Guide To Re-painting a Steel Frame

by Levi Bloom

So you have an old steel frame and want to repaint it so it looks fresh and new?

You'll need:

Here's how:

1. Remove any components so you are down to just the frame.

2. Sand off any loose paint and rough up the surface so it's dull.

3. Primer

Use a bare metal primer on any areas where the paint is gone completely.

Then use a good sandable primer or filler primer to coat everything else.

(Primer is not necessary unless you are down to bare metal or need to paint over a very dark color.)

4. Sand again.

Use a fine grit sandpaper to smooth out the primer.

5. Paint

Now you can paint the frame.

If there are any imperfections, you can sand with a very fine grit (400 or 800) sandpaper between coats.

6. Clear coat.

A clear coat to make things extra shiny and protected is optional.

7. Let dry.

Try to let your frame dry at least one week before reassembly and riding.

* Dry times depend on the paint used. *

The tools for this repair can be purchased at:

Performance Bike, REI, or eBay.

Related pages:

#1 Top-Rated Repair Stand www.REI.com
With a 4.3 star user rating, the Feedback Sports Mechanic Stand is high-quality at a value price.

#1 Cyclist ID www.RoadID.com
Personal ID for long-distance cyclists - fits on your wrist and weighs nothing.

Bicycle Repair Stands www.REI.com
Wide selection of bike tools and repair stands from Park, Lezyne, Pedro's, and more.

Tools and Workstands www.PerformanceBike.com
Excellent selection of quality bike tools and workstands from all the top brands.