DaveB1960

Considering an old '75 Colnago that would need a new paint job. Rough cost for a simple but elegant paint job (with prep)? Recommendations?

sloar 

Wet paint done right can be very expensive, I’ll let someone that knows answer that one. But if you can find a quality powdercoater, that’s what I did with this Serotta. He laid it down just right that made it look like wet paint and not to thick. $100 for blasting and paint. He did a wonderful job.

CV-6 

Franklin Frame in Ohio. Reasonable prices, stellar work.

Sactown_Albert 

High end paint can add up. I have a Richard Sachs repaint that was done by Franklin Frames and Jack does stellar work for a very fair price. Jack is very old school so calling him is best option. 740-763-3838

One thing you did not mention is where you are. Shipping to and from a painter will add approximately $150-200 round trip to the cost. This needs to be taken into account when you talk about real cost.

In the San Francisco Bay Area, Rick with D&D paint does very good work and knows how to source decals, if needed. He just completed a stellar repaint of a Celo Europa frame for one of our club members that required inlay painting, chrome to be sectioned off, and the sourcing of decals. Cost was $700 after clear coating and polishing. Best to just call him, too. (510) 278-2976

MiloFrance

Spectrum powder coating in Colorado did my photo tubed single-speed mountain bike 25 years ago and it still bomb proof. If they have funky patterns going on they can do the same for you at a very good price although I am talking 25 years ago of course!

Wildwood 

Last quote I had (from a good shop in Seattle) was $750. Strip, single color paint, decals, clearcoat. That was a few years ago.

The Franklin Frames recco is made often by several members, never disputed - must be good.

zandoval 

Here is the way I do it. You must remember that I enjoy doing stuff like this. If I did not then I would send it off for a Powder Coat for sure.

Stripping off the old paint : 2 hours

Inspection of the frame, sanding, detail sanding, micro cleaning : >10 hours (if ya do it right!)

Treating the inside of the frame with 50:50 Penitrol and Denatured Alcohol mix : 10 USD (long drying time)

Rustolium Etching rattle can primer, sand, prime again, sand, prime again and wipe down: 4 hours (not including drying time)

Purchase of Special 1" non-shedding enamel paint brush, Rustolium Gloss Enamel paint (oil base), Penetrol (oil base) : 50 USD

Painting of the frame by hand with a mix of Rustolium Gloss Enamel 20% Penetrol : 2 hours

Drying time after paint : 10 days

chain_whipped

Nothing to take away from PC but only discussion or price comparative.

Without doing any stripping or prep, minimum $1,000 today. Chems and proper blend to factory colorcoat paint, 2 part urethanes, clears, proper decals.

Can and have done total DIY as decent presentable full stripped, rattle can + 2 part urethane clear, decals and all required materials at $100. Notice I stated DIY. What's your labor time worth?

sloar 

I use to paint frames before I moved and lost my big garage. I probably painted 15-20 high end frames. I got very good results using Duplicolor primer, paint and clear. Dries very fast and sets up nice.

DaveB1960

Looks nice

BMC_Kid 

I had Spectrum in Colorado Springs powder coat my Zullo and Tesch.




They did an awesome job but when I was ready for another paint job this past March, I found out that the original owner had sold out and the new company moved to Boulder. I really tried hard to get them to paint my Picchio but they wouldn’t even respond to my emails so I moved on and went looking for another painter. I found Dark Matter Finishing in Colorado Springs and after talking to Ollie, the owner and painter, turns out he was the lead painter/powder coated at Spectrum and when they sold out and moved, he hung up his own shingle. He even remembered powder coating my two frames. He did a wonderful job and cost about $600 total with shipping.

greenscobie86

I do my own frames but would probably charge at least $700 hundred for a basic base/clear repaint. Materials will cost ~$200 at least. 1/2 pint of base coat averages $40~80 alone from a body supply store. Clear coat/sandpaper/primers/steel wool/masking tape and lacquer thinner will be an additional cost. Decals are also an additional cost.

Here's a repaint project I did recently: Mid 90s Bianchi?

Powdercoating definitely seems like a more economical option if you have the capability and/or a local powdercoater.

Kabuki12

I got my 1975 Colnago done by Franklin Frame a few years ago . Jack matched the original orange color very nicely . He buffed out the fork crown as the chrome was still good and painted the frame , applied correct decals , clear coated , and even color matched the frame pump . It was about $600 if I remember right. It came out very nice.

mhespenheide 

Allan Wanta in FL used to be the budget wet-paint option. I don't know if he's still taking paint work. I know he's stepped back from his framebuilding. I have no personal experience with him.

brewerkz 

expect to pay around $1000 with decals applied as the floor. Multiple colors, etc will drive up cost further.

Yellow Jersey painted my 3Rensho

DaveB1960

Thanks all. Great information and resources.