Anyone know of anyone who does frame painting in Michigan? Preferably around the Detroit area. I'm customizing/restoring a Schwinn Superior (it was my bike when I was a teenager). There are a couple places that do powder coating but having trouble locating anyone that actually paints frames.

Thanks for any recommendations and sorry if this is the wrong forum for this question.

I've been building and painting frames in Michigan since 1976. I'm in Niles on the other side of the state just above South Bend, Indiana. Matt Assenmacher in Swartz Creek (closer to you) has been doing it even longer than me. He runs a bike store so he usually does paint jobs in the winter. What age is your frame? Is it the age when Schwinn did candy colors or was it later when they did solids?

I'm not sure what kind of paint Matt uses now. We all used to use Dupont Imron (or PPG equivalent). I've found that the House of Kolor pearls + candies can replicate old Schwinn colors. I've been wanting to repaint a 1965 Schwinn Super Sport. If you want to help with the grunt work while I do the spraying we can work out a deal doing them at the same time.

I would take Doug's offer up if at all possible. Besides a great paint job you'll have a blast and learn far more then you ever thought was needed.

Have you checked out any motorcycle shops for their painters? I would avoid auto painters if they have had no experience with a bike frame. The differences between spraying a broad and gently flowing shape (like a car body) and that of a frame made of tubing is rather large. The powder coater I have used also offers a wet spray job at about twice the cost of PC. Not up to the grade of Doug's work but local to me and less $.

Some (like Doug has to me) will say that of all aspects of a self built frame that should be splurged on the paint is #1 . Why? because the lay person will see the finish grade and assume the frame building is of the same level of skill. So a cheap PC or wet job will be stating the frame build is also of a cheap and cost savings manor. Andy

1. I have a 72 Paramount striped to bare metal in Traverse City looking for some one to paint it and a ball park price
2. jack, I do not think Assenmacher is currently painting as I contacted them about painting my 70’s Viner

Assenmacher closed their Flint store which had the paint shop. They've only got the Grand Blanc store now and not planning to do any painting. He does great frame work though. He's done all the frame work on this superior so far.

ahhhh... nuts. https://www.assenmachers.com/about/b...epair-pg66.htm

I have a couple of frames I would like to get wet-painted and not powder coated.

xaztec -- i would be curious to know if you found a local painter or went with Mr. Doug Fattic. Thanks.
as a passing thought: https://tedsliwinski.com/gldgld - out of Metropolis Cycles on Mich. Ave in Corktown. He seems to build more than just bike frames. I wonder if he paints or has a solid contact.
If I get serious I'll post an update. But it'll be next year.
Thanks.

I have seen examples of Doug Fattic's paintwork and it is highly recommended.

If it doesn't work out with Doug, send it to Franklin Frames in Ohio

did a 3 color fade w/metallic clear coat a few years past for $150.the owner knows his biz.https://hhpowdercoating.com/

Groovy! Thanks.
I was thinking powder for My trail bike.
I’ll check it out soon.

MRV, COVID put the kibosh on painting with Doug as he's on the other side of Michigan. I haven't painted it yet. Thinking of just clearcoating it as is...at least for now. I'll see how things are in things spring and hopefully Doug is safe and sound and still willing.

This is me attempting to do a color fade on a $60 Facebook Bianchi- complete.
I am thinking of returning it to a proper Celeste green Probably a powder coat.
Its not a bad frame. 1990 double butted lugged made in Taiwan. Only clears a 2 inch tire but a better bike won’t speed me up on the trails.
The point- you can rattle can to protect the frame. It’s not as good as a pro. But sometimes it’s fine.
cheers



- funny my screen grab caught the mute message

I think I'd recommend a just a primer if you have a bare steel frame. My understanding - and I am open to correction - clear coating may not protect the metal as you are intending, or may not adhere well.
Take care and let me know how your painting endeavor works out.

clear coating looks cool for a while as the rust slowly takes over. After about a year you'll be sick of it and want paint

Last summer, I figured out what the car guys are doing for bare steel look and promptly forgot. Oil works pretty well. Boiled linseed oil covered in wax works okay. I have thought about using cold gun blue followed by oil and wax.

I've tried cold gun blue then a bit of WD40. Then let that dry and 2K clear. It looks pretty badass but it remains to be seen how well it will hold up.

Doug, are you still painting??

Yes, in a somewhat limited sort of way. My teaching framebuilding classes comes first and then I'm chair of an elementary school board and organizer of our Ukraine Bicycle Project and then whatever time is left over I can do painting. I teach painting too. What this means is that I can't promise a definite finishing date of painting work dropped off. It will get done, but it will get done when all the greater priorities are finished. Where are you located?

You might also look into auto body and hot rod custom shops - I'm right next to Full Auto in Ann Arbor, they do all kinds of custom work (including some pretty fancy custom stuff). I haven't had a bike frame painted there but he welded a trailer axle for a custom camper build for me, great to work with and reasonable. I was thinking about having the frame I'm working on right now painted by him and he quoted me ~3-5 hours of labor @$100/hr to do it (which would have included stripping/media blasting, primer/base/flake/candy/clear) - decided that's not in the budget right now though.

If you're just looking for a single color though, I can't recommend powder coating enough. I have an old schwinn varsity frame that I had powder coated ages ago to make a goofy ape-hanger bike with and that stuff is TOUGH. Had another old frame powder coated a translucent candy red for my dad and it looks awesome. A sandblasted frame with a translucent powder coat is a very unique look and a very durable and affordable alternative to a flake paint job. Only bad news is powder coating really can't be painted over reliably for the most part so you can't do any embellishment to the paint job. You can at least put decals on it. Probably powder coating will come out cheaper than a good paint job too.

In Stevensville. Thinking winter time. Truly a blast to see your name pop up in my search! (you probably don’t remember)