To paint or PC?

atx360

atx360

Been Around the Block
OK so my frame swingarm and centerstand have all been blasted. NO bad rust spots! ;)
and I have already sprayed my swingarm and centerstand with rust-oleum engine enamel, and I like the way they turned out, BUT I don't know if I trust it on the frame. I didnt primer under either of them and I like the texture that it gave me. Almost a wrinkle finish.

So I guess my question is should I drop the coin on paying for powder or take the time and effort to paint my frame in this same enamel?

Does anyone have any luck with painting their frame with this and if so any technique tips would be much appreciated....
 

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I always paint frames. PC looks good, but if you chip it it all needs redone. Paint can be touched up.
 
I would say PC over paint . Von is right tho paint can be fixed with a lil paint and if PC chips makes it harder to fix . but if you get a good PC guy it should hold up to more beating then paint . you could paint it and ride a season and if it holds up then stick to it. but if it seems to be chiping alot then go to PC . paints cheap next to PC so all you would be out is your time and cans of paint .
 
Depends on your budget. Even though I'm a painter I would still prefer to send my frame out for pc. If you are limited to using rattle cans (no compressor or spray gun) get a good 2k urethane clear. I think spraymax is the brand I've seen at napa. Also use an etching primer on that bare metal frame!
 
Paint unless you are absolutely sure that you aren't going to do any mods to the frame in the future. I painted my 650 last winter and have stripped half of it removing all my unnecessary tabs over the past month. I'm gonna paint it again just in case I find something else I want to cut / weld / drill. Maybe next winter or the one after I'll tear it down and pc it up.
 
Paints lighter, and besides that, easier to fix if chipped or you decide to mod something. Not to mention cheaper.

Not as durable, sure, but they came painted from the factory and held up just well enough for 40 years.
 
Paint, you cant use filler under powder coat to smooth out factory welds ;)
Use Duplicolor self etch primer, it's pretty tough stuff and sticks like sticky stuff ;D (thanks for tip Von-Y)
 
Thanks for all the input.
etching primer and rattle cans it is. 8)

But knowing me i'll change my mind 3 more times before I pull the trigger.
 
I've been painting for years now and love to do it but when it comes to a frame I always recommend power coating. Make your changes, clean up your welds, and then PC it, don't worry about fixing chips, a good PC job can take a pretty hard rap without chipping.
 
When in doubt Paint of course...learn how to paint and you'll save l00$ Taking chip PC back to be touched up is such the hassel...It's like everthing here posted on learning how to do things on the cheap...Yeah painting can be espensive as well thats why u'll enjoy doing it your self to save the Bucks and have the satisfaction of doing it your self... and yes it can be furtrating at times but when it comes together it is so worth it. heh it only paint is on the cheeper side of PC... practice makes perfect,, just like in some hot sex ...try it you'll like it
 

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Don't ever make the mistake of thinking that painting is cheap. There is nothing cheap about doing a good paint job, nothing at all. Compressors and air systems are expensive. Good guns are expensive. Cleaning supplies are expensive. Abrasives are expensive. Good paint and related products, particularly catalysts, are gawd-awful expensive. By comparison, if you have to start from scratch, powder coating is dirt cheap. You just take the part to a guy, he sandblasts it, does a little masking, and then dusts and bakes it. And what you get back is a rock solid coating that is nearly impossible to chip unless you drop the bike or do something incredible stupid during assembly.

By the way, every time I see someone say you have to take the frame back to have chips in the powdercoat repaired I have to laugh. Have you ever known of anyone who actually did that? Bwahahahahahaha .... I thought not. The person would have to completely disassemble the bike and then return the frame to the Powdercoater for stripping and recoating. Nobody does that. I can tell you this though, if you paint a frame it will chip; if you powercoat it and take even minimal care of the bike the only way its going to get chipped is if you get run over by a bus.
 
Powdercoating is not bullet proof. Its not the end all be all. The point is, that if you PC and SOMETHING happens to it, youre stuck with a chipped or scratched finish, whereas if you paint it can be touched up. He asked for comparative thoughts on the two processes. Thats what he got.
 
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So went for powdercoat and love the result.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using Tapatalk
 
I do Powder Coating and am also a painter. I always say Powder Coat frames, wheels, forks... Its tougher than normal paint.. I used paint on my first bike and PC on my second and my second looks much better than the first.. After some street time.. Not sure where you are from but I run a shop and can do it here for a good price but Im located in New England..
 
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