PAINTING TIPS
Recommended Supplies:
- Denatured Alcohol
- Lint Free Towels
- Blue Painters Tape (We prefer ScotchBlue™ Painter's Tape Exterior Surfaces 2097)
- Exacto Knife
- Q-Tips
- Respirator Mask, Gloves, Hat, Safety Glasses
Prep:
- Clean frame with denatured alcohol and lint free towels
- Mask areas of frame you don’t want painted
- Headtube
- Bottom bracket shell
- Seat Tube
- Dropouts
- Disc Brake Mounts
- Cable Stops
- Bottle Cage Bosses
- Prep and clean your work space
- A clean work space will help avoid contamination
- Use drop clothes to protect area from overspray
- Create paint stand or hang frame
- Prop frame with wooden dowel clamped in an old workstand
- Hang from hook or fixtured using old metal clothes hanger
- Clean frame again
Painting:
- Plan ahead, temperature and weather play a big role
- Paint in temperatures between 65-85°F (18-29°C) and no more that 75% humidity.
- Avoid windy weather, it can create contamination while the paint is curing
- Always test spray can away from frame before every use
- Cans will occasionally spray clear or spit for a few seconds especially if not mixed thoroughly
- Spray.Bike can be shot much closer than normal spray paint, we recomend painting around 2-5” away
- Spraying closer than 2” will greatly increase the chance of runs
- Spraying father than 5” will cause the paint to dry before reaching the surface, resulting in a powdery rough surface
- Be patient, ample dry time will yield the best results
- Allow at least 20 min of dry time before adding layers of masking
- Paint will peel off with making if paint has not cured prior to application
- Allow at least 12 hours of dry time before building up bike
- Always keep your hand moving at a steady even pace anytime your are spraying
- Rough spots caused from dry powder landing can be polished by rubbing frame down with wax paper 30min after painting or rubbing with a soft cloth after frame has fully dried
Clear Coats:
- Spray.Bike Transparent Finish
- Easy to use
- Softer finish and will deform rather than chip
- 1 can for a satin finish • 2 cans for a gloss finish
- Spray Max 2k Clear (available at most automotive paint stores)
- Comes with a very long warning label and a scull on the can so DEFINITELY wear a respirator, eye protection and have proper ventilation
- Read and adhere to manufacturer's label and instructions
- Uses an activator that creates a much harder finish than pre-mixed and more closely resembles HVLP clear coats
- Will take significant abuse but will chip instead of deforming