Over time your bike can start to look a little old and tired, it’s probably picked up a few scrapes and the paintwork isn’t what it used to be – but the bikes still as good as ever underneath!
Whatever your requirement, restoration, race team livery/design, or if you just fancy being a little bit different and owning your very own custom painted bike like some of the Pro’s – I can apply my custom paint techniques and design skills to provide a high quality cycle frame painting service.
This can be as simple as a single colour respray, a full restoration project on an old steel frame bike or a bespoke custom design for the latest carbon fibre road frame.
I can also help advise on your design and colour choices and will provide design concepts for paint schemes based on the type of frame you have and the style of riding you do.
Paintwork can be applied to steel, aluminium, alloy and carbon fibre frames.
Special effect paints are available such as metal flake, pearls, metallics, flip-flops (chameleon) etc, there really are no limits to the effects that can be achieved for your custom painted bike frame.
You are not limited to just having your frame and forks painted, I can customise almost any cycling component or accessory, including your stem, handle-bar, seat post, crank arms and other smaller items. I can also match your helmet, shoes and sunglasses!
Below is a rough idea to the process involved when your cycle frame is being painted.
Prices start from £650 for steel/alloy frames and £850 for carbon.
Design
After an initial consultation email/chat and a formal agreement on the cost of your project we will establish an estimated time-frame, a small deposit is required and then a bit closer to your booking date a visual concept of your paintwork will be produced.
Preparation and Primer
Once the design is agreed and closer to your booking date, your frame can be sent directly or dropped off. It should should be stripped of all components and be clean and in good condition.
The frame will then be prepared for its new paint job with the correct paint removal process.
With all carbon frames the original finish is removed by hand, no blasting or power tools are ever used.
Most paint jobs receive the ‘Standard Prep Level‘ which is labour intense, but is more cost effective. It’s better suited for full colour paintwork and requires sanding back the original finish enough to create a uniform surface ready for priming and building colours on top.
I also offer ‘Advanced Prep Level‘ which is taking the frame down to its raw state. This is extremely labour intensive, it adds the least amount of weight/paint back on the frame and is best suited to having a naked carbon finish or for super-light paintwork – this is an additonal cost.
Alloy and steel frames are usually media blasted before paintwork and can be either powder coated or wet sprayed.
Once a frame is in a raw state it’s then epoxy primed, given a light sand, any imperfection filled or sanded out and is then given a further sealer coat and is then ready for colour paint.
Paintwork and Graphics
After the primer has been applied, the approved design of your bike is then carefully recreated on your frame, applying all layers of colour paint along with any artwork, special effects, graphics or decals you require.
I try to avoid using vinyl graphics or stickers where possible and prefer to apply any graphics as an actual layer of paint so that it will be under a protective clear coat to provide the best possible smooth finish for your frame. The majority of decals and graphics are created with a Graphtec sign cutter, digitally cutting stencils to recreate sharp, accurate logos and graphics.
Please note – I don’t paint Fluro. It’s a light-fast paint (fades) and has poor coverage.
Protective Clear Coat
The final stage of any paintwork is clear coating. I use premium quality automotive UV protective clears to protect your frame from the elements and ensure your paint job is as deep and glossy as it can be.
I offer two different types of finishes for you to choose from, including a High-Gloss wet looking clear and a durable Matte finish.
It is possible to use a combination of finishes such as on stealth paintwork to achieve a totally unique and stunning look.
Prices
Prices vary depending on paint effects, complexity of graphics, design/decals required and frame type. Generally steel, alloy and aluminium frames are slightly cheaper to paint due to their different preparation treatment.
For more information or to start the process of having your bike painted, get in touch with an outline of your requirements and receive a competitive quote.
Prices reflect the work and materials needed to produce the best results and I’m confident you will find them very competitive compared with other bespoke bike frame painters offering the same level of service and quality.
If all you need is a ‘ball-park’ figure of how much it will cost, prices start from £650 for a steel frameset and £850 for a carbon frameset, however there is no upper limit.
Strip down/rebuild service
If you require your bike to be stripped down (of components) or re-assembled prior to or after paintwork, this can be accommodated.
I have an exclusive arrangement in place with Vive Le Velo (North Ferriby) who are a high-end cycling retail/workshop. You can send your bike directly to them, they will carry out any work required and can also provide advanced work such as bottom bracket installations, facing, indexing etc.
If your frame requires any repair work I can nudertake any cosmetic repairs, I also have a number of specialists on hand who can advise and fix most carbon or steel frame issues.
Additional costs apply, please ask when enquiring about paintwork.
Ordering Process
This will start with an email or quote request to let me know what you want painting and other details, I will then get back to you with a price and estimated time slot.
If you are happy with the price and would like to book in for paintwork, a deposit will be required to add you to the paint queue.
You might not hear from me for a few months between finalising your design and sending or dropping off your frame for paintwork.
Closer to the date of your booking get in touch with us to finalise the design and arrange shipping/drop off. Once it arrives it will be inspected and then join the paint queue ready to be transformed.
GET A QUOTE
If you experience any issues with this form or if you prefer to email us direct feel free to do so. If you would like to add any pictures of your bike or parts along with any reference images of what you would like or what’s inspiring your paint work please email them as the form only supports one image at a time.
info@kustomflow.co.uk
