Topic: frame: paint or powder-coat?

[oldbob]

I had my 400's frame P-Ced, and I like the result. Recently, I've been reading more about people preferring "rattle-can" paint for their bike's frames. It seems that P-C is getting a reputation for chipping easily. Although a can of spray paint is pretty cheap, I need to figure in the cost of sand-blasting for my Water Buffalo's frame.

What do you think about P-C vs. spray paint?

If I do go the paint route, do you have any recommendations for brands of primer and enamel?

Thanks.

Bob

[ekpent]

Me personally I  have no problem using paint when restoring an old bike. That's the way they came originally and easier to repair.
  What year of GT750 are you working on ? I have 5 of them right now, 3-72's and 2-73's.

[oldbob]

My GT750 is a '76. The frame painting is about all it needs.

There is an interesting article in the current issue of Classic Bike about restoring the '73 GT750. It seems that they are the hardest to restore in that they had a few parts that were not shared with earlier or later bikes.

Bob

[ekpent]

They did evolve over the years and got better. I would like to find a nice late model example sometime.

[Rocky2010]

Powerdcoat vs Spray Painting

This is my personal opinion only, I prefer to use a good 2k (2pack) paint but it is expensive compared to powderer coating.
Reason being that Powder Coating does look great for a while, but the UV does kill that paint in time and it tends to loose its vivid black colour.

Spray Painting in 2K has a great luster off the gun if you do it right, but if you want to have a nicer looking job cut it back with 2000 wet & dry and it is like glass very nice, using a 3" air buffing machine with some Farecla fine cutting compound.
 
Some may say that its too over done but it what finish you want in the end.
As for Spray Paint cans that type of paint just doesn't handle the elements as well as 2k does.

[faux fiddy]

I'm on a budget and have not done any super picky up to original restorations and don't have the money. If it's chipped or rusty rattle can at least shows you care.  If you mask everything well it doesn't look like doo-doo.