Topic: Frame painting

[stingray]

Question to frame painters.
I'm having my frame sand blasted.  Is it wise to wet sand the bare frame right after to smooth the blasted finish in preparation for prime and paint?  On my last restoration I didn't.  I applied a few coats of primer right after I picked it up and then sprayed the final black.  It came out so-so.  My concern is allowing the bare metal to rust if wet sanded.
Or, is the trick to wet sand and dry off completely. I would obviously prime it right after.
I'm not after an award winning finish, just a decent one.

[Gordon]

I would spray the primer and then sand that smooth rather than sanding the metal, but I'm no professional painter, so I'm interested to see what others have to say. 

[etn4runner]

If you can find someone in your area that does powdercoating at a reasonable price, thats the route i would take. As a matter of fact, that is the route i am going in a couple more months.

[seaweb11]

I have done two frames powdercoated.

A very long lasting, chip resistant way to go in my opinion.

[joeb]

Prime then wet sand, clean well,  then if you are using laquer just before painting spray down the frame with straght laquer thinner with the spary gun then do your base coats of colors, then you spary on the clear coat (clear or if you add sparkle this is the time to add it ) then one more coat of clear on top of that. Also make sure your primer is laquer compatible.  Hope this helps. 

[grumburg]

I just wiped it down with PrepAll, used a tac rag to take off the dust. Two coats of Duplicolor etching primer followed by 2 coats of sandable primer. Wet sand with 400.  Wipe down again and sprayed 3 coats of Duplicolor black enamel. Waited 5 days and wet sanded with 2000. Looks like glass and cost $20.

[750goes]

I had my frame abrasive blasted by local engineers, it came back very rough feeling, so I immediately etch primed it (2 coats) for fear of rusting, then had the frame powdercoated...I asked them to give the leading frame sections an extra blast as this is where most of the road rash will come from..

The finish I was after, was for a hammered metal style, which has a slight dimpled feel to it when completed.

This is how it turned out ( and I din't have to cut it back or polish it either)...and if I'm lucky it won't show up too much road grime between cleaning.

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

I had my frame abrasive blasted by local engineers, it came back very rough feeling, so I immediately etch primed it (2 coats) for fear of rusting, then had the frame powdercoated...I asked them to give the leading frame sections an extra blast as this is where most of the road rash will come from..

The finish I was after, was for a hammered metal style, which has a slight dimpled feel to it when completed.

This is how it turned out ( and I din't have to cut it back or polish it either)...and if I'm lucky it won't show up too much road grime between cleaning.

How much for the powder coating? Looks good.

[kghost]

Blast - prime - sand - paint

or if your a glutton

blast - prime - sand - paint - sand - clearcoat

[ProTeal55]

If you can find someone in your area that does powdercoating at a reasonable price, thats the route i would take.

Powdercoating is DEF. the way to go when it comes to frames. In my past life when I worked at a high-end V-Twin "custom" shop, I can't tell you how many painted frames I came across that were starting to peel/chip/look like ass from normal road debris and such.

Powdercoating is pretty much indestructible , looks good for years, etc...
I am a big fan....

[Lumbee]

How much for the powder coating? Looks good.

...I was quoted $250 for a frame...that includes sandblasting...

[putnaja1]

I was considering powder coat myself, but I have a few questions:

1)  What happens to the serial # plate?  Is there any way to keep this from getting permanently coated?
2)  Once a frame is powdercoated, is there any going back?  For example, if you want to later do a little frame welding/bracing?
3)  What happens to the metal of the frame when the powdercoated frame is baked?  It doesn't anneal (sp?) the metal, or weaken the frame in any way, does it?

Jason

[ProTeal55]

1) What happens to the serial # plate? Is there any way to keep this from getting permanently coated?
2) Once a frame is powdercoated, is there any going back? For example, if you want to later do a little frame welding/bracing?
3) What happens to the metal of the frame when the powdercoated frame is baked? It doesn't anneal (sp?) the metal, or weaken the frame in any way, does it?

1.You can make the shop hat is doing the powdercoating mask off whatever you want.
2. You can have powdercoating blasted off, takes awhile, but I have seen it done...
3. Not sure about the metal, as I assume that it will be fine.

[stingray]

Some good advice here, thanks.  I considered powder coating but the practice is rare here where I live.  The few that do powder coat charge 3-400 dollars to do just a frame and I have to provide my own de-greasing and blasting.
All though I love my bikes, thats way too expensive for me.  I think that I got my answer. 
I actually thought about starting my own powder coating business here.  It seems environmentally sound and the results are nice. 
I'll let you know how it turns out. 

[MRieck]

If you can find someone in your area that does powdercoating at a reasonable price, thats the route i would take.

Powdercoating is DEF. the way to go when it comes to frames. In my past life when I worked at a high-end V-Twin "custom" shop, I can't tell you how many painted frames I came across that were starting to peel/chip/look like ass from normal road debris and such.

Powdercoating is pretty much indestructible , looks good for years, etc...
I am a big fan....

Nice avatar bro....Oh yeah...I'd powdercoat.

[750goes]

My frame cost me the grand sum of $50 Aussie Dollars,
but the powder coater is a local guyI have known for a few years.
the abrasive blasting cost $120.
the etch primer cost me $15
all up a total of $185

[clarkjh]

I was going to go with powder but the local shop here wanted between $800 - $1000 CAD to do my frame and a few bits.  You would have thought I had told him it was a Harley frame and not a Honda

James