$13 dollar paint job

[trail worker]

So I painted this frame up for my girlfriend after having it sit around for a few years. it started out as a 2000 kona cindercone(bright orange). I spent a few hours sanding it down, then a few more prepping it, then applied a can of flat grey primer yesterday.this morning, I painted the stars on either side. So far, it looks decent and seems fairly durable. I still have to clear coat it tonight, but i'm really happy with how it turned out, and I think she'll be stoked!
heres a picture:
http://atn.pfak.org/albums/julien/DSCF0422.sized.jpg

total cost was $13.00 and change for a can of flat primer, and a can of clearcoat. the red paint for the stars was kicking around and the stencil I pulled off the net.
:)

[.Robinson]

was that the frame lew rode for a whiel with his monster?

looks good,the stars are pretty cool looking

[trail worker]

hehe yeaup, i bought it from ben a few years ago, then finally had a reason to build it up. checked the frame over for cracks and everything looks solid so the time and little bit of money was worth it I guess.

[.Robinson]

hahaha thats good,the grey and stars reminds me of somthign from the millitary or somthing,hope she likes it.

[M13]

holy shit when did you move to nelson?

I love the stars, i thought it was decal until I read your comment.
Are you still riding your bullit?

[Couch_Surfer]

nice work, looks good! i'm guessing that headset is getting replaced?

[corey@nsmb.com]

You painted the headset cups? That might be an issue when the bearings go back in. You should use some steel-wool and clean them up first.

I like the army look, nice job!

[sanrensho]

Let that frame dry for a good amount of time after you clearcoat it. I'm pretty happy with the Loopie-inspired Trem-Clad job on my rigid fork. Only one small chip so far.

[trail worker]

nah the headsets staying in, I just didn't feel like pressing the cups out, painting it then pressing them back in. I'll scrub them down to the bare metal with steel wool before clearcoating, so they'll look like they are chromed.

I moved to nelson a few weeks ago mike, I'm just back down for a few days here visiting with my folks so I can pick up some more stuff, and my bike, and this frame. I'm still riding my bullit but I have been thinking of selling it for something a little lighter, although today after taking it all apart and rebuilding everything with fresh grease and oil I think I might keep it.I also threw in some regular tubes, took the chainguide off and replaced a few parts with lighter bits and pieces I had kicking around. I figure with the boxxer I have it back down to around 35lbs..that's light enough for me I say.

[trail worker]

hahaha thats good,the grey and stars reminds me of somthign from the millitary or somthing,hope she likes it.
haha it's a little more beefy looking than her bright yellow XC bike, but I think she'll like it. at least i''ll be able to ride it around without feeling like a weenie.

[Jay T.]

i like how you didnt remove the headset cups lol

[IFO]

expect to have a fun time getting the seatpost back in aswell...8-(

prep-time is the KEY to a fine paintjob...course thats just one of the steps but its a important one...

[trail worker]

expect to have a fun time getting the seatpost back in aswell...8-(

prep-time is the KEY to a fine paintjob...course thats just one of the steps but its a important one...
shouldn't be a problem getting the seatpost back in--paint don't stick to grease too well, and I lubed that sucker up like a mother so the paint will just wipe off with the grease.
prep time including all the sanding, scrubbing down with acetone etc took me the better part of probably 6-7 hours. the frame was right down to the bare metal when I painted it, so should be good I guess. can't really get much better!

[IFO]

nice...

glad to hear u thought about that part...

be careful when u switch to the C.C portion of the job... any contamients from oil/grease (even from your skin) can be enuf to cause the C.C to run away and hide leaving you with all kinds of nasty results...

[trail worker]

Ive been handling the frame as little as possible, but ive still probably coated it in fingerprints. what would you recomend to get that off? I don't want to use acetone because that will probably take the paint right off.what about vinegar or some other mild, natural acid?

[IFO]

use soapy water and a HELLA clean cloth... then rinse/rinse and rinse with clean water...

oh did i forget to mention rinse with clean water...

i think u get the point...

at the shop we use spirit-wipe which is a super weak solvent for this purpose but i doutb you'd have access to it, so water will work...

good luck and dotn forget to post up pics when she's done...

[Mr. Charles]

on paintig frames for cheap:

1) remove all paint with stripper.
2) sand frame with light grage paper. you want a grey dust to build up
3) clean frame with pure acetone or alcohol or a paint prep cleaner for sale at most store.
4) immediatly paint frame. i unload an entire can of paint on 1 frame, even if feel like its over kill. i just sti there for a good 45 minutes....
5) with the thick coat described in #4 the frame requires a good 4-5 days to dry.

i do this alot. i get a VERY durable coat. really really durable.

[Mr. Charles]

use soapy water and a HELLA clean cloth... then rinse/rinse and rinse with clean water...

oh did i forget to mention rinse with clean water...

i think u get the point...

at the shop we use spirit-wipe which is a super weak solvent for this purpose but i doutb you'd have access to it, so water will work...

good luck and dotn forget to post up pics when she's done...

as IFO says, yo uwant he frame CLEAN.


i get best results when i keep the frame away from moisture. thats why i say use a solvent, and then IMMEDIATELY paint the frame so that it doesn;t have a chance to oxidize very much.

[Mr. Charles]

now, that i have read this thread, i can tell this paint job is going to need some help. hahaha....

looks good now though! keep it up! it's hella fun and you can get very good results with practice.

[aShogunNamedMarcus]

I had a cindercone once - is yours a cromo frame? Mine used to have a feel good ripping feelin to it then I got a Chute and it was all stiff and what not.

[HIBuLlitT]

This may be overkill but when we painted our C-130's (I worked on the corrosion control department for 8 or 9 months), We always used alodino acid wash to clean the bare aluminum then used alodine to stop the corrosion from starting before we could prime and paint.

Also, lots of THIN coats over a couple days will last better than thick coats put on in one day. Thick coats when they get scratched will chip more readily than thin coats.

At least that's what they told me in the Coast Guard. I'm sure IFO has more up-to-date info.

[IFO]

Also, lots of THIN coats over a couple days will last better than thick coats put on in one day. Thick coats when they get scratched will chip more readily than thin coats.

.

this part is still true today, as it always has been...

NEVER pound paint on...

u just end up trapping solvents that want/need to escape to allow the paint to throu-cure properly...

[Loopie]

Let that frame dry for a good amount of time after you clearcoat it. I'm pretty happy with the Loopie-inspired Trem-Clad job on my rigid fork. Only one small chip so far.
:o ...well that's cool to hear:)

[Loopie]

Ive been handling the frame as little as possible, but ive still probably coated it in fingerprints. what would you recomend to get that off? I don't want to use acetone because that will probably take the paint right off.what about vinegar or some other mild, natural acid?
You've been touching a surface with your fingers that you have yet to apply more paint too? bad, BAD Trailworker!....:lol:
Coat hangers are your friend.

[trail worker]

this part is still true today, as it always has been...

NEVER pound paint on...

u just end up trapping solvents that want/need to escape to allow the paint to throu-cure properly...
yeah, I'm doubting Mr. Charles and his wisdom--his instructions sound just like what I've done to past frames, which always got me horrid results. this time around, theres been no drips, no crackling, no flaking etc.
even if it's not the most durable, thats fine.for the amount moderate amount of riding this thing will see, it should be alright.

[trail worker]

now, that i have read this thread, i can tell this paint job is going to need some help. hahaha....

which parts do you foresee problems with? I'm just curious...