Frame spray paint - no Powder coating available

[09dudharb]

Hi all,

Any recommendations for primer, paint and lacquer? And tips for application and number of coats?

Stripped my gs500 down to bare frame and rebuilt the entire thing but want to paint the frame before reassembly... Due to Corona crisis powder coating is not an option.

Because there was such a bad paint job done before I've had to use some power tools to clean it off which has bought it down to bare metal. Not what I was going for but my tools were a little rough 😬

I used tetrosyl paint on the fork but knocked them and scratched the paint off very easily... Was this the paint or not enough coats? I have 4, more cans of the stuff so would be good if I could use that but want the best I can get short of powder coating.

Many thanks in advance

[stinkwheel]

I used Alkyd resin paint on my enfield frame recently. Sticks like shit to a blanket. Would use again.

It's effectively old fashioned machine enamel. Mostly used for farm machinery and painting skips these days (how much tougher do you want?).

Old brit bikes in the 1940's and 50's used to have their frames dipped in this stuff, most of them are still on their original paint.

Apply direct to metal. I was going to brush paint mine but it was a bit thick so I put it through the spray gun instead. It dries quick but I'd give it a week to cure (it's a resin, they chemically cure after drying) before fitting engines and stuff so it hardens properly.

Tractol 329 is one brand of alkyd resin machine enamel available in aerosols. It'll give you a tough and tidy finish quite easily with minimal faffing about using multiple coatings.

Some paint sold as machine enamel is polyurethane. This is also tough but it's not the same stuff.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/V44j6Rx2jZKtv3NY3enr3jlR7eRBsTR1fYmP_HXxkt9N8FudzhHMp4tEM2PVcQy1x_Nr38ca60A6T2mBG_wK017Ou3vls82BglYHVJMiP3xrBDdUe8UJns339j2x0E1LTUs5TmyRCw=w1155-h866-no

That said, if you want a very high quality finish, you're probably going to want 2k paint over a zinc primer. Respirator essential! (not face mask, and they are the type of P3 respirator the NHS is using for covid so if you don't already have one...)

However I would say it's a GS500 here. They came out of the factory with a single optimistic spray-over with something cheap and porous. Anything you use will be better than what it came with.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Riejufixing]

Dulux Trade High Gloss is an excellent paint. Not too hard or soft, alkyd, easy to use.

Edit: Yes, respirator, Screwfix, when again available, if you're going to spray it.

[spottedtango]

I’ve used spray can Hammerite on a few bikes with good success. You need to have a dry day, dust free area and done all your prep first

also if you can heat the frame up with a heat gun it allows the paint to cure faster reducing the amount of dust that gets stuck to it.

[Easy-X]

Check and treat any rust spots (if it's a steel frame) be a shame for something to bubble through years later if an hour's work now would sort it.
____________________
Royal Enfield Continental GT 535, Husqvarna Vitpilen 401, Yamaha XSR700, Honda Rebel, Yamaha DT175, Suzuki SV650 (loan) Fazer 600, Keeway Superlight 125, 50cc turd scooter

[09dudharb]

Hi all!

Thanks for the replies!

Ive gone for Zinc primer, a few layers then let cure for 24h. On with the tractol329... Did it a few days ago and looks good but want to leave it for a week to cure properly.

My next question is... I used 2 400ml spray cans of tractol but feel like that might not be enough, was only 2 coats... thoughts? I have more on the way so not an issue to do more.

Also, do I lacquer or no? will that add any protection?

[stinkwheel]

You wouldn't normally laquer over machine enamel.

More is more when it comes to coats up to a point. Maybe have a poke at an inobtrusive bit and see what you think. It cures pretty hard.

I think I put 4 coats on mine but I have a spray gun so loads of paint to spare.

Pics? We like pics of peoples projects.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[09dudharb]

Thanks for the response... I've never been quite sure if lacquer is for looks or protection.

I'll do some more layers for sure then, I have another 5 cans coming!

Here are the photo but please excuse the mess!!

So I've chopped the rear end and welded on a piece of steel, hope the MOT tester is cool with it! Sounds like its down to their discretion as to if that rear end piece is structural or not.

[09dudharb]

Sorry not sure how to stick images in messages on here![/img]

[stinkwheel]

[09dudharb]

Looked into bending box section but the bender and die are extremely expensive!

You got me thinking though... Not sure if I previously mentioned in the thread but I have a donar bike... There is a section on the gs frame that you remove to drop the engine. Just so happens it has the perfect curve and some straight box! Could chop that up. Found a pic of the part im talking about which ill attach.

So cut off my *call it a prototype* and see if I can get that curved section welded on and a cross beam a little further down... What are your thoughts on flux core wire? I've never used it before but run out of argon

[P.addy]

2 things.

Lol at the frame.

It's a GS500. When you ride it, the engines gonna shit itself anyway.

That poor frame though.

[stinkwheel]

I'm afraid I'm not great at welding. I do seagull-shite stick welding. I just know I could bend that thickness of flatbar by hand and that there is a lot more lateral force on a subframe when you're cornering than you'd expect.

While I'm not a frame builder either, I reckon even a single bit of that box as a cross-brace would be fine. If the bent bit of flat steel is just to hold a tailpiece and not be particularly load-bearing, it's fine. The frame is well triangulated in the vertical axis anyway and it's a monoshock so all the chassis force is forwards of there (there was a similarly chopped twinshock frame posted a couple of weeks ago that was actively dangerous).

But yes, if you could have a bent bit of box arching up (or down), it would be as strong as the original bracing.

Given the way this is heading, you're probably going to go for a single seat with a hump so plan how that's going to look, your brace could form the profile of the hump?
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[09dudharb]

[09dudharb]

[stinkwheel]

I've had good results with simonize vht engine paint.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[09dudharb]

[stinkwheel]

Oil on hot metal will work on cast iron/steel, it's called "japanning". Not so sure about alloy. I think it would just go dull.

They do a matt finish in that simonize paint. If you want a really chalky matt finish, you could use brush-on wood stove paint but I find it less robust. PJ1 is also popular, although I think the simonize is more forgiving to apply. Just did Mrs stinkwheels exhaust with it. I am also a fan of plastikote, they do a woodstove and BBQ paint. I use that on a lot of parts.

Whatever paint you use needs to be VHT (very high temperature) paint.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Easy-X]

Not to rain on your parade but I always experience some cognitive dissonance when I see bikes like your "inspiration" - the tyres say "rough terrain" but the ground clearance says "...but no rocks please!"
____________________
Royal Enfield Continental GT 535, Husqvarna Vitpilen 401, Yamaha XSR700, Honda Rebel, Yamaha DT175, Suzuki SV650 (loan) Fazer 600, Keeway Superlight 125, 50cc turd scooter

[Riejufixing]

[Riejufixing]

[stinkwheel]

[09dudharb]

[09dudharb]

[stinkwheel]