painting advise - handle bar

ricky1980

I want to paint my existing handle bar into another color as i like its geometry and can't seem to find one that cheap and match the setup.

it's an aluminium one, so my plan is the following:
1) use a fine grit sand paper to strip off the existing paint
2) once stripped use a superfine grit to smooth and polish with some of kind metal polish
3) apply dark primer sprayed and 2 coats
4) apply the finishing base paint 3 coat
5) hand draw details

anyone got any advice on this, I am a little new to this.

imposter2.0

not sure if serious....

gozzy

Bar tape. Bar tape. Bar tape.

ugo.santalucia

Ricky, does the handlebar in the colour you want not exist?
Is your current set of bars painted or just colour-anodised?

It seems a bad idea

Monty Dog

If rubbing down to bare metal, you'll need an etch-primer. Don't paint the clamp section as you'll simply crack the paint. You may have more success using a carbon bar rather than an alloy bar as you'll get better paint adhesion. Unless you're a very skilled painter, don't try and create any designs by brush

ricky1980

ugo.santalucia wrote:

Ricky, does the handlebar in the colour you want not exist?
Is your current set of bars painted or just colour-anodised?

It seems a bad idea

I don't think it does anymore. I got this compact bar from Planet X whom doesn't sell it anymore.

I had a look at the paint used now, it doesn't look easily strippable. I also found that there are aircraft paint strippers which may do the job.

I actually want to hand paint some details to the bar instead of wrapping a lot of bar tape.

also the use of primer helps with the adhesion so the paint shouldn't crack

imposter2.0

Are you sure the bar is painted and not anodised? Either way, it's a daft idea, sorry.

desweller

Powder coated? You might be able to wire brush it off, but be careful not to gouge the aluminium.

What technique / paint are you planning on using for the detail?

Go for it, I say - we learn by trying!

ugo.santalucia

Powder coating is actually a good idea... Armourtex in Hackney might be the place for you

ricky1980

cheers ugo, i will give them a ring on monday.

I wasn't sure what paint i want to use yet for detailing. All i know is that i will need to transfer the design to a stencil and then paint it like that instead of a brush and pot of paint.

southdownswolf

if you're serious about painting it yourself, then I would get a cheap bar to practise on first...

desweller

He doesn't need a cheap set of bars - I'm guessing it's just the spaces between the ends of the tape and the stem mount? Any bit of round stock would do. Besides, if he's stripping it anyway he can strip it more than once.