Painting a bicycle...

[fliptheswitch]

Wasn't sure which section to put this in.

I've recently been given a bike. It's an old ladies Raleigh bicycle and is absolutely gorgeous... but needs a bit of TLC.
I was thinking of painting the frame. I know I could get it re-sprayed, but just wondering if there's a way to do this myself, as I'd quite like to make it my little project.

Thanks.

[ummmm]

Go to Halfords or such like and get some cans of car spray.

[ummmm]

Oh...and don't forget your masking tape.

[craft1948]

I hope you're going to paint it the original colour.........

[fliptheswitch]

Thanks, Ummmm. I'll have a look online and see what they've got. I wasn't sure if there was another type of paint that would be suitable, rather than a spray.

Craft, No. It's Pink at the moment. Don't like it at all. I want to paint it Black.

[MarkRae]

Mick Jagger would be so proud... ;-)

[ummmm]

That'll do the job. Can't guarantee how good it'll look though :-)

[fliptheswitch]

<Flip thinks>

Nope. I don't get it...?

[fliptheswitch]

Well yeah, that's what I was thinking. I have this wonderful image in my head, but I bet it won't turn out like that!
Thanks for your help :-)

[Andyvon]

Hi Flip,

I used to cycle a lot and painting a bike is similar to re-painting a car. Strip the frame down to bare metal using a wire brush (either a hand wire brush or one for a power drill) and emery paper - all of which you can buy from Halfords (you can also use paint stripper). Make sure you remove every bit of paint and rust and that the frame is down to good shiny metal.

Then prime the bare metal with a spray primer. Wait overnight for the primer to dry then rub it down smooth with very fine wet and dry paper. Then spray several coats of your chosen top coat. With cars you wait for a couple of weeks then rub down the top coat with fine wet and dry paper to get it really smooth. You then polish the paint to a shine with various compounds and maybe put a lacquer on top. You won't have to go to those lengths with a bike but you could if you wanted to.

You can buy all those items from Halfords or another car factor. Spend plenty of time making sure the bare metal is good and that the primer is really smooth. Preparation is the key to a really good finish and the more patient you are with preparation the better will be the result.

Hope that helps.

[fliptheswitch]

Andy, that's absolutely brilliant! Thank you :-)
I'll be starting it when the kids go back to school, on my days off, so plenty of time to have a look round Halfords and get the bits that I need. I intend to photograph the different stages, so I'll show you how I get on!

Thanks again.

[ummmm]

<With cars you wait for a couple of weeks then rub down the top coat with fine wet and dry paper to get it really smooth>

That would have the bodyshops fairly crowded.

[Andyvon]

Flip - you just need:

1. Paint stripper or a wire brush
2. Emery paper (for rubbing down the metal)
3. Wet and dry paper (for rubbing down the primer)
4. One spray can of primer
5. One or two cans of top coat.

Make sure you spray somewhere ventilated but where the spray won't go on anything else! Wait one day before you rub down the primer (for it to cure and harden).

Your bike will look brand new then! Have fun!

[fliptheswitch]

Thanks, Andy. I'm quite excited, now I have a clue what to do!
I wasn't sure what the "wet and dry paper" was, but just found it on the Halfords website.

Thank you, that's really great... :-)

[Andyvon]

Ummm - True but the body shops are professionals with ovens, power sanders and polishers. I'm just an enthusiastic amateur!

[ummmm]

I used to own a bodyshop :-)

[fliptheswitch]

Lol. It could take me quite a while, then... :-)

[Andyvon]

About a week I should think Flip.

Were my recommendations right then Ummm? I'm always willing to learn too.

[fliptheswitch]

Ah, that's ok. I'm just looking at this "wet and dry paper". I'm guessing it's the 400 grit stuff I need?

[Answerprancer]

You will have to strip it right down to just the frame to do it properly.
Block off any threaded holes (eg. bottle-cage mountings/rack attachment points) with rolled up masking tape. Try to find some nice stickers from somewhere for afterwards. I did this before to what was once a girl's mountainbike, it was all pink and white so I was asked to make it more 'boysey' for a friends 7 year old son, so I used black spray paint (as Ummmm suggested) from Halfords, and replaced the girly handlebar grips with black ones - I was given some stickers by a nice chap in the local "Sk8er" shop.
It looked great afterwards.
A very worthwhile and fun project - good luck.