painting help

[axlerodi]

I have just got my brother in law to make me a set of panniers and am trying to paint them and the rack but I keep getting small bubbles when I spray does anyone know how I can stop this from happening

Thanks Derek

[1gear1brake]

I've just sprayed a pair of ammo box panniers with primer then plasticote with not a bubble in sight. What kind of paint are you using?

[Snaphappy]

You need to clean your panniers with a solvent cleaner,
there are probably still silicon traces or oil that is repelling the paint

Got any pics

[pxlpig]

could be a number of things.

Grease (even finger marks) can repel paint causing an effect called fish eye, wipe all surfaces with a mild solvent panel wipe first, let dry then spray.

Another cause could be something called micro blistering this is caused by the underlying layers of paint still "gassing out", solution: leave each layer long enough to gas off before applying more thin coats of paint, we had this problem when spraying pearl white on a bike frame years ago.

Remember to use an adhesion promoter primer if spraying onto plastic (plastic specific primer), this will help the paint adhere to the plastic better when under flex and vibration.

Hope this helps, good luck.

[axlerodi]

thanks for the advise guys. I am using Hammerite satin spray I havent sprayed the panniers yet as they have been made from galvanized steel and i will need to prime them. I sanded the rack today and given it another coat seams to have come up ok.

Will get some pics on of them painted

[veodoble]

very nice set of racks, I notice in the pictures that you or your brother have a proper metal workshop, hence the good folding and welding that I see.

But, as I've made my own recently and I'm aware of this issue, I ask you: Don't you think that your boxes are way too low? I mean, in that shot the bike is still sitting on the stand, and of course your weight is neither on the bike, so I guess you may have to raise the boxes a bit higher for not to scratch the road!! Correct me if I'm wrong, it's just my feeling after seeing the pics. And probably they're too close to the fairing?

BTW, I can't tell out if the boxes are Aluminium of something else.

Other than that, congratulations for the racks, they look perfect. I painted mine first with an imprimation layer, that covered the iron properly, and then finished them with a sort of black enamel I had laying around; both of them were of those A & B paints, the ones that come in two cans, one smaller than the other, and you've got to mix'em to certain proportion.

Cheers!

[axlerodi]

Originally Posted by veodoble

you may have to raise the boxes a bit higher for not to scratch the road!! Correct me if I'm wrong, it's just my feeling after seeing the pics. And probably they're too close to the fairing?

BTW, I can't tell out if the boxes are Aluminium of something else.

Cheers!

Thanks Veo the boxes are made from .8mm galvanized steel. I don't get that low in the corners but if I find it a problem I will change them.

Derek

[veodoble]

Ok, steel is strong I reckon

I guess you have already tested the boxes in open road, haven't you? Loaded and everything, and they don't touch the floor, good for you!

Congratulations for the fine job. I think that the harder part of the work is to make the racks, because home made boxes or panniers are very common and they are not so tricky to build. Instead, making your own racks render a harder task, and there aren't so many tutorials out there in the internet.

Cheers!

[axlerodi]

I haven't tried them loaded yet but I had to ride home as he lives in Burgess Hill (its my brother in laws work shop) they seamed fine I prob wont be putting lots in them and they will prob only get used every now and then(not as much as i would like)

There is quite a bit of distance from the ground but will have to check that out be for the TLD ride which is why I had them made other wise I prob would not have got them

Thanks Veo but the congrats has to go to my in law I just told him how I wanted them to look and sit on the bike he did all the hard work. The rack was made to measure on the bike with small adjustments done as he fitted it to the bike. He was going to make them from Aluminum but he doesn't have a welder for that at the mo as his is broken

Derek