How do you paint a bike?

Question

I have a cruddy hand me down bike and I wanted to paint it before school starts. But how can I go about such thing? Can someone please give me a nice step by step process on painting a bike and including what type of paint ect. Thanks!

Answer 1

Hey, you pretty much have to pull it all apart and paint everything separately, the frame being the main component.

In the past I have just used a good quality spray paint from a hardware shop. Make sure you hang every part that you want to paint so you get a good even coating instead of trying to paint it all on the ground. Obviously you don't paint the rims and workable parts. (The frame is the main part).

And then to jazz it up a little you can buy stickers from a cycling shop to put on it to make it look flash. Go for some well known cool Italian racing bike brand or something like that.

Hope this helps

Answer 2

It isn't easy, but is possible... just take your time, don't rush.

1) After completely disassembling the bike have it sandblasted to remove ALL the finish. If the frame is aluminum, it should be walnut shell blasted, or you can chemically strip the paint.

2) Spray it as soon as possible with grey SANDABLE lacquer primer. DUPLICOLOR brand paint is all lacquer, I think, and you can get it from your local autoparts store. Buy the BIG cans, not the small ones. Apply at least 1 full can, in coats, 15 minutes apart. Don't worry about light runs for now.

3) Wait at least 48 hours. There is a difference between dry paint and cured paint... it needs to be cured. Sand the primer using 220 grit aluminum oxide paper (white in color) until the surface is smooth. It shouldn't take much unless you have a lot of runs.

4) Using a tack rag, lightly go over the entire frame (don't rub!) to remove the sanding dust.

5) Apply several light coats (3 or 4 perhaps) of the color of your choice. Make sure the frame is completely covered. Follow the directions on the can. Again, use LACQUER, the same brand that you used for primer. Apply coats 1/2 hour apart. Be sure you cover every part and do NOT get runs. If you get runs you are applying it too heavily.

6) Do NOT sand the color coats. Apply the LACQUER clear coats, perhaps 2 full cans worth, coats 15 minutes apart..

7) Let the frame alone until you can't smell the paint anymore when you get up close and take a big whiff. If you can smell it, it ain't dry! This will take 2 to 3 days at least.

8) Wet sand the entire frame CAREFULLY with 800 grit, then 1000 grit sandpaper. Make sure to keep the paper wet and to wipe away the white slurry that forms. If you start to see the color in the slurry, STOP! You have sanded too hard and reached the color coats. Repeat steps 5, 6, and 7, then try again. Don't try to "touch up" the area, it will look terrible.

9) Using white paste polishing compound, follow the directions and polish out the whole frame.

10) Do NOT wax or wash for at least 10 days.

If you rush this you will end up with a sloppy mess and you'll kick yourself for ever trying. However, if you take your time and do it right it'll be a very cool feeling.