classic Subaru Si

Hi all, picked up a cheap mountain bike that just needs tidying up really - new wheels and a paint job. anyone resprayed a bike before? wanting to change the colour to maybe white (currently blue) Obviously I'm gonna strip it down to just the frame, just after some tips really!?!? Last time I resprayed a bike, it was my super burner bmx that I sprayed on the garden when I was 12

Coffin Dodger

No but can't imagine it would be that easy due to all the fiddly bits on it, expect runs.

That said I'd have a go with some rattle cans, can always sand off any bad bits between coats,

classic Subaru Si

yeah, that's my plan - doesn't have to be showroom standard. Was just gonna lay down a primer base coat with 3 coats on top with said rattlers, and maybe finish off with some sort of clear **** to protect it

BLU

iTrader: (27)

By the time you've bought all the rattle cans, wet and dry etc it'd be just as cheap to get it powder coated!!

classic Subaru Si

how much do you reckon for powder coat??

2000 sport

iTrader: (1)

you would get it blasted and powdercoated for about £30 - £40..

classic Subaru Si

****, that's cheap - would it be up to me to plug all the area's that don't need doing (where the cables run through sleeves etc..)? or is that a bit of a silly question? I've only seen stuff being powercoated on American chopper and they always have to start grinding the cr@p out of it cos the forks won't go through the jokes??

The Zohan

What the frame made from? - if alloy then etch primer first

BLU

iTrader: (27)

Just let the powdercoat man know, he'll make sure those bits aren't coated.

paulr

Rattle cans can look awful. Okay when you are 12, but................

BOB.T

Get it bead blasted and then powder coated

Rattle cans will be crap and won't last

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

I beg to differ: me and my lad painted his Leeson trials bike frame with Hammerite smooth white about four years ago. It looks great and is still going strong.

2000 sport

iTrader: (1)

Its only really the BB, seat tube and head tube that will need plugging. When I had my last frame powdercoated they used a paint-on masking gum which I removed after it was done. Everything else gets coated.. I refaced the BB, head tube and IS brake mounts when I got it back, but that's not really neccessary if its a cheap bike to be honest..

Leslie

You can get a perfectly good finish with spray cans, not forgetting the clear lacquer coat to finish it off. A bike frame would be easy to do since there are no large flat areas to do.

Powder coating is obviously the best way if you are prepared to pay the money.

Les

The Zohan

Er, no, not if you prep and spray properly. It is not difficult to get a high quality finish, especially on a frame.

StickyMicky

Depends on what you are doing with the bike, if your going off road then i would get it powdercoated to be honest, most aero cans have cheap super thin paint in them and it will not last that long, they would be fine for road use though imo.

Hammerite would probably work pretty well though, i did my alloys in it about a year ago (i used hammered finish) and they still look perfect, bar the two kerb marks from using my mates car wash