DIY Painting Stand
01-27-23, 09:54 AM
#1
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DIY Painting Stand
Hiya Folks,
I'm looking to try frame painting but I live in a London flat so I'm going to have to do any spraying in the garden.
So it seemed to me that a painting stand would be needed, here's my version I knocked up over Xmas - New Year.
The idea is to clamp the frame at the BB onto a handle and then put that handle on the stand or hang it up indoors while the paint sets.
I've just got a 1952 Bertin so I can test it now - and it works just fine.
Edit: You can also unbolt the base and flat pack it for storage .
Frame turned vertically:
Frame turned horizontally:
Forks:
Frame removed from stand and hung up (inside normally) for the paint to set:
And here's the plans:
I'm looking to try frame painting but I live in a London flat so I'm going to have to do any spraying in the garden.
So it seemed to me that a painting stand would be needed, here's my version I knocked up over Xmas - New Year.
The idea is to clamp the frame at the BB onto a handle and then put that handle on the stand or hang it up indoors while the paint sets.
I've just got a 1952 Bertin so I can test it now - and it works just fine.
Edit: You can also unbolt the base and flat pack it for storage .
Frame turned vertically:
Frame turned horizontally:
Forks:
Frame removed from stand and hung up (inside normally) for the paint to set:
And here's the plans:
Last edited by Aardwolf; 01-27-23 at 09:57 AM. Reason: More info
01-27-23, 10:50 AM
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Awesome. Thanks for sharing your idea.
01-27-23, 11:45 AM
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Bravo!
01-27-23, 11:46 AM
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Very nice!
I've been doing this with a repair stand. I use a snug-fitting seatpost (so far, I haven't had trouble finding one) to hold the frame and a sacrificial bottom bracket to protect the threads there.
This has worked reasonably well, but it's difficult to rotate the frame while the paint is wet.
Last year I bought a Wagner paint tent, which keeps the overspray from settling all over the garage. For outdoor purposes you might not care as much about that, but the tent would also help keep dust off of your paint. Of course, the tent makes having a proper respirator more important.
I've been doing this with a repair stand. I use a snug-fitting seatpost (so far, I haven't had trouble finding one) to hold the frame and a sacrificial bottom bracket to protect the threads there.
This has worked reasonably well, but it's difficult to rotate the frame while the paint is wet.
Last year I bought a Wagner paint tent, which keeps the overspray from settling all over the garage. For outdoor purposes you might not care as much about that, but the tent would also help keep dust off of your paint. Of course, the tent makes having a proper respirator more important.
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01-27-23, 11:57 AM
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Thanks for the details!!!
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01-27-23, 05:31 PM
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Originally Posted by Andy_K
For outdoor purposes you might not care as much about that, but the tent would also help keep dust off of your paint. Of course, the tent makes having a proper respirator more important.
I do understand the reasons for 2K, but my plan is 1K spray primer and clear, brush 1K colour.
I'll give that a try and see if I like the results.
(I'm testing the plan for when a Holdsworth Cyclone (1959-1965) turns up).
01-28-23, 05:39 AM
#8
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Well done! “Every time I’ve painted a frame” (once) I took a similar approach but used a long rod inserted all the way down the seat tube. Plenty of bearing surface = minimal stress at any one spot. Rod clamped horizontally, I could hold the frame out and rotate it as need to paint the knooks and crannies. I then used a shorter rod thru the HT to hang the frame to dry, then baked it in the back seat of the car for a few hot summer days. That frame has held up very well.
01-28-23, 06:54 AM
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@andy k - The tent is intriguing. They look too shallow to rotate the frame unless it its hung by the HT. How did you use it? Is the tent strong enough to hang a frame?
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01-28-23, 07:37 AM
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I have a couple of frames I'm going to have to look at painting in the future. This looks very well thought out and useful. Thanks for the ideas.
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01-28-23, 08:31 AM
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I have a great design in my head for one. Unfortunately I do not weld!
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01-28-23, 08:52 AM
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A stand is much better than hanging the frame by a piece of wire. Being able to rotate the frame so you can see all the hidden areas pays off with complete and even coverage. I don't paint frames very often, so I didn't build a dedicated stand. I clamped a broomstick horizontally in my Workmate stand and slipped the frame's seat tube over it. I used another dowel to hold the fork. The weight was toward the head tube, so the frame would hang with the head tube down, but there was enough friction to hold the head tube on the top while I hit all the nooks and crannies. I don't have a picture of the painting in progress, but you can see the broomstick in the clamp.
B&D Workmate/paint stand
B&D Workmate/paint stand
01-28-23, 12:00 PM
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Originally Posted by SJX426
@andy k - The tent is intriguing. They look too shallow to rotate the frame unless it its hung by the HT. How did you use it? Is the tent strong enough to hang a frame?
There's not a lot of room in the garage bay with the tent set up, so the only picture I have is of a painted bike drying inside the tent.
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01-28-23, 12:29 PM
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Aardwolf, that's a a great DIY project, both the stand and the painting of a frame.
I continue to think about this, so let's call it critique not criticism or questions so I can better understand how your paint stand works.
Would it be better if the foot which extends out under the frame were a bit longer (out under the frame)? As it is, it looks like the stand might tip over due to the long cantilevered arm holding the frame.
Alternatively, or maybe in addition, would it be better to have a counter weight opposite the frame to bring it into balance over the center post? Something like a 10 pound weight over an arm 1/2 the length of the frame's support arm (just a guess).
I continue to think about this, so let's call it critique not criticism or questions so I can better understand how your paint stand works.
Would it be better if the foot which extends out under the frame were a bit longer (out under the frame)? As it is, it looks like the stand might tip over due to the long cantilevered arm holding the frame.
Alternatively, or maybe in addition, would it be better to have a counter weight opposite the frame to bring it into balance over the center post? Something like a 10 pound weight over an arm 1/2 the length of the frame's support arm (just a guess).
01-28-23, 12:48 PM
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Originally Posted by Andy_K
Very nice!
I've been doing this with a repair stand. I use a snug-fitting seatpost (so far, I haven't had trouble finding one) to hold the frame and a sacrificial bottom bracket to protect the threads there.
This has worked reasonably well, but it's difficult to rotate the frame while the paint is wet.
Last year I bought a Wagner paint tent, which keeps the overspray from settling all over the garage. For outdoor purposes you might not care as much about that, but the tent would also help keep dust off of your paint. Of course, the tent makes having a proper respirator more important.
I've been doing this with a repair stand. I use a snug-fitting seatpost (so far, I haven't had trouble finding one) to hold the frame and a sacrificial bottom bracket to protect the threads there.
This has worked reasonably well, but it's difficult to rotate the frame while the paint is wet.
Last year I bought a Wagner paint tent, which keeps the overspray from settling all over the garage. For outdoor purposes you might not care as much about that, but the tent would also help keep dust off of your paint. Of course, the tent makes having a proper respirator more important.
I am not a fan of a "tent" I am sure it works save that chemicals can enter through your eyes too.
health and safety are an overall evaluation.
as a chum way back at college stated flatly, there are no old Imron painters.
that is outlawed in California now.
and of the two part catalyzed paints have great performance and are just that much more treacherous.
01-28-23, 01:42 PM
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Originally Posted by Bad Lag
Would it be better if the foot which extends out under the frame were a bit longer (out under the frame)? As it is, it looks like the stand might tip over due to the long cantilevered arm holding the frame.
My size frame is about 23" seat tube, so centre of mass of the frame is maybe 11.5" from BB.
The footing extends 18" from the center, so in theory if the BB was more than 6.5" from the center it might topple.
However the frame weighs 2.3Kg and the stand itself weights 4.39 Kg so the center of mass never gets that far from the center.
The furthest I can set the BB from the center is about 8.5" (the 30mm dowel came in that length) and it's no where near tipping.
01-31-23, 01:28 PM
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Originally Posted by mtbikerjohn
That is awesome engineering..My wife & I are jealous of the "London flat with a garden" part 
I've also got a side passage straight to the road with only 4 steps.
