Tips for Spray Painting Your Bike
A professional spray painting job on your bike can be expensive. It means stripping the old paint, a toxic chemical process, and using expensive spray tools to achieve a superior finish. If you don't have the resources for this, you can spray paint it yourself. You won't get the pristine results of the pro job, but you can do it easily in your garage, and paint it to your taste.
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Remove Parts
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Take off the parts of the bike you are not painting. It is best to strip it down to the frame if you can, which means wheels, chain and other hardware should come off. If that is too much for you, tape off areas with blue painter's tape.
Preparation
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A good preparation is more than half the job. Clean the bike thoroughly with a dish detergent to remove dust, debris and grease, which inhibits the spray paint adhering to the bike. Use steel wool or fine 220-grit sandpaper to remove rust and corrosion.
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Priming
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Find an area with good ventilation where you can hang up the bike on a hook or from a rope. You want to have easy access to all parts of the bike. A garage with the windows and doors opened is an ideal place, as is a carport. Prime the bike with a high quality spray primer, and spray lightly. Use two coats if you don't get a solid finish.
Painting
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Spray from about a foot away, and keep the can moving in a back-and forth-direction. Don't spray in one spot for too long as the paint will accumulate and you will get drips. Remember to shake it well before you start, and shake it periodically during the process to keep the pigment flowing. Count on applying at least two coats and probably more. Lots of light coats are better than one heavy one. Allow the paint to dry between applications, at least 30 minutes in warm, dry weather and more if it is damp or cool.
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References
- Photo Credit bike image by Dubravko Grakalic from Fotolia.com
