I paint aircraft for a living, and I would do the following, if you can:
1. Wipe the whole frame down FIRST with Naphtha. I use this because it has enough solvent power to
wipe off just about all contaminants and it is weak enough that it can't cause
contamination/fish-eye problems later. For things like bug guts or tar, use a more powerful
solvent, but then go back and re-wipe with naphtha.
2. Use as fine of a steel wire wheel instead of the brass one. The steel will lightly scuff the
frame tubes and greatly improve paint adhesion and still not be so hard on the steel that the
scuff marks will show through the paint. I use a small wire wheel with a ¼" shaft and put it in
my electric drill. If you are planning to powder coat later, you DEFINITELY won't see the
scratch marks later.
3. As for primer, if I'm going to use primer on steel, I use an epoxy (a base component and a
catalyst/hardner component). Reason being, the epoxy primer is tougher and far more durable than
any enamel or lacquer primer, especially red oxide (which I never use). The only problem with 2
part coatings, is you can't use a store-bought spray can. I have some small glass bottles that
are screwed into a small aerosol container so you can custom make your own "spray cans" - but
not sure of the name. Will get it tomorrow and post the name.
If simple corrosion protection is the primary concern, don't even worry about primer. I am not a big
fan of Krylon products, and for a straight store-bought spray paint, I have found the Tremclad brand
to be every bit as durable and cheaper than some of the "dedicated" brands like Krylon. A light tack
coat, then a couple good thick wet coats and you will have more than enough protection til you
powder coat them.
After shooting the paint job on my first two trikes, I took the last two I built to powder coat
places and let them coat my frames in plastic. Very happy with the jobs and the powder coat is
multitudes tougher than even the multiple coats of epoxy I put on them myself. The Mk I and
Battleship were painted by me. The Mk III and IV were powder coated.
Pics are here:
http://jkcc.com/speednviolence/bikes/
"Joshua Goldberg" <
[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I am going to paint a frame in order to cut down on the # of times I have
to
> remove the rust, the Acid Rain in my area is really bad on unpained steel.
>
> I don't really care about a hi-quality paint job now, I'll get it powder coated in 4
> months anyway.
>
> Question = Should I use Spray or Brush on enamel and IS a base primer coat needed?
>
> I will be removing the rust and then running an Angle Grinder over the
frame
> with a brass brush and add paint asap so I am not painting over rust.
>
> I am leaning more to cans of spray enamel...yes?
