lord knows I've made enough of them wrenching...

Harbor Freight, $16 touch up gun and $150 air compressor. Big part of a good paint job that isn't mentioned enough is weather. If there is any moisture in the air do not try and paint. I've learned that one the hard way.

Before getting into painting a vintage bicycle, take the time to look through Painting Bicycles. You will be much better prepared to decide to paint and then actually paint, by doing so.

I paint with a brush and/or spray cans, usually. The brushed on paint work turns out looking like this Peugeot...

The rattle can stuff looks like this...

+1 to all of this. Getting some paint on the frame so it looks "ok" from 5' is pretty easy. Getting a really top notch, show bike finish requires everything to be perfect. Perfect prep, perfect paint, perfect technique, perfect handling. Much of that comes from practice. Just keep in mind that a quality job takes a ton of time, and a bunch of work. You'll soon realize that a $800 paint job from Joe Bell is actually a pretty good deal considering the work involved. The few frames I've painted cost about $200 in paint, plus about $3000 worth of my time (if only someone was paying me for it).

As for equipment, Harbor Freight sells some nice HVLP guns that are knockoffs of expensive European brands. Airbrushes are too small, but the detail or touch-up guns are about right for a bike. (Full size guns are good too.). All of them take a ton of air, relative to small compressor outputs. You either need a compressor that can put out a lot of air ($$$), or a tank big enough to let you spray for 2-3 min at a time. At a minimum, something like a real 2HP compressor, and a 30 Gal tank. Bigger is better, tank wise. Just be aware that modern compressors are rated as "peak hp". That is a fancy term for "lying" :-). Just look at the current draw, and assume ~14 amps / (real) hp at 120v, or 7amps per at 240v. That same 1hp (real) might be labeled anywhere from 2-4 peak hp depending on the manufacturer.

Thanks. I should perhaps point out that I am closing in on retirement (next couple of years), so am considering others things I can do with my time which will keep me out of Ellen's hair. Perhaps riding, wrenching, painting... Again, just for myself, so there will only be one customer, and he can't be evaded.

Required for painting a frame? A frame and paint. However if you want it painted well you need expertise, something I ain't got. Lotta' practice would be good to have too, I s'pect.

I just came in from the lair. Ellen asked, "What were you doing?" Me: "Oh, measuring some frames to see how they compare with one that's for sale." Ellen: "Frames-uh. (Strong emphasis on the plural thing.) "You already have several bikes you like."

So, I think I better pass.

I want to paint my own stuff so bad but still a little scared to pull the trigger, after seeing some of the bikes Solar painted and asking him about what he uses I bought two full size guns, two touch up guns and even a gun for spraying metal flake, got mixing cups and strainers and even hangers for the guns. I already have a 80gal compressor, a sand/glass bead blasting cabinet big enough that a motorcycle frame fits in, water separator & filter, bags of extra fine metal flake in a ton of colors and rolls upon rolls of painters tape and a good selection of wet n dry sand paper. The one thing I don't have is a indoor spot for painting and I know from years of experience that I suck at body work lol. As others have said it's all in the prep work, cause painting is easy it's the prep work that's not lol. The one thing about the Harbor Freight spray guns is that you will need to take them completely apart, clean them with lacquer thinner and do some tweeking to them before you try and run paint thru them as they are loaded with silicon when you buy them.I was going to try the ready to paint Duplicolor automotive paints & did buy a quart of the clear to try spraying the flake with but just can't get up the nerve to actually paint something with it.

Glenn

[MENTION=147272]Glennfordx4[/MENTION] I also lack an indoor place to paint but this is not an insurmountable obstacle. It is helpful to have a roof of some sort to keep your work in the shade and to cut down somewhat on stray dust particles and pollen. I use a small covered deck but I have used a pop-up tent in the past. You will have to do a bit more sanding of dust particles and stray insects but it's not an insurmountable problem.

Time to wade in. For your first project my suggestion is to buy something at the coop or yard sale that is nice enough that you want to do a good job but cheap enough that the paint will be your biggest monetary loss if you don't like the results. The first frame I painted was a Peugeot mixte that was missing half its components and cost me $40.

Have fun.
Brent

I tried painting a bicycle frame with an airbrush gun and found it inadequate. Not only would it take ages, it would be very hard to create an even paintjob (it *is* very effective on paint use, though )
Its a bit like painting a sheet of paper one color with a ballpen.

However: There *is* an airbrush gun from Iwata which is a miniature HVLP gun, the Iwata Eclipse G3/G5



They describe it as "Unique “Pistol Grip” airbrush-guns, the Eclipse G-Series look like miniature spray guns, but spray and perform like a large airbrush."
https://www.iwata-medea.com/products/...es/eclipse/g3/

The best part is that it requires such a small ammount of air that allegedly, it can be used with an airbrush compressor. This is nice if you already own an airbrush compressor or, like me, can't run a big one for noise reasons (if that is not a concern for you, i guess using a "real" HVLP gun is the way to go)

I heard of people specializing in things like motorcycle helmets or tanks who use it for the base paint layer.

Downside: It is insanely expensive. But it might just be the thing for those small diameter tubes we are dealing with and for which the usual HVLP paintguns are just oversize.

Just the usual:

1. Time. To try painting it yourself. Then, when you're done, you can compromise and accept the job you did or add:
2. Money. To pay a pro to do a good job that you'll be happy with for years to come.


There are, of course, some exceptions to this pattern, but those folks are the outliers methinks.

A couple of thoughts short of getting into the spray gun & compressor:

1) Look into a do-it-yourself stand for painting the bike, have seen some clever approaches posted here.
2) Rust-Oleum makes some rattle can "Professional" paints that are alleged to be a bit tougher, you might consider a first try with them, though color choices are limited.
3) Reportedly a "2K" clear-coat adds toughness to a finish, and you can get that on eBay or I suppose other places in a single-use can.
4) Get a RESPIRATOR if you are going to use 2K paint.
5) Look into hand-pin striping, with "One shot" paint and a pin-stripe brushes, and there are a number of Youtube videos on how to do hand pin-striping. Even if you have someone else do the painting, you might enjoy doing the pin-striping yourself (I keep telling myself I am going to learn how to do this.....)

I restored an '85 Pinarello with my Dad a few years back. It was his old race bike and had peeling decals and trashed paint so it was really easier to repaint than salvage the existing paintwork.

The process involved paint stripper, some automotive primer, base coat, and clear coat.

Shot it all out of a cheap 15 year old HF 1.7 tip HVLP spray gun. Came out decent. It's all in the prep work as others have said.

Before:


During:


After color:



Finished with clear + decals:

Thanks Brent, Where I live there would be more bugs than paint if done outside, don't get me wrong I have painted a lot of things outside using my paint guns just not a bicycle. I have no shortage of bikes that I can practice on but with the cost of real paint I just can't afford to wast it, now if I use some cheap enamel then no problem. I have a shed that we built 14yrs ago that will be perfect for painting ( Which is my plan ) once I get my hording stuff gone, that itself is a whole other project. No matter what I work on I'm kinda a perfectionist which causes problems for me, at least working on stuff within my means it has to be right or I will drag my feet forever before I start it.Having the blasting cabinet I restore lots of different things from lamps to fans and anything that I deem worthy of saving. Just did a commercial fan last week that I paid $12 for that is now being used daily since I finished it, too many non bicycle projects around here also keeps me busy, I may have ADD on top of it lol.

Glenn

Such a large topic not enough space to cover (pun?).

Few things.
Equipment- most would be pleased to know the budget priced spraygun offered by HF are made in the same factory as the better name known as with initials 'D..bz' (will not disclose so as not to to get into legal trouble). HVLP or not, the key is finding one that will spray consistent and well atomized. HVLP is ideal because it atomizes the material well and gets it to the surface rather than clouding the air. As mentioned above, you need a BIG compressor but most important, one with high volume. Also, use an air hose with large id. You want the volume. I'm lucky enough to have three booths at hand and massive factory compressors to tap into.

Filtering could be another entire thread subject, but its critical to have filtering.

Let that chemistry work. The products available today are amazing. Though you've got to do your homework and follow those manufacturers directions. Personally, I find the two part urethane outstanding. I can spray something and actually handle short of 15 minutes! Of course its not fully cured but gives one the idea how remarkable this poison is.

I've sprayed in extreme wet dripping hot humidity but used lots of drier additive. Hated the timing of it but did just that for a fellow forum member. Couldn't believe but it turned out well. He procrastinated on getting the frame prepped and left it with me during a brutal week in August. Had to be ready to ride the following weekend. We started assembly the evening after spraying the clear. Yep.

Recently returned from the CR weekend. Had a few very interesting conversations with the best and much respected JP Weigle, J. Bell and J. Cunningham. Peter JUST a week prior to the weekend, sprayed his as usual stunning show bike and here he was riding it in the rain! Both he and Bell like Imron.

Anyways, theres many ways to paint from simple to major complicated and challenging. Suggest to explore and give it a try.