The process of painting your frame is by far the most difficult part of this project. However it's also the most rewarding and it allows you to personalize your bike to your heart's content.
Before we can apply any paint to our frame we must first remove the paint currently on it. This is important to allow for future paint to stick to the frame. Here are the things we'll need for this:
Note that really the only reason for the toothbrush in this case is because my paint remover is a paste rather than a spray. If you can find a spray can of paint remover the toothbrush is completely unnecessary. Some other things that you might find useful include sandpaper or even a power sander. Also don't forget to use gloves and goggles when handling the paint remover as it does burn your skin on contact.
To begin removing paint from the frame start by applying a generous coat of paint remover to any areas covered in paint, avoiding areas that are not such as the bottom bracket (inside the frame). After a few minutes the paint will start to bubble and can then be easily chipped off revealing the metal below.
Try to get as much paint off as you can, you might even have to apply a second coat of paint remover. Eventually you'll be left with just a few spots of paint which you can then remove by hand with sandpaper.
Once you're satisfied with the amount of paint removed from the frame, wipe any residual dust or oil from the frame away with a wet paper towel. It's crucial that the frame is as clean as possible for when you paint it.
Next tape up any chrome or decals with painter's tape and fill in any holes in the frame with newspaper. You do not want any paint to get inside the frame.
Now you're ready to paint. For the best quality paint job possible with typical spray-paint we'll need to use a primer and a clear epoxy in addition to our solid color.
For my bike I decided to go with a grey color. It's best if the color of your primer matches that of your top coat.
You'll want to wait for a warm dry day when painting. If you try and paint in the cold or when it's very humid out your paint will run and you'll end up with a horrible paint job. If it doesn't seem like it will be warm any time soon you can also try and paint inside with the heat turned on. But make sure you have very good ventilation if you do decide to do this.
Regardless of where you paint find somewhere to hang your frame up so that you can paint all surfaces without having to touch it.
First apply a thin coat of primer using quick straight motions to ensure that the paint doesn't build up and drip. Once you have fully coated the frame repeat the process a second and third time. You'll want at least three coats of primer before you can apply the top coat. Once your primer dries take the frame down and lightly sand the surface. This creates a rough surface so that the next coat has no problem sticking. Next, apply two or three layers of your top coat being just as careful to prevent the paint from running. Lastly, after the paint has fully dried apply a few players of clear epoxy. This gives the paint additional strength as well as a nice shine. Here's my frame after all of the painting:
Finally remove all of the tape and newspaper to reveal your stunning new paint job.
