How to Repaint a Bike Frame

If you have an old bike that you want to look new again, or if you recently bought an older bike, you can liven it up a bit with a new paint job. While this might seem daunting, it really isn't that difficult. Find a work space where you can hang the bike frame to make the job easier and then get busy.

Things You'll Need

• Degreaser
• Hair dryer
• 320-grit sandpaper
• 400- grit wet sandpaper
• Paint brushes
• Primer and paint (auto paint usually works well)
• Epoxy clear coat
• Paint thinner
• Rag
• Drop cloth

Instructions

1. Remove the seat, wheels, chain, chain cover if there is one, pedals and the handlebar grips. Set these aside as you will not paint them.

2. Spread the drop cloth where you are going to paint. Cover anything you need to protect, especially if you use spray paint. If you hang the bike frame to do the painting, cover the walls behind it.

3. Use degreaser to clean the entire bike. Work in all the tiny cracks and corners of the frame where dirt hides.

4. Use a hair dryer to warm up the adhesive on any stickers or decals, then slowly and carefully peel these off. Use degreaser to remove as much as possible of any remaining adhesive. Allow the bike to dry.

5. Sand the bike frame using 320-grit sandpaper. The shine should be completely gone, the color even and the bike should feel smooth. Clean off the dust with a damp rag and allow the bike to dry again.

6. Apply a coat of primer. Start with the corners first and work your way across the entire bike frame with even passes. You might need to apply more than one coat of primer if the first does not cover the frame adequately. Allow the primer to dry for a day.

7. Sand the bike down with 400-grit (or higher) wet sandpaper. Your goal is to gently smooth the primer until it is uniform. Do not sand through it.

8. Apply a coat of paint, again starting with the corners and working outward. Make sure the paint is even and uniform across the entire bike frame. Allow this to dry for another day.

9. Apply an epoxy clear coat. This will give your bike the shine that you are looking for, as well as the protection it needs. Allow the clear coat to dry completely.

10. Replace the wheels, chain, seat, handlebar grips and chain cover once the bike frame has fully dried.

References

• How to Fix Bikes

Resources

• Instructables
• Bicycling