Kingsley's FAQ & Frame Strip & Paint Options

hippy

I want to strip and paint a CHEAP frame. There were links to frame
painting info in the FAQ but it seems to be down/gone?

I don't want to do a Suzy and buy a heap of gear to paint it so it looks
like my options are:

1) Sand it down with sandpaper (god no!) and paint it myself (aerosol
can spraypaint).

2) Pay someone to blast it and paint it myself.

3) Pay someone to blast it and pay someone to powdercoat it

4) Pay someone to blast it and pay someone to paint it

I think these are in order of escalating cost.

Does anyone know what this sort of work will cost retail in Melbourne?

Should I stick with paint or give powdercoating a go?

The frame is old and heavy but could be made to look really nice with a
pro paint job and really BAD with a hippy paint job

My mate said I should try and get a car resprayer to paint it using
leftover paint from a car??

Kingsley - Are you still hosting the aus.bicycle FAQ?

Thanks for any suggestions! hippy



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Resound

hippy wrote:
> I want to strip and paint a CHEAP frame. There were links to frame
> painting info in the FAQ but it seems to be down/gone?
> I don't want to do a Suzy and buy a heap of gear to paint it so it looks
> like my options are:
> 1) Sand it down with sandpaper (god no!) and paint it myself (aerosol
> can spraypaint).
> ...<snip>...
> Thanks for any suggestions! hippy



I'm thinking the same thoughts, but my difficulties are somewhat
different. I have no fear on the sand and paint the bike myself side of
things, but the disassembly and masking process has me wondering.
Specifically, can anyone point me at a resource that lets me know about
the pitfalls I'm likely to run inbto with regards to pulling apart and
reassembling things like the stem and cranks? I'm an utter noob in this
regard, so any advice would be much appeciated.



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Terry Collins

hippy wrote:

....snip.....

> 1) Sand it down with sandpaper (god no!) and paint it myself (aerosol
> can spraypaint).

Paint stripper. Depending on the quality of the original job, it may
take up to 5 coats.

hippy

Originally posted by Resound
>Specifically, can anyone point me at a resource that lets me >know
>about the pitfalls I'm likely to run inbto with regards to >pulling
>apart and reassembling things like the stem and cranks?

www.sheldonbrown.com has loads of info when it comes to
installing/maintaining bike hardware...

Another question of frame preparation..

What is the best way to remove cable guides and kickstand mounts from
the Apollo frame? I think the angle grinder might have to come out to
play.. I'll be careful, really I will...

hippy



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hippy

>Originally posted by Terry Collins
>> 1) Sand it down with sandpaper (god no!) and paint it myself (aerosol
>> can spraypaint).
>
>Paint stripper. Depending on the quality of the original job, it may
>take up to 5 coats.

Yeah, I would apply that before the finer sanding. Coles don't have any
though and all the auto shops were closed when I looked for it. Maybe
Bunnings would have some?

Which option would you choose for painting? I think getting an auto
painter would be a nice option, but I need help justifying a paint job
worth 10x more than the frame.

Is powder coating more durable than paint? I'm guessing so..

hippy



--

Parbs

hippy wrote:
> I want to strip and paint a CHEAP frame. There were links to frame
> painting info in the FAQ but it seems to be down/gone?
>
> I don't want to do a Suzy and buy a heap of gear to paint it so it
> looks like my options are:
>
> 1) Sand it down with sandpaper (god no!) and paint it myself (aerosol
> can spraypaint).

I've done this as a kid, the frame is still kicking around under my parents' house, never again. It did keep me off the streets for
quite a few weekends.

<snip>


> 2) Pay someone to blast it and paint it myself.
>
> 3) Pay someone to blast it and pay someone to powdercoat it
>
> 4) Pay someone to blast it and pay someone to paint it
>
> I think these are in order of escalating cost.
>
<snip>

I'd chose paint, but not for any really good reason.

Parbs

Terry Collins

hippy wrote:
>
> >Originally posted by Terry Collins
> >> 1) Sand it down with sandpaper (god no!) and paint it myself (aerosol
> >> can spraypaint).
> >
> >Paint stripper. Depending on the quality of the original job, it may
> >take up to 5 coats.
>
> Yeah, I would apply that before the finer sanding. Coles don't have any
> though and all the auto shops were closed when I looked for it. Maybe
> Bunnings would have some?

I get mine from a real hardware store, but yep, Bunnings, etc should
have it.

Basically, I put it on and wait until a fair bit has blistered (~30
minutes) then scrapped and/or wire brushed it off. Wear googles. then I
just repeated it again and again.

>
> Which option would you choose for painting? I think getting an auto
> painter would be a nice option, but I need help justifying a paint job
> worth 10x more than the frame.

It is absolutely a waste of time asking me about painting. I just slap
some household enamel on my bikes. It horrified the guy that did some
frame mods for me a few decades ago (an apollo III actually), but I've
never had my bike nicked. I was going to uni at the time.


> Is powder coating more durable than paint? I'm guessing so..

Unfortunately, the only powder coating I ever had done (for some signs)
came back fscked (pin holes everywhere), so I would strongly suggest
only dealing with a reputable painter.

hippy

>Originally posted by Terry Collins
> >Paint stripper. Depending on the quality of the original job, it may
> >take up to 5 coats.

>I get mine from a real hardware store, but yep, Bunnings, etc
>should have it.

They do, but they want $18 for a litre. The guy said I'd need a litre to
strip a bike frame (he was guessing). Sounds like a lot of hardcore
chemicals to remove some paint! Assuming I remember and have time, I'll
call some places tomorrow and see how much it costs to have a frame
blasted clean.. then decide.

thanks for your suggestions, hippy



--

Bikesoiler

hippy wrote:
> I want to strip and paint a CHEAP frame.
> 3) Pay someone to blast it and pay someone to powdercoat it



I recomend powdercoat.

Gripsport use a good & experienced powdercoat place, not cheap though. ~
$180, I think.

I also heard this place is OK. Call 'em up for a price.

Bell Powder Coating 112 Bell St Preston 3072
(03) 9484 6007



--

suzyj

Originally posted by hippy:

> I don't want to do a Suzy and buy a heap of gear to paint

So is being verbed a good thing or a bad thing?

Your best cheap bet is to buy some paint stripper. Half a litre or so
will do. Paint it on, leave it a couple of hours, then set to with wire
brush and paint scraper. Wear rubber gloves, as it does really
interesting things to your skin otherwise.

As for painting options, I thoroughly recommend a compressor, paint gun,
and some good quality paint, but if I were starving I'd try some of the
enamel spray cans you can get from the hardware store. Steer away from
car touch-up paint, as it's not very durable and will chip badly.

Use a file to take off and stuff you don't want from the frame, rather
than a grinder. A grinder is liable to get things too hot.

Best of luck,

Suzy



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hippy

>Originally posted by Bikesoiler I recomend powdercoat.

As do all the auto spray painters I just called..

>Gripsport use a good & experienced powdercoat place, not cheap though.
>~ $180, I think.

Ouch!

After wrestling with yellowpages.com.au, which spits out powder
coaters for one suburb and 17 for the suburb next to it, I have the
following quote:

For a steel bike frame and fork it will cost $25-30 for sand blasting
and $39 for coating and will take about a week. I found another place
that will coat for $30, but they don't blast and all the other blasters
are more expensive than $25-30.

Question: Is sandblasting okay on a bike frame? What about the
various threads?

hippy



--

flyingdutch

How 'softcore' are you getting?

money is flowing. effort is being averted. those bicycle express frames
may end up cheaper than your project at this rate!

next thing you'll be assigning someone to ride it for you

running away now. all hopes of getting hippy's discarded ENO hub gone...



--

hippy

>Originally posted by suzyj
>>hippy I don't want to do a Suzy and buy a heap of gear to paint
>
>So is being verbed a good thing or a bad thing?

Most definately a good thing! Much respect for your garage-efforts! I
don't have the time/patience/tools/room/<insert any other excuses here>
to do the stuff you do..

>Your best cheap bet is to buy some paint stripper.

The Bunnings guy I called said I'd need a litre and it would cost $18.
The quote I just got for blasting was for $25-30. If this deal remains,
I'm going to drop it off at this mob and get it blasted and powder-
coated (sounds more durable than paint) for $70. I am happy with that
price and I also like the fact that a litre of seriously toxic crud
doesn't end up in my backyard.

>As for painting options, I thoroughly recommend a compressor, >paint
>gun, and some good quality paint, but if I were starving >I'd try
>some of the enamel spray cans you can get from the >hardware store.
>Steer away from car touch-up paint, as it's not >very durable and
>will chip badly.

I was going to do the spraycan paintjob, but the blast+coat is much more
tempting. It might cost me $50 more, but I'm willing to pay that for
what I know will be a better finish.

>Use a file to take off and stuff you don't want from the frame, >rather
>than a grinder. A grinder is liable to get things too hot.

Cheers! I will try to find a file and give it a go tonight. I don't even
have a workbench or a vice at home so Bunnings might be getting some
of my cash tonight...

Thanks again! hippy



--

Bikesoiler

hippy wrote:
> [B After wrestling with yellowpages.com.au, which spits out powder
> coaters for one suburb and 17 for the suburb next to it, I have the
> following quote:
> For a steel bike frame and fork it will cost $25-30 for sand blasting
> and $39 for coating and will take about a week. I found another place
> that will coat for $30, but they don't blast and all the other blasters
> are more expensive than $25-30.
> Question: Is sandblasting okay on a bike frame? What about the
> various threads?
> hippy



I would recomend bead blasting over sandblasting. Not sure about threads
but am sure I'd only give any frame of mine to someone who has done bike
frames &/or thin tubes before.



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