The Process, paint and possibilities

Learn about the basics, get ideas and let's make something rad.   

The Process

The paint process is as tedious as it is mysterious. There are many ways to skin a cat and paint is no different. It takes time and patience to learn the intricate techniques that will work for you, but knowing the basics is a good place to start. Here is a quick intro.

- Prep is crucial. Start by removing all mud, dirt, grime, stickers and sticker gunk follow that up with a thorough wash and degreasing session. 

- Sanding seems to be 90% of painting. I start with 320 - 500 grit sandpaper and wet sand by hand until the entire surface has been leveled and evenly sanded. 

- Masking keeps paint from going where you don't want it. You can use tape, paper, and vinyl to cover things like bearing interfaces, helmet vents, and drop outs.

- Primer or undercoat is a coating sprayed on materials before painting. Priming ensures better adhesion of paint to the surface, increases paint durability, and provides additional protection for the material being painted. After curing, primer needs to be re-sanded to fix any imperfections and give the base coat something to stick to. Usually 600 - 1000 grit will do the trick.  

- Basecoat is the coat that contains the visual properties of colors and effects. Basecoat is commonly divided into three categories: solids, metallics, and pearlescent pigments but also comes in crazy effects as well. Ask for more info.

- Clearcoat  is a transparent coating that is the final guard between the environment and your paint. Because of this, clearcoat must be durable enough to resist abrasion and withstand UV light. The finish can be high gloss, satin or matte.