eschlwc

where can i get a can of aerosol mixed to a color match of a front fork?

what will one can cost?

i'm hoping to respray the fork, top tube and seat stays of this '80 windsor.



- bill in seattle

3alarmer 

.
...the closest I can get one here in California is over in Nevada. They stopped locally because of environmental restrictions and costs. I can't even get oil based enamels mixed to order in cans.

eschlwc

hey, 3a.

shucks.

redscampi

I went to my local WESCO auto body store with the fork from my Motobecane Le Champion in Silver Lilac. I bought a pint to shoot through my air brush. They did a pretty darn good job of matching the color. Cost was a bit steep, $100+, I would not do it for a lesser bike.

3alarmer 

...it has made my life more difficult. Still not a living hell, but harder. The best I can seem to do is at the local radio controlled modelling store, where they have a rack of different enamel pints in a wide variety of colors. One section is small spray cans which come closer than the stuff at Home Depot. It usually comes close enough that if I ride fast, from far away it looks OK.

nlerner

I've taken a fork into my local AutoZone to try and match the paint, but the in-store supply of DupliColor was pretty limited. Online, however, you can get any color that you want. The key is to find a car with the matching color, and then look up that car's paint color on the DupliColor site (though this assumes you can figure out the year the car was made). No, it's not easy, but those cans only cost about $5-7$ each.

3alarmer 

...thanks, I did not know that.

eschlwc

wo. yeah, i was hoping for under $20.

the guys at seattle powder coat want $175 ... and i'd have to remove the headset and then have it pressed back in place. that's too much for a bike i won't actually keep forever.

hey, neal. thanks. i have an autozone. can't hurt to go in there and ask for advice.

did they ship it to you?

especially with this odd greyish color.

love that.

nlerner

Bill, I ordered that paint online via Amazon.

garage sale GT

I have seen kits in a hardware store in which an aerosol can pressurizes a container which can be filled with the paint of your choice. Maybe someone knows where they can mix up some custom oil based paint for it.

3alarmer 

.
...apparently, Duplicolor also has color chip charts (you can find them online) that may or may not be available where the paints are sold. I'm gonna go look for one this week.

eschlwc

ezacly whachoo be lookin' fo, foo?

3alarmer 

......Duplicolor Paint Shop Chart

eschlwc

any success?

SaulGoode

If you have an auto body supply store near I would go there if I were you. The have paint chip books you can match a chip to your frame and they can custom mix a one time use spray can and you are good to go as long as you take the time to prep it well. I like this route bc the paint quality is auto grade (single stage), and the tips on the spray can are usually superior to low end spray paint. You can even pick up a single of clear coat if you want. The price is a little more than auto zone but IMHO the quality of product is better. '

I would call ahead though just to make sure they offer custom cans.

Good luck

Jicafold

Have the headset pressed back into place? That is something you do yourself with a block of wood and a hammer.

eschlwc

ok, saul. thanks.

eschlwc

i ended up going to autozone with fork in hand and picked up two cans of dupicolor and a clear. i sprayed the seat stays, top tube, head tube and fork. it turned out alright. i would probably do this again. lessons learned are to go above and beyond with the sanding/prep work and spray two more coats of duplicolor when i think i've done enough. it's pretty difficult work.

speedy25

For any others needing matching paint that ISNT in the parts store inventory...

Check your local autobody supply store. The one near me even has a sign outside that they can make computer matched color spray cans for $20. Its especially handy if your color has any fade.

-SP

CV-6 

The local auto body supply store is a better bet to match a color. Trying to match a color chip on a computer monitor is iffy as not all monitors are created equal. That is actual color may not represent on the monitor.