rothenfield1

I've got a steel frame that I want to perform my first good paint touch-up on. I remember talking with a professional frame refinisher once who was emphatic about getting all the oils and other contaminants off the frame before painting. This is not a high-end frame, but I would like to make my best stab at doing it right. I've got some Testors model paint that seem to match pretty well. I thought about at least rubbing the chipped areas down with rubbing alcohol first, but wondered if there was a preferred way?

Sci-Fi

Your painter/frame refinisher uses Prepsol, available at larger paint stores or auto paint supply stores. Kleen-All is an equivalent solvent you can buy at Wal*Mart. If you want good adhesion use one of these solvents. Small chips can be filled by using a toothpick or small brush and let capillary action with a small amount of paint flow into the chipped area. Let dry and repeat as often as necessary to build up enough layers to be even. Wet sand and then use a polish like Meg's fine polish to bring the gloss back and nobody can tell where the repair was. Larger chips may require wet sanding first then several thin coats of paint.

Go to a 'clear bra' installation place and see if they have scraps you can use to or buy a sheet (they can cut it to the dimensions you supply) protect vulnerable areas. Should be easy to apply since you are wrapping tubing, not complicated curves/shapes found on cars. It's similar to applying decals. In any case, the clear bra will protect your paint for years.