Having owned a bike for a few years, I started thinking about getting it touched up because it started looking quite bland. If you are going to be riding a bike multiple times a week- it just makes you feel better to see a bright new color on it.
As part of my research, I started comparing powder coating vs painting a bike. Here’s what’s better:
For everyday riding, powder coating a bike is recommended over painting because it is much more durable and costs less. However, powder coating gives limited color options and cannot give the detailed finish of a paint job. There are a few other nuances to think about, which are given below.
Powder Coating Vs Painting A Bike- Comparison
- Cost. Powder coating costs anywhere between $50-250 or £45-220 whereas painting a bike costs anywhere between $400-800 or £350-720.
- Turnaround time. Painting a bike may take a day or longer depending on the level of detail. Powder coating is usually just a matter of a few hours.
- Durability. Powder coating is much more robust than painting as it has a much thicker coat (almost twice in thickness).
- Color choices. Powder coating color choices are limited, in comparison to painting.
- Finish. Powder coating will give a basic, industrial type finish to the bike. Detailed or really creative artwork is only possible with painting.
- Environmental Impact. Powder coating has less of an environmental impact than painting. This is because solvents are mixed with paints.
How to Powder Coat a Bike
There are 4 steps to powder coating a bike:
- Sanding down the bike.
- Priming.
- Powder coating.
- Heat curing.
Let’s get into each, one by one:
Sanding Down The Bike.
You first, need to strip away the existing paint on the bike by sanding it down. You can either do it manually by sandpaper (not recommended- may take days) or by sandblasting it.
Sandblasting means spraying abrasive particles at high pressure at your bike. This does the same thing as using a sandpaper but is much more efficient. It’ll remove old paint, rust and strip your frame back to bare metal.
Priming The Bike.
Primer is basically the base layer to powder coating, and helps make the bike durable. You can basically find primers at hardware stores but choosing the right type of primer based on which type of bike you have and the powder coating being used is key.
Powder Coating The Bike.
You basically use a special ‘gun’ that at high pressure, throws powder coat particles at the bike frame. These particles have a tiny electrostatic charge which allows them to adhere to the bike.
Like I said earlier, you may not get all the choices in the world in terms of color- BUT there are two things you should consider:
Go for dark colors as they hide dirt better, BUT with a glossy finish as that doesn’t allow dirt to adhere much to the bike.
Curing The Bike.
In order to permanently ‘set’ the powder on the bike, it will be put in a large oven for 10 minutes or so. The heat cures the powder and allows it to set.
And that’s it really- you can pick up the bike from the shop after this step.
How to Paint a Bike
The 4 step process for painting a bike is as follows:
- Sanding down the bike.
- Masking.
- Priming.
- Powder coating.
Sanding down the bike.
Again- you first need to remove the existing layer of paint and rust (if any) with sandpaper. If you have an aluminium bike frame (or any other metal really) use a 300 grit sandpaper. Wet it a bit in a bucket of water and get to work on the bike frame. In some areas, you will wear down the paint and others, the bare metal underneath will be exposed.
That’s absolutely fine- you just need to remove most of the upper layer of paint. Keep wetting the sandpaper and rubbing it on the bike- this will take time though. A perfectly acceptable alternative is to go to a professional and get it sandblasted.
Masking.
Use masking tape to mask joints and hinges- like the bearing seat on the top tube, bottom brackets, the rivets and the mounting points for the axle on the bike frame, the tyres (if you are too lazy to remove them from the wheels). If you are looking to create any design/use multiple colors, then mask off the relevant areas on the bike frame accordingly.
Priming the bike for Painting.
Just go to a local hardware store, tell them what kind of bike you’re working on, and they will guide you. You just want to make sure you don’t pick the wrong kind of primer. Eg: for aluminium bikes, there is a specific aluminium primer that is used- which isn’t recommended for use on carbon bikes, for instance. I found this nice company on Amazon that sells primers for different types of bikes.
Pro tip- get yourself two cans of primer- you don’t want to run out of the first one midway through the bike frame.
Before you start priming- don’t forget to remove all additional components that will not be painted- such as the tyres, handlebars etc. Best is to lay a large plastic/tarpaulin sheet on the ground, rest the bike frame horizontally on it, and then get to work with priming and painting.
Painting the bike.
Again, different types of paint are best for different metals used in bike frames. Definitely ask a local hardware store or bike shop about which one you should buy from them, and get 2 cans at least, because I recommend you put on a second coat as well.
Don’t forget to wear a N95 face mask while you are painting (and priming as well) as the chemicals can be quite NASTY.
People Also Ask
Can I Paint A Bike Myself?
Most people will be able paint their own bikes if they pay attention to the kind of bike frame (aluminium/steel,/carbon/any other) they have because it dictates the rest of the process- what grit sandpaper to use, which type of primer, and paint to use.
Can I Powder Coat A Bike Myself?
The average person will not be able to powder coat a bike because after being applied on the bike, the powder coat requires to be cured in a Large Industrial oven at 400 F.
What is The Cost of Powder Coating a Bike?
Powder coating costs approx $50-250 or £ 45-220 per bike.
What Is The Cost of Painting a Bike?
If a bike is being painted at home, the complete cost of materials will not exceed $60 or £50. If the bike is being painted professionally, expect to pay $400-800 or £350-720 for the entire job.
Can You Anodize a Bike Frame?
On average, most bikes would be better off being painted or powder coated instead of being anodized. While most bikes can be anodized, the choice of colors are highly limited and the process does not hide any of the existing scratches or cuts on the frame.
Can You Powder Coat A Carbon Bike Frame?
Powder coating does not adhere to carbon, hence carbon bike frames cannot be powder coated