What is the toughest most durable spray paint out there?

Author	Message

renb

Posted: Apr 16, 2009 at 16:04

Quote

Hey everyone, I am looking at painting my fox 40 lowers and was wondering if anyone had any insight on the best paint (brand) to use. I painted my frame last year with automotive paint and auto motive grade etching primer but the paint had no durability. This is after I had spent a week painting. I did sand it between every coat and let every coat dry for a day as well. Anyone have any luck with spray bombing?

mitchmanolescu

Posted: Apr 16, 2009 at 16:11	Quote
get engine block paint its like an extra $5 a can but it is worth it

Hummeroid

Posted: Apr 16, 2009 at 16:30	Quote
You looking for in a spray can or do you have a paint gun/airbrush? Engine block paint comes in few colors, thats the main problem with that.

mtnbikerkris

Posted: Apr 16, 2009 at 16:47	Quote
im painting my wheels on my switch with rust-oleum professional primer and paint and its looks super good and seems to preform well too!

renb

Posted: Apr 16, 2009 at 17:58	Quote
i am painting them white. Rusto paint is shit. Ive used it in the past and in comes off when you look at it the wrong way, even after sanding , primer , sanding ...... I don't have a compressor so laying it on with a hplv gun is out of the question unfortunately. Money is not an issue as far as buying paint and there is no one in the area who is willing to paint it for me.

NorCalNomad

O+

Posted: Apr 16, 2009 at 18:01	Quote
Enamel is pretty damn strong, since it's suppose to be supper hard for appliance use. I only did 2 coats no clear on my forks and no a chip on em.

collin7

Posted: Apr 16, 2009 at 18:02	Quote
after you sand you do make sure all the paint residue is gone right? just checking. kuz other wise the new coat would just stick to dust and flake off super fast. i have used rust-oleum and didn't even sand and its held for over a year.

ezekiel

Posted: Apr 17, 2009 at 7:09

Quote

The best luck I've had with durability was using some Rustoleum. The shine isn't quite that of an automotive grade paint but the durability is far better. I'm still of firm belief that if you want a paint job to last, then put up the money and have it sprayed professionally with a 2 part paint. The shine and the durability are far better than any spray paint and your resale isn't as effected as when you say that your frame/fork/wheelset has been rattle canned.

fireninja

Posted: Apr 17, 2009 at 7:35	Quote
Aoutomotive engine enamel is the best. I've done a few bikes with it and it's always lasted way longer then any other type of paint. Even with only 2 coats no sanding in between. and you can get it in lots of colours. for example... 2441299

bikerboywill

Posted: Apr 17, 2009 at 7:38	Quote
erm haerite is rediculusly hard, like you can barely sand it off. i think they do a sparay can of it now aswell. But aparently its takes about 6months to go fully hard! but its touch try in like 30 mins if that. so thats only if you want to seriously abuse it. It drys within a day properly.

Unhallowed

Posted: Apr 17, 2009 at 7:43

Quote

powdercoat is probably the easiest way to get a more durable coat of paint on your stuff. can be expensive to get it done though.
pretty much any bake-on paint is fairly tough

as hummeroid said engine block paint is durable, I believe duplicolor has started carrying various paints similar to that in a spray can though so check them out
its also heat resistant just in case you decide to get drunk and use your bike as firewood

rust paint is generally fairly tough... but it has a texture to it that you may not want.

tatsimaru

Posted: Apr 17, 2009 at 7:54	Quote
I just finish painting my Boxxer lower. I used car mag paint. It's super strong but ou dont have to much color choice. The othe bad ting about this pait, it smell REALLY strong when you paint it, so you need a mask. The result of my work: 3282344 3282340 3282341 3282343

renb

Posted: Apr 17, 2009 at 10:47

Quote

Thanks everyone. I think I'll use the car engine paint or car mag paint with self etching primer. Poweder coating is fine for bike frames but it is the best way to weaken fork lowers due to the heat when they bake it. If the car engine paint doesnt hold up I will send the lowers to the city for a week or two and get them sprayed by a pro. By the way biker boy, what is erm haerite? I googled it but couldnt find anything on it. Thanks again!

Unhallowed

Posted: Apr 17, 2009 at 10:49	Quote
ah ok didnt read the part about fork lowers. there is also low heat powdercoat iirc... more expensive though...

bikerboywill

Posted: Apr 17, 2009 at 15:18	Quote
Ahh my bad! It's ment to say hammerite sorry. My friend just painted his stp with it, but I don't know which type.

3 hours ago	Mechanics Quick Question Thread [Ask Questions Here]
3 hours ago	Show your all mountain bike
4 hours ago	Dirt Jump Bikes. any bike welcome as long as its dj or street
4 hours ago	Chromag Rootdown & Surface (& Darco & whatever) Builds
7 hours ago	I broke my ankle on a trail and couldn’t call for help it completely changed how I think about hiking safety
9 hours ago	100 (or more) days of biking in 2026!
13 hours ago	Auto import Wahoo ridelogs to Trailforks
18 hours ago	The 26" Dirt & Park Thread
23 hours ago	Post your Guerrilla Gravity!
1 days ago	Show your e-MTB
1 days ago	Seeking 26.0 mm SR Laprade Fluted Seatpost (Pre-1985)
2 days ago	Auto Garmin Importing - no walks?
2 days ago	Trailforks.com Bug Reports
2 days ago	Official North Shore thread
2 days ago	The Sexiest AM/FR/Enduro Hardtail Thread (Please read the opening post)
2 days ago	Neck brace… is it worth it?
2 days ago	Kona Hei Hei Parts
2 days ago	Adventure race bike recommendations
3 days ago	225 lbs (102kg) rider on Schwalbe Albert Radial - psi....?
3 days ago	Where'd you ride today?
3 days ago	Help with Brothers Bike Sale/Price
Aug 6, 2026	Over stroking my transition sentinel
Aug 6, 2026	Report Scammers on Pinkbike HERE Read 1st Post then contact 'captainbringdown' directly
Aug 6, 2026	Transition Spire - new long travel 29er
Aug 6, 2026	The GT Fury Thread: Post your GT Fury