How to paint a bicycle frame.
We strip, blast and powder coat push bike frames
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You look good, so should your paintwork |
Windridge Coatings success
With thousands of internet searches a month ending at Windridge Coatings we have become one of the best known powder coaters for repainting the best bike frames. Our customers use us because they need a tough finish that looks good to protect their bikes.
Who needs to use it
Our powder coating system is not for the £60 pushbike but for owners of high performance XC, All Mountain/Down Hill, Free Riders, Racers and those who demand a lot from their bikes.
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Weight
There is negligible difference in weight between wet paint and powder coating.
If weight is an issue, avoid zinc enriched primer as an under coat. Zinc is about three times heavier per volume than paint.
We are now weighing frames when they are stripped and after they are powder coated. Average weights for soft tail frames are 120g this includes the swing arm.
How to present your frame for powder coating
For us to paint a bike frame as quickly as possible, present it with all brackets, fittings, bearings, grease and road dirt removed. Some modern bike frames are powder coated which is difficult to remove by grit blasting alone, to reduce the blasting and possible damage to your cycle we immerse the frame in a paint stripper, this will ruin any rubber or plastic left fitted. Bearings need to be removed because grit and bearings do not mix, also the heat used to cure the paint will turn any thick bearing grease into runny oil, which will then spread and contaminate the new paintwork.
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What we do to your frame
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By showing a thirty-year-old Claud Butler being given a new lease of life.
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Painting a bike frame
When you want us to repaint a bike frame, ideally it should arrive clean and free from grease, this old cycle frame is a regular example of what we are asked to strip and repaint. Windridge Coatings has been stripping and painting bikes since 1986.
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Part of the bike rebuild
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Stripping a bicycle frame
To paint strip a bike frame, we remove the paint with minimal blasting so as not to damage the frame, it will go into a solvent paint striper which will not attack the metal but may ruin any rubber or plastic left fitted. Bearings needs to be removed because the heat used to cure the paint will turn any thick bearing grease into runny oil which will spoil run over the new paintwork.
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Solvent stripper used to reduce blasting damage
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Sandblast a bike frame
Paint stripping a bike invariably leaves a sticky mess, this and other contamination is removed when we grit blast a bike frame. Shot blasting a bicycle frame produces an excellent key for the paint to adhere to which will reduce the likelihood of chipping. We have used terms like sand blasting push bikes or shotblasting bike frames because most people do, but we grit blast using the safer aluminum oxide. This is light, sharp grit much like sand which helps to avoid distortion of a frame. It is non ferrous to avoid contaminating aluminum with steel.
Note the bearing cups and threads are protected. |
Blasting back to new metal
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Corrosion inhibitor, to slow rust
After grit blasting off paint it is then washed and chemically corrosion inhibited. If the paint is damaged this will help stop the frame corroding. The image shows the frame being lowered into the solution which also contains an acrylic resin which acts as a sealant to further help its’ anti-corrosion properties. |
Bike frame protected by corrosion inhibitors
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Fatigue crack
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Checking for cracks
This is a crack on another frame caused by metal fatigue. After blasting and applying a corrosion inhibitor we inspect every frame for cracks. The customer accepted our advice that this frame was dangerous and beyond viable repair. It was sent back to him and later condemned. |
Frame primered and ready for top coat
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Protective coating of powder coated primer
Rarely noticed by the customer and rarely applied by powder coaters an epoxy primer is more expensive than many topcoats, but is the waterproof barrier that helps to stop the metal corroding. The image shows the powder primer rubbed down to remove any lumps or excess orange peel.
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Electrostatic powder coating
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Powder coating a cycle frame
This bicycle frame has only been sprayed from one side; see how the wrap round pulls the paint back to coat the side of the tube that has not been sprayed. This makes it easier to spray with more even coverage.
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Threads
Two methods of protecting threads from blasting and painting are used:
 Conical silicon bungs or caps which are our preferred method.
Bolts are occasionally used for small or vulnerable threads.
It is wise to run a tap or dye before assembly especially on aluminium frames. We do not use steel grit, which can cause a problem if grit is embedded in an aluminium thread.
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Top coated
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Protective coating of Comet Dust
In the sun a cycle frame and comes to life with Comet Dust. Comet Dust is a metallic powder coating, which gives a deep shine and sparkles in the sunlight. It is made from a top quality class 1 Architectural Polyester Powder. The same high quality powder we use for buildings that have to look good for fifteen years in all weathers.
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Can my bike frame be powder coated
Any metal that can withstand 220 degrees Celsius can be powder coated, this includes the following:
Conventional aluminum and mild steel frames.
Frames made from Reynolds 525, 531, 725, 753 tubing that are often silver soldered or brazed.
Chromium-Molybdenum Steels have a high strength to low weight ratio but are still predominantly steel.
Titanium in its unalloyed condition is as strong as some steels but 45% lighter.
We cannot powder coat carbon fibre frames.
All types of frame have the following processes:
Blasted to an even grey colour to remove the residue paint and rust/oxide.
Checked for bad welds and cracks.
Repaired if appropriate, after consultation with the customer
Threads protected.
The metal is chemically pre-treated and sealed with an acrylic resin, for corrosion protection. (First coat of paint).
Powder coated primer is applied. This is because one application of powder coat is never enough for an all weather use. Areas can be missed, or small paint reactions can take place leaving pin-holes. Two coats of paint produces a better seal against the infiltration of moisture, which can eventually cause corrosion, and a thick coat of paint is more aesthetically pleasing.
A top grade architectural polyester powder is applied that will retain its’ shine and colour for many years.
Repair dents in bike frames
Conventional fillers used for powder coating explode. When they are mixed air is trapped as bubbles, which expand in the heat and explode. Windridge Coatings has developed a method for filling dents using epoxy resin that allows us to repair battle scared frames. The system can also be used for filling rust pitting. (Safety inspection required) We can not guarantee to remove all traces of pitting, each frame needs individual assessment.
Colours
The following prices are for any of our 200 stock hundred colours. We may not carry an exact colour for your requirement, so a compromise match may be needed. Although it is possible to have the colour specially manufactured, the price at £300.00 is usually prohibitive. Colour charts Please check availability before ordering, alternatively provide first three choices in order.
Decals
Some decals cannot tolerate 200 degrees Celsius and melt when we apply powder lacquer to protect them. They are only suitable for over coating with liquid lacquer. It is difficult to tell before the decals are applied whether this will happen, as a result of this, and not knowing the exact position the customer requires them to be placed, we no longer apply decals.
Turnaround
Most jobs are turned round with in three to four weeks.
The cost
The price to carry out all the preparation as described above and powder coat using the full external specification, designed to with stand the punishment of hard riding in extreme conditions.
General rust pit filling where possible from  £40 inc VAT.
Filling dent where possible from £20 inc VAT.
More accurate pricing may be possible by emailing a photo or waiting until we see the damage.
For steel or aluminium frame set standard colour:
Hard tail frame with or without standard non-shock forks £89 inc VAT
Soft tail frame with or without standard non-shock forks £89 inc VAT
Two colour fade as shown on colour page £38.50 inc VAT extra
As above but with the added COMET DUSTS metallic. £109inc VAT
Please confirm we have your preferred colour in stock before you send the frame.
If you would like us to paint your frame please go to How to order.
This is a three coat paint system, which is exceptional in the powder coating industry.
We have painted frames for over fifteen years, most are from recommendations.
We are expanding our bike section of the website, along with our services, to cater for your needs.
14-07-2010
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