Bicycle Funk

Not sure if this is the ideal forum to post this in but here goes.

Now first off I've read every possible thread I can find on spray painting clear coat off bikeforums/internet in general, but it doesn't answer this one question I still have.

Since it's whats locally available and I've read very good things about it, I will be using Dupli-colors automotive wheel clear coat in the spray can. Either that or Duplicolors 'Perfect Match' automotive clear coat, also a spray can.

Now I've read online and was told by local bike shops to let each layer sprayed to dry completely and rub it with a rubbing compound, and repeat about 3 times or so until you get the desired gloss/depth/shine.

My question is on the back of these spray cans it says to apply all coats within an hour and to wait no longer than 10 minutes between coats. Any experienced painters wish to shed some light and say it's ok if I allow each coat to separately dry and be buffed in between?

As far as painting on actual powdercoating, from my research I've read that it's an excellent surface for clear coat to adhere to. Would you agree and do you have anything extra to add to that?

Thank you in advance for any help, it's greatly appreciated.

-Armand

Nessism

Rattle can paint pretty much sucks but if you must, follow the mfg'er instructions. Don't monkey around with critical recoat times or you may wind up with a bunch of wrinkled paint.

ultraman6970

If you are planning in using a rattlecan like the ones in the hardware store i advice you to do not do it because thats a lacquer and it might eat the powder coating, powder coating it is like a enamel and the paint is not hot, duplicolor is a laquer also and thats a hot paint.

What u can do is this, use u-pol #1 that is clear coat can, it is polyurethane, it will cost you like 15 bucks and u can sand it and polish it next day w/o any problems.

Or

1 find a place that sells car pain and buy a quart of clear coat and the activator with it. Follow the instructions or the paint job could fail. With 1/4 u will have paint like for 500 bikes
2 buy a preval spray gun, this is a spray gun that use a compress air can, the kit is like 10 to 15 bucks, and it comes with a bottle, so basically is just pour the mix into the bottle and spray the bike, done.
3 wait untill next day, sand the runs and problems, polish using your fav polishing compound.
4 Done, super shine.

unterhausen

urethane clears contain isocyanates, which can kill you or give you asthma. Even an activated charcoal mask isn't a guarantee of safety. So I'm thinking that getting some and putting it in a rattle can might not be the best idea.

ultraman6970

That's why u have to get a pretty good mask, and paint in a super well ventilated area.

NoReg

You need supplied air, not doing that is how all the guys get killed. It also helps to be working on something larger than a bike frame or in a really small space. The other good technique (survival side) is brushing, but I don't imagine that would pass muster in this case.

Nessism

Urethane is not good stuff to breath, but for occasional use, outside with good ventilation, and using a charcoal mask, the risks are not extreme. I've painted a bunch of bikes and motorcycle parts over the years using catalyzed urethane without (noticeable) ill effect.

ultraman6970

Brushing? I can't even imagine the time that will take to sand that to get it right, u can brush wood clear that is urethane too, i have heard it flats pretty good but the issue i have with the wood clear urethane is that with the time gets yellowish (Lacks UV protection), car paint urethane doesn't do that.

unterhausen

I used urethane clear on my tandem years ago before it was commonly used on bicycles. I used an activated charcoal face mask, and limited my exposure times. This is lucky, because if you read up on the problems that it can cause, it's not a good thing to mess around with. People have sprayed truck beds with similar coatings without proper ventilation or protection for years without noticeable symptoms. Other people have developed untreatable severe asthma after a few hours of similar exposure. So the fact that some people have done home projects without effect is not surprising. My understanding is that if you change your charcoal filters often enough, it will not affect you, but it is impossible to know how often "enough" is.