frame finish

Wheels, shocks, forks, frame
Post Reply
SP_BOTT
Oil Injector
Posts: 706
Joined: Sun Sep 30, 2007 5:59 pm

frame finish

Post by SP_BOTT »

Hi, is it best to get the frame powdercoated or painted, obviously I could paint it myself, but coating has to be sent out to someone, and can I just leave in all the inserts etc and just strip to bare bones.

Who's the recommended coaters nowadays, Norfolk area would be better, as I can just drop a loads of bits off and pickup later, rather than faff around and send it via couriers etc

I want as close to standard as possible (it's quite a dark silver from memory) last time I had something done there were only a couple of choices of colour available. (red YPVS frame at the time)
Might get the wheels done at the same time although tyres are like new still?
User avatar
Howie
Avgas Sniffer
Posts: 2055
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2009 9:33 pm
Location: East Yorkshire

Post by Howie »

Powder coat is more durable but it can still chip & you have to remove everything incl. rubber well nuts etc as they stick it in an oven to cure.

Personally I think a well painted frame looks better & there are some very tough finishes out there.

Price wise, there's not much in it, I think it was Maccas who got a shed load done for about £80(?) at a powder coaters. If you have to go out & buy some spraying equiptment, you're pretty much there before even buying the paint.

If you have a friendly local tyre service, they will pop the tyres off for you & pop them back on & balanced after you have painted/coated them. The guy I use to use back in the south charged £20 for this service (probably gone up by now though).

Can't help you with the Norfolk area, I only know Swaffam & Fakenham.

Good luck though & let us know how you get on.
SP_BOTT
Oil Injector
Posts: 706
Joined: Sun Sep 30, 2007 5:59 pm

Post by SP_BOTT »

Thanks, I do personally think a painted finish looks better, as powdercoating is too thick and 'creamy' but wanted a hard durable finish, as chip resistant as possible, and never found this with many paints.
The original is good and probably 'cheap as chips' and just thrown at the frame at time of producton. What paints/makes can you recommend then?
I have used some silver wheel paint in the past that was quite good.
User avatar
Howie
Avgas Sniffer
Posts: 2055
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2009 9:33 pm
Location: East Yorkshire

Post by Howie »

Depends on wether you are using spraying equiptment or straight from the can?

Can wise I have used PJ1, smoothrite (hammerite :roll: ) & tough black (can't remember who makes this) in the past, with varying degrees of success. I've also been told POR15 is good but never used it. The real key is to use a good lacquer over the top, more coats the better.

2 pack is the stuff you want if using a spray gun. A very good range of colours, I think its called a 'ral chart'? which shows you all the range (feel free to correct me on this :wink: ). I can't remember which is toughest though acrylic or polyurethane? This stuff is leathal though so use a good quality mask.

And apparently (I was speaking to a car panel sprayer in the pub before xmas!), the primer/undercoat is very important to the top coats finished colour.

If you're going to do it yourself, there are a few specialist bike paint suppliers on the web

You could try www.rsbikepaint.com

Hope this helps
Post Reply