Painting Prep Question
 

So I am getting close to finishing my touring frame with just so e filing and a few brazeons to do. Next up is painting. I do have a homemade sandblasting cabinet and have done maybe 6-7 frames completely stripped, primed,base coat and clear. But this current frame is using the fork from my Surly LHT. It has been powder coated and is in good shape.
I cou just have the color match done and wet paint the frame. BUT if I want to repaint the fork would a rough up in the sandblast cabinet then prime & etc. be adequate?
This bike will be going g on tour in Europe so it needs to .look good!

- Colors that are almost the same but not quite, IMO, are worse than two different colors.
- I've rattle canned clear over powder coat with just 400ish grit sanding with no problems in adhesion or durability that I've noticed.

My suggestion is to strip the fork fully and paint it as you do the frame. If all the same paint there's no small tint difference, you've fully controlled the situation and not assumed on the PC agreeability with primer/paint. Does the wife have any specific color preferences? Andy

This one is my bike! She thinks the blue that is on the old fork is quite nice.

Happy wife... Andy

I agree with what Andy says. I used an automotive polyurethane over powder and it seems to be holding up mostly ok but was damaged in a work stand clamp. I'm not sure I would do it that way again. I think used like 800 sandpaper and that might not have been toothy enough. I also did one with 2k clear and it seems better but that one has seen less use. I really want clear over powder to work so decals can be applied under the clear.

The reason I am trying to just match the color is the fork currently resides on my Surly LHT. I am using that fork on my new frame. Actually when the Tubus front rack and panniers are on not much of the fork is showing.
As much as I would like a perfect match this is a working touring bike that will be getting a good workout.