Can an Auto shop paint a frame?

[Ted]

I assume part of the objective is using good paint. If I wanted it
all one color and brought it in with the open tubes plugged up would
it work? Maybe tape the lugs. If I got them to do it in conjunction
with a car the same color there would be no problem associated with
getting the color "loaded" etc. Or am I missing something?

Ted.

[jobst.brandt@stanfordalumni.org]

Ted Foot writes:

> I assume part of the objective is using good paint. If I wanted it
> all one color and brought it in with the open tubes plugged up would
> it work? Maybe tape the lugs. If I got them to do it in
> conjunction with a car the same color there would be no problem
> associated with getting the color "loaded" etc. Or am I missing
> something?

Unless the painter has a natural skill for spray painting complex
shapes, you'll get a paint coat with "holidays" on one side of some
tubes. This isn't like painting surfaces of a car. Even if the bare
spots are not obvious, they may be smooth but microscopically thin.
Priming and paint quality are other matters.

Jobst Brandt

[Grolsch]

Try a shop specializes in motorcycle paint, or get it powder coated.
Aluminum substrates are the ideal surface. (think Aluminum railing)

"Ted" <plpfoot@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:a8466534-1e29-4f91-b934-6e48583daa79@o6g2000hsd.googlegroups.com...
> I assume part of the objective is using good paint. If I wanted it
> all one color and brought it in with the open tubes plugged up would
> it work? Maybe tape the lugs. If I got them to do it in conjunction
> with a car the same color there would be no problem associated with
> getting the color "loaded" etc. Or am I missing something?
>
> Ted.

[Bob]

On Dec 1, 8:48 pm, Ted <plpf...@gmail.com> wrote:
> I assume part of the objective is using good paint. If I wanted it
> all one color and brought it in with the open tubes plugged up would
> it work? Maybe tape the lugs. If I got them to do it in conjunction
> with a car the same color there would be no problem associated with
> getting the color "loaded" etc. Or am I missing something?
>
> Ted.

How happy you'd be with the result would depend on the quality of
material, skill of the painter, and your expectations. If you're
willing to accept a minor flaw or two then shooting an old frame with
Dulux or equivalent will work okay. If you want a flawless finish
though- and you're willing to pay for it- you'd be better off finding
a motorcycle shop that does paint/powdercoat work. Anodizing would be
another possibility if there's a good metal finishing shop in your
area. Anodizing is *not* cheap though.

Regards,
Bob Hunt

[joseph.santaniello@gmail.com]

On Dec 2, 4:35 am, jobst.bra...@stanfordalumni.org wrote:
> Ted Foot writes:
> > I assume part of the objective is using good paint. If I wanted it
> > all one color and brought it in with the open tubes plugged up would
> > it work? Maybe tape the lugs. If I got them to do it in
> > conjunction with a car the same color there would be no problem
> > associated with getting the color "loaded" etc. Or am I missing
> > something?
>
> Unless the painter has a natural skill for spray painting complex
> shapes, you'll get a paint coat with "holidays" on one side of some
> tubes. This isn't like painting surfaces of a car. Even if the bare
> spots are not obvious, they may be smooth but microscopically thin.
> Priming and paint quality are other matters.
>
> Jobst Brandt

Indeed. You need to have somebody who knnows what they are doing, or
at least is willing to put in the effort and time to do it right. A
frame has so many nooks and cranies, you run the risk of a combination
of bare spots and runs if the painter doesn't do a proper job.

I had a frame painted by a car painter who is a friend and a cyclist,
who does very good work, and even so, there is a run in the clearcoat
on one of the seatstays because he is not experienced with bike
frames. I'm still 100% pleased with the job, but I can see somebody
heading for frustration and disappointment if they just cold call a
car painter for a bike frame.

Joseph

[David L. Johnson]

Grolsch wrote:
> Try a shop specializes in motorcycle paint, or get it powder coated.

I second this idea. I had a bike powder coated by a shop that mostly
deals with motorcycles. They were excellent, and knew how to deal with
the various surfaces on a frame. Also, motorcycle owners tend to be
real fussy about their bikes, and tend to be people you do not want to
disappoint, so these shops have to be very good.

--

David L. Johnson

It is a scientifically proven fact that a mid life crisis can only be
cured by something racy and Italian. Bianchis and Colnagos are a lot
cheaper than Maserattis and Ferraris.
-- Glenn Davies

[Brian Huntley]

On Dec 2, 9:46 am, "David L. Johnson" <david.john...@lehigh.edu>
wrote:
> Also, motorcycle owners tend to be
> real fussy about their bikes, and tend to be people you do not want to
> disappoint, so these shops have to be very good.


Heh - I would not have thought of that angle - which seems very valid.

[DanKMTB@gmail.com]

On Dec 2, 9:46 am, "David L. Johnson" <david.john...@lehigh.edu>
wrote:
> Grolsch wrote:
> > Try a shop specializes in motorcycle paint, or get it powder coated.
>
> I second this idea. I had a bike powder coated by a shop that mostly
> deals with motorcycles. They were excellent, and knew how to deal with
> the various surfaces on a frame. Also, motorcycle owners tend to be
> real fussy about their bikes, and tend to be people you do not want to
> disappoint, so these shops have to be very good.
>
> --
>
> David L. Johnson
>
> It is a scientifically proven fact that a mid life crisis can only be
> cured by something racy and Italian. Bianchis and Colnagos are a lot
> cheaper than Maserattis and Ferraris.
> -- Glenn Davies

I too am in agreement. However, if the auto shop does a lot of
specialized/custom work, they should be able to do OK. I had a frame
painted buy a friend who owns an auto body shop, and is into car
shows. He's used to his work being under the microscope of a
professional at a car show, and he did a remarkable job on my bike. I
would not expect the same from your average $200 spray a car special
type place.

[Zoot Katz]

On Wed, 5 Dec 2007 18:08:57 -0800 (PST), Bob <hunrobe@aol.com> wrote:

>On Dec 1, 8:48 pm, Ted <plpf...@gmail.com> wrote:
>> I assume part of the objective is using good paint. If I wanted it
>> all one color and brought it in with the open tubes plugged up would
>> it work? Maybe tape the lugs. If I got them to do it in conjunction
>> with a car the same color there would be no problem associated with
>> getting the color "loaded" etc. Or am I missing something?
>>
>> Ted.
>
>How happy you'd be with the result would depend on the quality of
>material, skill of the painter, and your expectations. If you're
>willing to accept a minor flaw or two then shooting an old frame with
>Dulux or equivalent will work okay. If you want a flawless finish
>though- and you're willing to pay for it- you'd be better off finding
>a motorcycle shop that does paint/powdercoat work. Anodizing would be
>another possibility if there's a good metal finishing shop in your
>area. Anodizing is *not* cheap though.
>
A car painter isn't likely to have the jigs for properly painting a
bike nor are they going to be familiar with the various formulations
and techniques that can produce a flawlessly flowed clear coat.

My friend has detailed to me his techniques for achieving technically
better paint jobs than his teacher, who is still the better artist.
His previous experience had been lacquering high-end custom furniture
and working in a body shop. He finds frame painting far more
interesting because it's more challenging . . . and he likes bikes.
http://www.dekerf.com/paintshop.asp

Both he and his teacher dislike powdercoating for its inflexibility.
--
zk