Bike painting

Ollieda
Ollieda Posts: 1,010
edited November 2008 in Road general
Hi,

I've managed to pick up an ally frame but it's unpainted. The person I got it off suggested powder coating but I've been quoted for that about £150!!!!!!!!! What is the normal method used for painting bikes, I'm not to keen to paint it myself as I will almost defiantly just make a big mess of it.

I've got a design just need a place that will do it. Any suggestions, I'm in Cheltenham if by any chance someone knows a place nearby.

Comments

  • noodleman
    noodleman Posts: 852
    Bloody hell, sounds expensive at £150.00 to powder coat a frame. Try Mikris Finishers at Dudbridge in stroud. Me and my mate have had loads of stuff powder coated for our motorbikes and cars and it didnt cost anything like that. Their number is 01453 763873. Mind you, i dont know how technical your idea is which may be why you got such an expensive quote. Cheers
    argon 18 e116 2013 Vision Metron 80
    Bianchi Oltre XR Sram Red E-tap, Fulcrum racing speed xlr
    De Rosa SK pininfarina disc
    S Works Tarmac e-tap 2017
    Rose pro sl disc
  • noodleman
    noodleman Posts: 852
    edited November 2008
    Could also try stroud sign centre to do you some vinyls if you needed decals.
    argon 18 e116 2013 Vision Metron 80
    Bianchi Oltre XR Sram Red E-tap, Fulcrum racing speed xlr
    De Rosa SK pininfarina disc
    S Works Tarmac e-tap 2017
    Rose pro sl disc
  • Aidy40
    Aidy40 Posts: 178
    go to ABC in Nailsea near Bristol, they do it for £30.
    Aidan Searle
  • Ollieda
    Ollieda Posts: 1,010
    This is the design I was going for :

    99980540pl5.th.jpg

    I thought the £150 seemed to high but I had no idea.

    I'll contact the ones suggested and see what prices i can get
  • redvee
    redvee Posts: 11,922
    Looking at the design you want I don't think powder coat can do it. Painting only and then gonna cost due to the two colours and masking the frame.
    I've added a signature to prove it is still possible.
  • alfablue
    alfablue Posts: 8,497
    redvee wrote:
    Looking at the design you want I don't think powder coat can do it. Painting only and then gonna cost due to the two colours and masking the frame.
    Agreed

    Powder coat will give you a very durable, solid, single colour finish at a cheap price. You want custom painting. Argos in Bristol have a great reputation for building and renovating bikes and can do a custom colour scheme for you - naturally they ain't cheap, but I think the prices are a fair reflection of the work involved for what you are asking for. (if you are spending the money, why not go for an even more flamboyant design?).

    Their price list is here, gallery here.
  • Ollieda
    Ollieda Posts: 1,010
    wow, i thought i had gone for a simple design!, in that case I might just go for a plain 1 colour all over design.
  • GarethPJ
    GarethPJ Posts: 295
    I know it sounds silly, but I would recommend avoiding bike specialists when it comes to painting. They always seem to overcharge compared with the car and motorbike paint shops. However don't go to some dodgy back street bodyshop, you can find some real cowboys if you're not careful.

    One way of cutting down the cost is to do as much of your own preparation as you can. Degrease and key the surface and mask things you don't want painting (like BB threads) because it's time consuming and labour is expensive.

    If you just want a solid colour and you're not too fussy about the exact shade you'd be amazed how cheaply you can get it done. I managed to get a frame done for a fiver a few years back. We have a car body shop nearby that specializes in custom paint jobs. I wanted my frame doing in red and asked them if the next time they were doing something red if they wouldn't mind giving the frame a blast over. Primed, top coated and lacquered in BMW zinnabar red for a fiver. Not bad.

    BTW a good powder coating shop could do your design, but it wouldn't be cheap. It's not a simple matter of applying a little masking tape.

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