Clear coating advice!

[Pillharrier]

Having acquired a beautiful powder coated Kilauea frame with new decals perfectly applied, I'm milling over clear coating it to protect those decals (some of them are quite small and intricate and it would only take a stray knee to start to peel them).
Any advice from anyone who's done this? It'll have to be rattle can If I do a DIY job so any product recommendations are welcome, or is it worth trying to find a local sprayer and if so what should I expect to pay? Last thing I want to do is ruin it, but I think it's worth doing!

Cheers

 

[jonnymcenroe]

Bit late now IMO but I'm grumpy AF pessimistic and bitter until I've had my wheatabix so make of this what you will.

 

[jonthefish]

Well I am less grumpy. But woefully ignorant. However there's some info here:
https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads/decals-before-lacquer-or-tother-way-round.230486/page-2
Post some pics of the frame : )

 

[vtwinvince]

I've done lots of CC'ing with both rattle cans and a spray booth. You're always going to get a better result with a compressor, but I've had good luck with the usual products such as Rustoleum and Krylon. It also depends on how many coats you're going to apply, and how much wet sanding and polishing you're willing to do. It can be pretty labour intensive.

 

[fettler]

Achieving a truly flat finish over decals will require several coats with flattening in between. Aerosol coats will generally have a much thinner film thickness than professional gunned products but many people cannot tell the difference unless the stickers actually peel off.
If you've not rattle canned many frames before it would be worth getting a few cans and practising on a scrappy frame. Pracctice around tube junctions and bb area to get a smooth finish with no runs. Much cheaper than risking the work done already.
Is the frame original colour or different? Would love to see pics!

 

[jonnymcenroe]

https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads...ext=Yep, fine, done it,,t stick to very well.

 

[Pillharrier]

Thanks everyone! So it is possible but I need to consider whether to try the diy. I've rattle canned one fresh before using spraybike paint and it came out 'ok'.
The frame is original colour and looks mint!

 

[fettler]

It's a great looking frame and fork, I can imagine the little 'Designed by Joe Murray' sticker being quite susceptible to peeling away if caught. Don't see many of the old Deore cranks with the chainguard still intact, quite rare. Good luck with the lacquer and post up some pictures when it's together.

 

[jonnymcenroe]

It is possible however you will need to scuff your frame all over and meticulously around the decals.

You may get solvent pop (bubbles) around those if you don't heat it sufficiently during the cure.

IMHO this won't look great and you'll be sacrificing aesthetics to retain your (replaceable) decals.

If you decide just to spray laquer all over your clean frame as is it will fall off eventually and look terrible.

I'd investigate buffing and waxing if I was in your position I think.

Ask/send it to the professionals.

Wheatabix time.

 

[Betsy]

I've got to agree with old misery guts

I've never actually done this but i have used Mac-Tac cut out on the plotter to create a stencil and when you spray over the top, the solvent in the paint (depending on type) can dissolve the adhesive around the sticker and it starts to peel..