How to Use Spray.Bike

Spray.Bike offers a groundbreaking range of bike-specific color coatings designed for both amateur and professional use. Spray.Bike paint is a dry, matte powder coating that doesn't drip in any way.

The spray paint is specially developed for bicycles and is revolutionary in terms of ease of application and quality of finish, making it perfect for customizing, repairing, and restoring your bike frame. Als u Click here to see a range of fantastic projects people are doing with Spray.Bike around the world.

Solid Colors Technical Specifications:

• Highly pigmented acrylic paint
• Dry powder coating
• Non-drip, non-dribble formula
• No primer required
• Suitable for surfaces of steel, aluminum, and carbon
• Durable and resilient: UV resistant and weatherproof
• Deep matte colors
• Easy to handle for stenciling and blending effects
• No equipment or heat treatment required after application
• For a satin or glossy topcoat, finish with Spray.Bike Frame Builder’s
• Transparent Finish – Satin / Gloss. For a matte topcoat, finish with
• Frame Builder’s Transparent Finish – Matte or regularly use Frame
• Builder’s Top Wax.
• 400 ml and 200 ml options
• 1 x 400 ml spray can covers a frame and fork in a single layer
• Minimum recommended layers: one

Instructions

• Ensure the surface is degreased, clean, and dry
• Wear protective gloves, clothing, eye/face protection
• Always paint in an open outdoor space
• Shake the can for at least 3 minutes before use
• Test spray for 2-3 seconds before applying
• Optimal spraying temperature: 20-25°C. Do not use Spray.Bike if the temperature is below 10°C or above 35°C, or if relative humidity exceeds 75%
• Always spray with the can in a vertical position, otherwise the paint may spit unevenly
• Solid Colors: spray surface from a distance of 5-12 cm
• Pocket Clears, Frame Builder’s Smoothing Putty, Frame Builder’s
• Transparent Finish, Frame Builder’s Cold-Zinc, Frame Builder’s Metal
• Primer, Frame Builder’s Carbon Primer, Frame Builder’s Metal Plating: spray surface from a distance of at least 20 cm
• Keirin Flake and Keirin Sunlight: spray surface from a distance of at least 30 cm
• Frame Builder’s Top Wax: spray onto a paper towel or soft lint-free cloth and apply gently
• Keep hand in motion while spraying
• Allow to dry before applying a second coat (paint dries within 10 minutes, full curing: 2 hours)
• At the end, turn upside down and spray for 2 seconds before storing the can (to prevent future clogging)
• Protect can from sunlight and temperatures above 50°C / 122°F

Preparation

Spray.Bike paint will adhere to most rough metals and painted surfaces without extensive preparation. However, if painting on a new factory bike with a high gloss finish, first sand the frame with very fine sandpaper or an abrasive cloth to give the surface some 'grip' for the paint to adhere well.
Always ensure all surfaces are completely clean and free of grease. Any micro-film left from degreasers or cleaning products can form a barrier that prevents Spray.Bike from adhering properly.
Pure medical alcohol is recommended for the ultimate pre-paint cleaner, but ensure all residues are removed with absorbent kitchen paper.
NEVER use acetone or any product containing acetone, as it will weaken Spray.Bike, as it is one of the paint's ingredients.

Using Spray.Bike Prep & Finish Products

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Spraying

Understanding and following spray distances is essential. These are the distances from the can in your hand to the surface being sprayed. They vary depending on the product:

• Solid colors (BLB, Pop, Historic, Vintage, Fluorescent, Pocket Solids): 5-12 cm
  Since Spray.Bike spray cans are pressurized, there is an optimal distance at which the paint is effective when leaving the spray nozzle (cap): 5-12 centimeters. In this 'window,' the paint is semi-wet and the pigment is perfectly prepared to do its job well. Errors can occur under 5 centimeters. After 12 or 14 centimeters, the paint has turned into a dry powder dust with little adhesion.
• Pocket Clears, Frame Builder’s Smoothing Putty, Frame Builder’s Transparent Finish, Frame Builder’s Cold-Zinc, Frame Builder’s Metal Primer, Frame Builder’s Carbon Primer, Frame Builder’s Metal Plating: at least 20 cm
• Keirin Flake and Keirin Sunlight: at least 30 cm
• Frame Builder’s Top Wax: spray onto a paper towel or soft lint-free cloth and apply gently.

Spray.Bike spray cans should always be held vertically during spraying. When the can is horizontal, the paint cannot be fed through the straw of the spray can.
Keep your hand in motion while spraying to ensure an even coating. Touch-ups can always be done later.
If reusing the paint after storage, first test the spray. If the paint seems to splutter, replace the nozzle as the existing one is likely blocked.

Polishing

For best results, polish Spray.Bike solid colors with kitchen paper or a lint-free soft cloth. This will compact the paint surface and should be done before the paint is fully cured, so polish within two hours after spraying. Be more careful where colors meet.

Drying

Although the coating appears to dry quickly (you can touch the paint after a few seconds), it's always best to let the paint fully dry for a period of 12 hours before rebuilding the bike.

Dealing with Issues

Occasionally, there may be areas where the paint has landed as a powder (resulting in a rougher surface). This is easily remedied. Allow the paint to dry completely and then gently rub with a soft cloth to smooth the surface.
If you make a mistake (e.g., applying color in the wrong place), wait until the spray is completely dry (max. 2 hours). Then use very fine sandpaper or other abrasive material to slowly rub away the paint. However, do not use traditional solvent removers as they will damage the acrylic compound in Spray.Bike and ultimately create more mess.
Remember that the spray distance for solid colors is 5-12 cm, while for Pocket Clears, Transparent Finish from Frame Builder, Smoothing Putty for Frame Builder, Frame Cold Cold-Zinc, Frame Builder’s Metal Primer, Frame Builder’s Carbon Primer, and the Metal Plating from Frame Builder is at least 20 cm. For the Keirin collection, it is at least 30 cm. Frame Builder’s Top Wax should not be sprayed directly onto the frame. Instead, spray it onto a paper towel or a soft, lint-free cloth and apply it gently.

Dealing with Stickers and Emblems

Note: in rare cases, the acetone in the transparent finish may affect the ink in a sticker or decal. To check this, spray a small amount of transparent finish on a test sticker/decal. If it melts the ink or causes the ink to run, you should place the actual emblem/sticker on the transparent finish on your frameset.

Using the Fluor

Due to the reflective pearlescent particles, the fluor colors are slightly grainier than the other ranges.
Highly recommended to wipe with a soft cloth about an hour after painting.
Using the Pocket Clears
These are perfect for creating a glaze on raw metal tubes, subtly altering a base color, fades, and shades (see blending below).
Remember that while the spray distance for solid colors is 5-12 cm, for these Pocket Clears, as they contain the Frame Builder’s Transparent Finish, the spray distance is at least 20 cm.

Using the Keirin Collection

The Flake range consists of 6 colored metal flake options in Frame Frame’s transparent finish. They can be used over Spray.Bike colors to provide a stunning glitter finish—or even used in factory paint to give a unique sparkle effect to the frame.
The Sunlight range features 4 colors of broken liquid glass in Frame Builder’s Transparent Finish, creating a glitter effect that is only truly visible in direct sunlight.
All colors can be overlaid to create specific color flake mixes.
2 coats recommended.
Remember, the spray distance is much farther than all our other products: at least 30 cm.

Masking and Stenciling

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Mixing

Use the Pocket Clears for mixing as they can produce a quick and unusual color change when used in combination with (i.e., on top of) solid colors (especially Fluor Clears on top of solid fluor colors).
Pocket Clears are a solid pigment with a transparent base coat, so the final color is based on the combination of solid/clear used, e.g., Fluro Yellow Clear on a blue will become green.
Use at intersections where 2 dramatic colors meet to create a fade. Practice a bit for great results.
Note: spray with the Pocket Clears from a distance of at least 20 cm.

Using the Prep & Finish Range from Frame Builder

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Storage

Spray.Bike paint lasts up to 10 years in the can.
Store upright and below 50°C.

Inspiration

Need inspiration before you start?
Click here for photos of the fantastic things people are doing with Spray.Bike around the world.
Click here for some inspiring and instructional videos.