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I had kind of pictured a relaxed 40 minutes in the garden this weekend and it would be beautiful.. alas.
Think I'm going to go with this stuff: http://spray.bike/ which has had a very good write up, and apparently needs minimal prepping (will probably do sanding first though) as it's meant to behave like a powder coat.
Will def. clear coat after - any you recommend?
plxarc-
I have no recommendations, I just bought the one spray varnish that was in the local art shop because I totally forgot it when I was planning the thing. Maybe @hoops could offer a thought? Tbh I just took a punt at it because the frame was fucked anyway, he's the expert.
FWIW, I bought loads of plastic sheeting and set up a little spray booth in my garage. Otherwise the overspray goes EVERYWHERE. Between coats and sanding and making tea and shitposting on here it took me about a week. If you've got inside hanging space, a heater will help between coats.
Let me know how you get on with the bike spray, as I've got a new cross bike project to fuck up with amateurish painting. I just used, whatever it's called, the hardcore graffiti spray-paint they sell in Black and Chrome.
MechaMorgan
it's boring as fuck.
start medium, then go finer, then very fine. It takes time, but do it in sections and pay attention to the joins and angles. If you've got a dremel or similar, I'd do the difficult bits with that. Don't worry about sanding away all the original paint; as long as you've got rid of the clear coat, roughed up the texture enough for the paint to hold and got everything smooth / consistant. Carbon is much tougher than people make out.
My advice would be a couple of layers of Zinsser or similar as a primer. This'll protect the frame, level out and incongruities in your sanding and give the paint something to cling too. After that, go fucking mad. The more coats the better, and lightly sand between layers if you can be arsed.
Don't forget a clear coat (everything will flake off immediately otherwise) or a varnish.
FWIW, my supersix paintjob is a bit grubby but generally fine after a winter of riding. Only problem I've had is the mudguards rubbing, but that's just a quick touch up.