repainting a bike
 

hi, so i have this giant expressions (very dull colours) which i use as a touring bike, i m slowly upgrading it, brooks saddle, tiagra hubs 36 holes, shifters etc, its a crmo frame, which handles pretty well when loaded. in a few words i really love this bike. i was thinking of repainting it in a surly lht green , has anyone of you ever done it, the paint is still good, just ....dull... :twitchy:

thanks

david

I've repainted a bike frame before, and it was enough of a pain that I wouldn't do it again unless the frame were rusty or the existing paint is in bad shape.

You need to remove all of the components from the frame, sand off the existing paint (a rotary wire brush on an electric drill can be helpful here), make sure that there isn't any rust, and clean it with rubbing alcohol.

The best paint to use is auto paint, and you need to apply a primer if you want the paint job to last. Hanging the frame from the ceiling is probably best. It is also important to paint in a clean place so that little bits of dirt and dust don't stick to the paint as it dries. You will probably want to apply two or even three coats of paint to the bike.

Also, don't get paint in the BB shell - you'll probably need to chase the threads if you do.

Ask GMOLTON if they will powdercoat it.

they are over in Qormi

info@gmolton.com
Telephone:
+356 21485206
+356 21485207

I would also recommend powder coat as it will last much longer. When finished having it painted make sure you clean the paint off of the face of the BB shell and head tube. It is not much work than building the bike from the ground up and it would be a great chance to run through everything and clean up and replace all that is needed like cables, re-grease hubs and headset if needed etc.

If you love the bike no reason not to make it your own, its much cheaper than a new frame! Most cities have local powder coat shops that will do single simple colors pretty cheap.

I've painted a couple of frames. The last one I did was in 2007 and the paint is still in decent condition. It would probably be in better shape had I let it set longer or baked it before reassembling for my commute.

Just as mentioned, you'll have to tear it all down. This is not the worst thing in the world. It gives you a chance to look everything over, repack bearings, etc. The dis-assembly and reassembly of my first painted bike was a great learning experience. By the time I was done, I knew every part of the bike and why it was there.

Before I started painting, I put a layer of grease in the headset threads and BB threads and masking-taped the races and chrome headset.
As for painting it, I recommend self-etching primer. It costs a bit more than regular primer but it is good stuff. You can find it at your local auto parts store.
I had a hard time getting a glossy finish to look good. The bike I painted with a flat finish came out nicer looking than the one with a glossy finish.

I'm glad I did it and would recommend DIY painting to anyone interested in attempting it. However, I'll probably not do it again. In the future, I'd likely pay a professional to either paint or powdercoat it.

positron are you fro malta??

thanks guys, i am upgrading almost everything so i think i ll go for it

The vintage forums here are full of great how to threads.

I am a believer in powder coating. Take everything off of the frame and then take the frame to a good powder coating shop, let them strip the frame and powder coat it. Should last a long time.

nope, Jien ********. Malta pajjiz sabih hafna!