Frame respray..

[Pete Dee]

Hey Guys,

Over in England up until December but i want my Bighit frame restored as its taken a beaten in the past year..Can anyone recommend someone back home and what bracket will the pricing be around?If its worth it I'll bring the frame back at xmas.

I just want it sprayed one colour,but also the linkage done in white,will this need to be anodized?

Also What type of coating finish do i go for?
How do i prepare the frame for this process?

[Willie]

Pete,

Why paint? To be honest, I'd say go for Powder/Plastic coating, as it doesn't chip as easy and is good and tough. You can get a real nice finish with it too. Best bit is you do nothing, you give it to someone who'll blast it to get rid of the old paint/coating, and provide a key for the new coating, then they'll powder coat it for you.

Universal Industrial Spraying goes VERY well reccommended on here, but to be honest, I'm not so fussed. They just did my Reign X frame, and having just got alot (And I mean ALOT) of coating done elsewhere, I didn't think UIS was that great. A few imperfections in the finish, they didn't listen to my special request (To go easy blasting a particular bit) and I just felt it was a bit of a rushed "quick buck" job. That said, it cost £50 for the blasting and coating, which you'd struggle to better.

Previously I have used Ryan at Rustbusters (Near Moneyrea/Comber) for blasting and Johnny at AIC (Same area) for powder coating. Johnny isn't so keen on coating aluminium as with the heating/cooling involved during baking, he has concerns it may alter the structural formation of the material, possibly making it brittle/prone to cracks.

If it was my bike, I'd be powdercoating it, because powdercoating is durable...which a MTB needs. If I wanted some really fancy colour, or it was a show bike...I'd be painting it.

Just my 2p, others may disagree. I can give photos of my frame in the next day or two...when I get it bolted together.

Willie

[tinkerhil]

Ive just done my sunday frame..
1st i nitromorsed it so it turned out like this ..

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k259/tinkerhil/my%20bikes/horsestripped.jpg

Then my friend sprayed it and now looks like this..

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k259/tinkerhil/my%20bikes/IMG00851-20091115-2153.jpg

[Pete Dee]

Looks good tinkerhil..I've found silkgraphics in England..so going to get a design drawn up for new decals..But i dunno what colour i should get the bighit done...Its an 04 expert..Any suggestions?

Also does powder coating an alu frame weaken it much??

[jacks2ts]

I want mine doing for the new year , light green just thought i'd say :)

[thomas]

get it powder coated. shouldnt be any price difference really and alot better

[jacks2ts]

get it powder coated. shouldnt be any price difference really and alot better

i going to but i just want to it done by someone who really knows what there doing personal recommendation welcome " sorry for hijacking " :)

[tinkerhil]

Pete just go with ever colour you like.. I just fancied this metalic colour of a rangerover I seen...

[Pete Dee]

I was thinking like a bogey green colour,but that red looks nice too

[heald]

I thought powdercoating an aluminium bike was a big no-no? There is a picture on pinkbike of a giant (reign?) where the heat has buggered the tubing up and the headtube angle is as slack as.

Got my bike powdercoated by tallght powdercoating in dublin, he has every RAL colour and a fast turn around (sand blasted, 2 packed and custom metallic colour in 3 days). There is 1 tiny tear of excess powder, apart from that it's perfect, I'm very happy with it and it's as tough as old boots - still looks new whenever I get around to cleaning the bike.

You have to blank the boltholes off though - apart from industrial stuff his main sideline is motorbikes which are not as complicated/delicate as bike frames. There is another fella (find him via IrishDH) who is also a DH'er spraying frames who strips the bike and rebuilds for you, but you pay a bit more.

[trailfox]

Paddy that sunday looks really well! Built it up yet?

If people are concerned about powdercoating maybe just strip and spray like the sunday and then helicopter tape the frame...?