The best options for spraying your frame and parts

I have seen a lot of questions from different members recently about where to get good re-sprays/refinishes done. So, for what it is worth, these are what I what have found to be the best options during my various bike projects. I am sure a lot of you know this already, but for those who don't...

Powder Coat - ARMORTEX, 020 8986 2028 speak to Duncan or Steve. They are just off Homerton High Street in Hackney. £60. This really is the most chip resistant cheap finish you can get for your frame/parts. Colours are a bit limited, though. Quick - couple of days

Traditional Bike Sprayers. I would not recommend Vas.... Its either Bob Jackson or Argos. Bob Jackson are a little cheaper, and the quality is very good. They will completely re-store a vintage frame to its former glory for about £150-£200, so not that expensive. Single colours/less graphics are cheaper. In Leeds, but have a pick up service. Call 0113-2559844, and speak to Paul. Be aware, I have never had a re-sprayed bike that did not chip/scratch reasonably easily.

If you want the best and full scratch resistance you need to go to a custom car sprayer and work with 2 part car paints. House of Kolor paints are about the best, they are finished with a two part epoxy lacquer. The colours are mid boggling, with very strong emphasis on metalic, pearls and paints which change shade/colour depending on which way the light hits them. The frame I have had sprayed with these is extremely scratch resistant, and looks mental. Downside is the price. In London expect to pay £300-£500 or more if you use very expensive shades. To look at the colour range go to E1 Car Colours off Cambridge Heath Road in Hackney - 0207 375 1077 - and speak to Steve. He will be able to recommend a specialist sprayer.

what a about Mercian? they should be par with Bob Jackson and Argos. me think

Mercian probably do one of the best jobs of resprays out there. They aren't cheap, and when my frame went back it took over 8 weeks.

Prices: http://www.merciancycles.co.uk/renovation.asp

vaz can do good paint jobs, just need to pay more!

argos and mercian, are the to top ones, but will be £150+

vaz can do good paint jobs, just need to pay more!

argos and mercian, are the to top ones, but will be £150+

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Vaz gets pretty bad press on here - often unfairly...

He stripped and sprayed my frame, with a pearlescent laquer for £50 and it has held up really well to over a year of abuse. Granted his work is not up to Mercian standards, but if your getting a beater/ everyday frame sprayed he is worth considering

http://www.atlantic-boulevard.co.uk

http://www.atlantic-boulevard.co.uk

They also do chrome-plating

I am heading to check out this place http://www.douglasmf.com/ in south london to check out copper plating my frame.

what?!? no GA2G list on resprayers yet!?!?

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Vaz gets pretty bad press on here - often unfairly...

He stripped and sprayed my frame, with a pearlescent laquer for £50 and it has held up really well to over a year of abuse. Granted his work is not up to Mercian standards, but if your getting a beater/ everyday frame sprayed he is worth considering

I agree, my daily ride was resprayed by Mario. Including a lot of braze ons (8), respacing the frame and a fairly complex paintjob (2 panels masked and contrasting headtube) and fitting the transfers (provided by me from Lloyds) it was £90.

It's not perfect and it has chipped in the last 2 years, but I figure that I got very good value for money.

http://www.atlantic-boulevard.co.uk

I used these fellas to respray a Pinarello a few years back. They did a superb job and arranged for a courier to collect the frame and return it to me for an additional £30.

Vaz is fine, I've seen some really nice paint jobs come out of his place, unfortunately mine wasn't one of his best... You just have to prod him with a big, pointy stick 'til he gets it right... And soooooo cheap!

I used these fellas to respray a Pinarello a few years back. They did a superb job and arranged for a courier to collect the frame and return it to me for an additional £30.

+1 That's the Northern way...
;-)

Am heading up to Armortex this weekend.

Vaz v Armortex.... totally undecided?

Am heading up to Armortex this weekend.

Vaz v Armortex.... totally undecided?

If its a single colour you want, then Armourtex - if its something more complex, Vaz

I've used Colourtech in dartford - 01322 555549

Did a really good job on my Bob Jackson last year. Also being closer to London you can avoid the courier charges by taking it down there yourself. Roberts, Condor and Witcomb all get their frames painted there...

how much, and what did you ask for?

how much, and what did you ask for?

It was about £100 for a 'Flamboyant' metallic blue, lugs lined in silver, transfers applied and lacquered.

how happy are you after a year with the result, easy chips? still strong? could be better?.......

I was really pleased with the finish, colour and detailing were spot on. Strength wise it could be better and it has chipped in a few places but they were mainly down to me being a clumsy twat and dropping spanners on it! ;-) Overall I'm still happy with it and for the money and being able to go down there yourself and talk through what you want and pick colours etc then I think their a good bet.

I've actually got another frame there at the moment... waiting for the call to go pick it up!

+1 for Colourtech. My Jackson was done there through Witcomb. About £100 for single colour

Autostrada engineering in Staffordshire, best paint job I have ever seen. About £100. 3 layers of primer, between 9-12 layers of paint, Polished!!! between layers and 3 layers of polished lacquer.

GFs dad had a frame done there about 3 years ago, it has done 3-4 x 150 mile rides a week for 3 years and there are literally about 3 chips on the whole thing. And the rest of the paintwork still looks as good as day one.

Thought I'd bump this thread back up and not start a new one.

I want to get an 80's Cinelli resprayed, as there are a few spots of surface rust, which would be a shame to get worse. It's also delightfully 80s in design. Mmm Mmm.

From extensive forum searching (before I get flamed!)
it seems that Armourtex > Vaz for durability

But will Armourtex cope with masking off chromed areas (Chainstay and dropouts) and possibly applying some decals before lacquering.
Or am I better off with Vaz. Do people normally get frames Powder coated with Vaz of enamelled?

Does anybody have experience or advice :-) I'm nervous about going to Vaz with this as I don't want it looking shoddy after a couple of weeks.
Tips on what to ask for very welcome to get the best durable finish

I'm not made of money so Argos/Bob Jackson/Mercian with their 100gn plus charges would have to be a last resort.
It might be a Cinelli but it was super cheap and the process of killing puppies to convert to a fixie is costing enough :-)

Cheers C

You'll struggle to get a frame painted with chrome masking done for less than a ton

When you say it is delightfully 80s in design - do you mean the paintjob?
If so - replacing it with a single block of colour and losing the decals would be a shame
Without seeing pictures I can only assume that the frame is a typical 80s frame and garish as hell with all kinds of crazy shit.

Not answering your question, but:
1 - wash + t-cut the frame
2 - dremel with wire brush thing on rusty patches, feathering in the edges (£20 from Maplin if you can't borrow)
3 - go to ModelZone in Holborn and select a few tins of humbrol (£2each) to match paint around the rust spot areas and some thinner, and a brush.
4 - Mix + match colours in daylight for best results.
5 - etc.

Cheers for the responses.

I actually found the frame linked to from here, pics should be in the original retrobike listing.
http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=41385

Issues are surface rust around the headtube. But to be honest the paint is seriously chipped all over, so it could do with some tlc.

I was thinking of a solid colour all over, with possibly one tube in between the lugs (or panel) in cream. And to reapply repro- decals. But yes you would loose some of the glorious pinkness and 80's graphics. so it's a toss up.

Fact is, I want this frame to last and last, and I'm not sure that it would without a new coat.

ps. Before I get slaughtered, no braze ons / deralieur hangers are being removed so gears could go back on.

Where would you get the above done?