Painting Frame

[danfr]

I'm working on my low budget bike rebuild and am planning on painting my frame and swingarm 'pure gold' (http://www.rustoleum.com/CBGProduct.asp?pid=181).

Would there be a problem spraying directly onto the original black frame (with some rust)?

Or is it worth it to pay the extra to get it sandblasted somewhere?

How about just pressure washed?

 

[Kanticoy]

The best idea would be to blast it, then wipe down with a solvent like denatured alcohol, then etch prime and clear. Etch primer is like $5 in a can at your auto parts store.

The problem with frames is that over the years they get crud and oil caked on them, and paint will not stick to them at all. You have to get all of that junk off before you paint it, or it will just flake right off and look like crap.

 

[oxford]

At the minimum, scuff the old paint, remove any rust, then hit any bare spot with etching primer. + what kanticoy said, make sure it is clean.

 

[CBGhia]

I used a lot of degreaser and a wire wheel to scuff everything. Then self etching primer on everything and then paint.

 

[Hoosier Daddy]

Yea, if you don't get rid of the rust one way or another, you will have just that... black painted rust. In no time at all it will look like ass again.
If you go to all the effort to get it down to a bare frame... at the least hit the bad spots with a wire wheel chucked up in your drill and scuff the whole thing with medium steel wool, it's about the easiest way becauase it fits the contuors of the pipe better than sandpaper. Then get a bottle of rubbing alcohol from Wal-Mart or the Dollar Store (costs like a buck) soak a rag and give it a good wipedown, then primer it and spray bomb with a good paint (I like enamel).
Being on a budget is one thing but elbow grease is FREE!

 

[cb450cf]

What grit is best when scuffing the frame?

 

[axeugene27]

Im pretty sure i used 240 grit. I wire wheeled, then sanded with 240 to rough it up. I just used that appliance enamel after that. I didn't prime but there weren't really many bare spots. Turned out really good but only time will tell. You definately need to degrease the crap out of the frame I think that is paramount

 

[blueandy]

if you know of anyone with a big enough air compressor you can pick up all the equipment to sand blast for less than 50 bucks. i went to tractor supply and got coal slag(black diamond bran) and vaccum gun for less then 45 dollars. but you need a decent sized compressor or you will be constanly waiting.

 

[Hoosier Daddy]

Did you see my Steel Wool comment? I have started on another frame and using medium-coarse right now. To me it is much easier to manuver around the tubes and brackets than a folded sheet of sandpaper