How To Custom Paint A Bike Like A Pro With Some Help From Fatcreations

[@gcntech]

Have you ever repainted a bike frame yourself? How did it go? Would you do it in the future? Let us know in the comments below.

[@RossYoung1986]

I have recently done one using the same brand paint as what you used. Have to say I’m pretty pleased with the results

[@mihalis1010]

Yep. I was 14 and redid my bmx bike with Montana paint which went well. Where it fell apart was me using some random hardware store clear that never hardened up that bike had a gooey clear on it for the rest of its life.

[@jordyd8916]

Any tips on how to remove or handle the large brand stickers that are under a layer of clear coat? Been doubting on repainting my 15y old trek bike, but the lack of experience, materials and b*lls keep me from starting.

[@vtecmossy]

About 10 custom bikes this year 4 where painted all different effects from fades to splatter to American themed next is a blurple blue base/to purple metallic fade top coat with white sworks logos then a break from bikes 🤔😁

[@tomasocenas5795]

Hi Manon, the frame is just fabulous! I plan to paint my dads old bike. Would it be possible to share a link where to buy those paints?

[@andyamos8594]

A top tip for using spray cans is to pop the can into hot water prior to spraying. This should ensure the paint particles are optimized for spray and adhesion.

[@Alex-Defatte]

That is a really good tip!

[@sepg5084]

How does heating the can do that?

[@Alex-Defatte]

@@sepg5084 It reduces viscosity.

[@andyamos8594]

@@sepg5084 It helps to build up pressure, especially in cold weather, and ensures a good even spary and probably better adhesion if the spray surface is cold.

[@jasonwick3257]

Love that tip!🙂

[@turmat01]

for those wondering, the "pre-paint wipe" is most likely Methyl Hydrate. If Manon's bottle contained something else, it's probably something very similar. I used to use Methyl Hydrate to clean parts before painting my motorcycle. The stuff is available in all hardware stores. :)

[@babydzcreationz510]

@turmat01 I was wondering that myself. Because she didn't describe or said anything about it thank you

[@richmadrid9563]

would 90% Isopropyl alcohol do as an alternative to Methanol?

[@solverz4078]

​@@richmadrid9563yes but that's expensive, denatured alcohol/methylated spirits is a cheaper alternative

[@NWDestroy]

​@@richmadrid9563do you know the answer yet?

[@BainHAMMER]

@@richmadrid9563 I think pretty much any degreaser will do, isopropyl included - that is if the stuff don't leave residue after drying, which I had with several local brands

[@Travelakad]

Wow! That color looks great! Would love to see this bike all built up.

[@gr33dyglutton]

I can't tell what colour it is. Purple? Blue? Green? Yellow?.... Yes.

[@snowblow1984]

@@gr33dyglutton It's a chameleon. Ceramic additive to the paint makes the color shift.

[@TheBarreraLifeStyle]

@@snowblow1984 it’s a joke

[@markblanch2905]

@@snowblow1984 Harlequin

[@markblanch2905]

Yep, same. Especially as they didn't light it up well to show us the beauty of the paint colours

[@Kingtrollface259]

Done a few now ,been a painter for 20 years, my current bike is up for a respray ,it's a full suspension, I'm upgrading all the bearings ,changing the pedals ,bars and steering stem . The colour scheme will be gloss/satin/matt black with carbon and red graphics, red stem,pedals,dust caps ,break callipers ,being disk brakes I'm doing the wheels satin black ,should look cool when it's done and has everything on it

[@thecyclinggk]

They're brilliant!

[@tomscott6408]

Thought I spotted one of your shirts on the wall in fatcreations! Keep up the great vids!

[@FatLoisGriffin]

Ben Foster yo

[@EQINOX187]

That is a very nice paint job for a first time and i really like the shifting colour, I have painted quite a few frames over the years and while i am no pro at it i do have some suggestions to make things a little better, while we seen you sand the primer you also need to gently wet sand every layer of paint you lay down with a very fine grit, as you did that over 3 days it is unlikely that you did this and this lead to the Orange peal finish you can see on the final finish, and while orange peal is always an issue with any paint it can be minimized by sanding each layer , however if it is a quick 3 day job where sanding is not an option then rather than just 3 layers of clear coat use 5 or 6 then once it has dried buff and polish the clear coat to remove the orange peal down to a totally smooth glass like finish. This brings me to the stenciling which is great how it turned but the way you did it leaves a bump or well hole in the paint surface, when i have done stenciling in the past what i like to do is after i have layed down the colour layer and removed the stencil I then sprat just the stenciled areas with the clear coat with the same number of layers i did for the colour, then using rubbing compound or t-cut or very fine wet sand paper to blend it all, when you do this is fills the hole the stencil left, then you do the 5 or 6 coats of clear over that then buff and polish to remove any orange peal.

[@harrystone8847]

peel, not peal

[@TheHadi545]

Wow thanks for the tips!

[@jeroen-surf]

Great tips! THANKS

[@justinh4038]

Hey, if I'm getting my frame blasted, do I need to use a primer? If so, which kind would you recommend? Thanks in advance!

[@TheVTRainMan]

Those are killer tips. Everyone should know how to minimize orange peel. But, that tip about the stencil and lacquer coats was great! Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

[@nt2883]

If you move just a touch slower with the spray can it will deal with some of that "orange peel" texture on the surface. The trick is to watch the drops hit the surface. If they flow together (without running) as the spray moves off the area your coverage is spot on. If they remain separated and kinda bumpy you aren't putting quite enough paint down

[@timbradt5765]

I was going to mention the orange peel. Good on you! 🙂 Her comment that clear coat is the trickiest part was dead on. Speed, distance and coverage are crucial and very easy for a beginner to make mistakes. Especially the first coat! It was probably slightly better for her to end up with orange peel than with a bunch of runs.

[@LeviDPS]

Totally, orange peel could have also been sorted by doing a light wet sand with 1200 wet/dry sand paper between coats/before clear.

[@siener]

What Iearned today: 1. How to spray paint a bike 2. I don't want to spray paint a bike ever

[@madsjensen5737]

ETOE has done some really good tutorials

[@Schradermusic]

@@hendrixinfinity3992 I don't think he wrote that because of the cost...

[@andrewcaine7926]

😄

[@briantruck2284]

😆

[@naikkelas1241]

The painting part is easy. But removing the old paint job maann, that is a hell of a job.

[@455LT1]

The paint job looks great. Let's see the complete build and the bike in action!

[@jamesalexander7540]

Manon, your Joy is infectious. Have a blessed day and be a blessing to all that you meet.

[@michaelmechex]

This is the best bike paintjob done by GCN ever. I'm sorry, Jon.

[@angela-onesroman8873]

It's not even close! Job well done👍🏼👍🏼

[@derekr7814]

Minus the crippling orange peel. I've seen oranges smoother than this bike.

[@McStoolio]

Looks brilliant, hopefully it doesn’t get nicked. “Yes officer, it’s blue, well actually it green at times with a bit of blue, but sometimes magenta and ....oh forget it “ 😂

[@BlueberryBumblebees]

Seems like you just lack the vocabulary to describe it.

[@jw3638]

So this is why Manon couldn't help the boys beat Si

[@monkeysrightpaw]

It seems like it would be her event. They're probably waiting to introduce her last for a sprint distance like this. Then she can be the one on the tt bike and everyone can try to catch her.

[@Appetite4Rose]

Manon would be best to add as the 5th rider for the 5 vs. 1 challenge due to her (track) sprint background... or even do 4 vs. 1 again, minus Ollie (sorry, but Ollie is more suited to 5-20 minute efforts)

[@shaunmcnally7631]

"Manon, we need you to be on our team to beat Si, are you in?"...…"Sorry boys, I'm watching paint dry."

[@ZeroCool-vn9bd]

Those sticker are really cool for masking! I've painted loads of frames, everything from fade's to days of detailed airbrush work. It's all in the prep, and for those wondering when they say 2K is dangerous to breathe in, the hardener is primarily cyanide based. For bikes, I absolutely would not even think of 1K, since it chips so easy unless it is wall art. 2K can be brushed on, but I would not recommend it for something so big and complex, you will probably run out of work time if you are not really good at mixing and willing to compromise some strength.

[@tommyphillips8547]

***DEFINITION OF BLINGGGG*** (The Welsh touch definitely improves it!!)

[@jp93309]

Recently completed a repaint using Montana Gold cans. My first attempt was a multi fade with cheetah spots and tiger stripes. Unfortunately the pink and baby blue color scheme reminded me of The Little Mermaid. So resanded/reprimed/repainted to one color (pink) instead. Turned out pretty good. The whole process took me about a month.

[@rzeckner]

Given Jon's previous bike painting efforts, I would love to see his reaction to Manon's glorious creation.

[@soupistasty5]

I did the exact same thing to my bike 6 or 7 years ago. It was big part of a complete update/ rebuild. It got a super sexy metallic dark forest green to go with it's new set of brakes, shifters and drivetrain (crank/ derailleurs, etc). A total new lease on life for it!

[@jespernohr]

Looking forward to part 2 - Building the bike up with parts! :D

[@TheAesculap]

Internal Gearing? ^^

[@saturnioowens6546]

please show this!

[@ericstill9102]

Definitely want to see an episode on this as well.

[@voiceofreason9780]

Yes! Looks sick already, but c'mon Manon we need to see it built up.

[@paulwatson-work3544]

Yep, please build up!!!

[@latitudeash]

Love that colour. It’s blue…it’s green, it’s black and it’s burgundy… wow…. You have a new bike for every shade of day 👍🏼

[@norriaty]

Quite the step up from John's paint job on the cheap bike to superbike video!

[@prestachuck2867]

True, but she spent a lot more money on this project.

[@dannyzuehlsdorf3697]

So good! In 1987 I spray painted a skull and crossbones on the roof of my 1970 Ford Torino GT. It was a little windy outside but came out as I expected. Something really cool about a homemade paint project. Well done

[@petinka721]

Manon is a handy woman! I hope it continue with montage of components to!

[@6ettinold]

Best tip I was given when rattle canning. Leave the can you are using in a bowl or bucket of hot water between coats. Dry the can before you start shaking it though - applies much better, especially in colder weather.

[@elliot2871]

Wow, I love that color! You did a great job with the paint selection and application, Im looking forward to seeing what it looks like built up

[@EverettWilson]

Just roughly 100 pounds/dollars/euros for that paint job? That's incredible. And really tempting. Really, really tempting...

[@matthewunderwood4305]

Been looking forward to this video! Let’s see Manon’s DIY effort!

[@Cuahutemoc-RJ]

The painting was spectacular, it was like a chameleon that changes color according to the position of the ambient light. Greetings from Niterói, Brazil.

[@tommurphy4307]

thats the beauty of pearlescent metallic paints.

[@michaelevans797]

Looks fantastic Manon, look forward to seeing the complete bike out in the 🌞

[@garyroberts5478]

Last time i tried that was way back when i attempted to repaint an entire Mk1 Chopper frame... and fork! - with one measly rattle can. Needless to say the result was less than spectacular and it took me forever to mask up all the lettering! Biggest benefit from that escapade was learning how to put that bike back together which has put me in good stead to this day. Lovely paint, Well Done.

[@perfectpint5485]

Great video, going to paint my new build. But this video is also an example of why the UK is having such a hard time with Covid-19 rates and deaths by visiting people in a closed environment without a mask and sharing tools. Watching from Canada and working in the manufacturing industry this video seems like another world!

[@Rowdeegolf]

I did my daughters bike. It was a little older. But the frame was solid. Much to my chagrin, the fabricater uses epoxy. Took a lotta grinding. A box of new parts in her favorite colors and VOILA!!! So glad its done. I used super durable automotive rattle cans and clearcoat.

[@racovert1]

Great paint color. Loved seeing all the steps needed. I plan to repaint an old Trek and this gave me some real inspiration on how to do it.

[@DerBlutenPat1348]

Putting your own signature on your bike is quite the flex. Well done. That color absolutely pops

[@lg.studio]

Great. Now I wont be able to sleep because I want to custom paint my bike. Thanks. Great content by the way. Very well done.

[@billincolumbia]

Just stunning. The color is so amazing that the surface texture hardly matters. With the 2k epoxy, I hope it's nice and durable. Worth the $80.

[@osh241]

Looks great, coming from using lot's of aerosols can over the years I can't stress enough the importance of prep and patience when rattle canning something! If I was her I would give it a rub with some wet n dry after it's done to give a silky finish and of course save some watts 🤣

[@davidtam1518]

Yep! Wet sand that clear and give it a good buff! It'll look extra shiny and smooth!

[@FRANK-pp4rn]

​@@SurfandSand808 Yeah, sanding it a bit more would help. Also, from the vid I can tell she was making really fast passes, which cause more orange peel effect.

[@thierrym6168]

Thanks for the advice. What to use for final sanding and polishing, please ?

[@osh241]

@@thierrym6168 Like in the vid prep stage was done well this massively helps with the finish, I always added quite a heavy wet layer of lacquer on the first pass. For small stuff like bike frames it's gonna be a very fine wet sand paper I would start 800-1000 and go up from there and just buff it by hand. Even if you just used a 1500 and take your time to keep it simple then use a mix of cutting paste and polish on a cloth for the final buff. Always came out well for me. Higher the number sandpaper the less it will remove so patience is key! 👌

[@thierrym6168]

Thanks for this precisions, technically perfect and precise.

[@robertwyland7770]

Nicely done. I tried once and gave up after applying base coat... Ended up getting the frame powder coated for $200. Once done I hand outlined all the lugs ( old steel bike) in a contrasting color. Result was awesome, powder coat is very durable and better for the environment.

[@leehchris888]

Awesome job. Be great to get a list of tools and parts used in all the prep work

[@ghowell13]

My daughter LOVED this bike. And its time for her first road bike. I feel a custom 24" is in the making...

[@jdwalexander]

So Manon's DIY effort looks professional, if any of the guys did it let's agree it wouldn't have come out so well.

[@AdrianBadea]

I have done it before on my bike but not as pro with some bike spray I found based on some searches. This time you got me Manon with a better quality spray and some tips for preparation(especially the sandblast part). So after watching this video clip few times and some other from ETOE (another youtube channel of a pro painter) I decided to do it again. As the weather got better, I looked for a local sandblast then bought the paint spray from Kustomz Paint and set for it. As I live in a block of flats and weather changes after I striped off my bike, it took about 2 weeks to get it done. Finally got it and I'll upload the pics on GCN vault.(colour is Peacock shifting from blue to green and purple) Thanks Manon for inspiration.

[@bugboy152000]

#GCNTech #GCN Thanks Manon! Painting my wife's bike this winter and this is great inspiration.

[@tommurphy4307]

doing a good job = brownie points

[@DanRC69]

What a result. For a first attempt, i think you did an AMAZING job.

[@mcorbett01]

Fabulous job, very inspiring! I can feel a first paint job coming on for my trusty old hybrid bike 😁👍🏻

[@brettneuberger6466]

Spray painting in that nice red jacket shows real confidence. Great job! Love the bike!

[@richardking3681]

Whoa- great result! Love Manon’s vids...

[@metalheadmalta]

Painted my old Raleigh Chiltern (pre-1980), totally stripped it back to steel which was the hardest bit, then spray painted it matt black over the primer. After a number of coats, I loved the matt-black finish, and left it that color. This paint is on another level altogether though. Beautiful!

[@roblowe9796]

Looks great but I think more3 emphasis should be put on the "nasty chemicals" bit of 2K paint. The main nasty chemical is Cyanide and just any old mask is positively dangerous to use even outside. A proper paint shop would have a ventitalted mask where clean air is pumped to it through a tube. Unfortunately, the kit to do that would probably be more than just getting someone to do a professional paint job.

[@wiggieben]

What a brilliant video, so many vids on painting your bike but this has to be one of the most straight forward to follow.

[@andrebartels1690]

That frame looks delicious. Regarding that you're a beginner and that you used aerosol cans, it turned out so much nicer than I ever thought it might be possible.

[@ianbarber6463]

Great video and great result Manon.....Just shows how much value Fat Creations add by doing full on custom paint job.....They are best in business in my opinion.

[@bobferguson1696]

Being totally inept at all DIY projects I'll keep saving up for the, "fatcreations" paint job! But well done on a fantastic job!

[@ajveldusea1876]

I was curious on DIY paint jobs and came accross your channel. Bravo, the paint job was amazing. Thank you for sharing.

[@bassikproform2391]

Painted a few frames in my time and I’m very impressed with that being your first go at it you killed it 🤘🏼

[@gMTBaddict]

Manon How has the paint job held up against scratches and dings and such? Does it seem as durable as the factory finish with the 2k clear coat?

[@casualguy3938]

Great video but would love to see the bike more. Especially outside in the sun or at least in better lighting.

[@jayswitzer9871]

you're not the only person that notices that they focus on themselves and not the subject.

[@casualguy3938]

@@jayswitzer9871 I appreciate the tutorial and the information on the paints, but that color looks sweet. Too bad we have to go to other sites to see it more fully.

[@alexperez4408]

So I love that you did this color. I was asked by my daughter for this exact color and couldn't find a bike for her (she's young - needs a 12" bike) so I was entertaining paint it. Just gotta find that color. Thanks for posting the video.

[@frankeeeej]

Awesome! Now we need some shots of the bike all built up :D

[@Wooster77]

Looks great! You could lightly wet sand it with 1000 to 1200 grit, then polish it with fine rubbing compound. This will eliminate of some of the 'orange peel' and get a mirror finish.

[@JonneyReay1968]

Wow thats looks fabulous, superb job Manon 🔥😁

[@jameslowe2979]

Just painted a frame using Kustom Canz, really great paint. Just for info if your can stops working it's more than likely to be that the nozzle is blocked so worth investing in spare nozzles.

[@krzyryry8382]

Drives race cars. Rides bike on public roads... But painting her bike scares her??? Lol looks like you had absolutely nothing to be afraid of. You did a fantastic job!! Great video

[@shano81]

this is the loveliest flip paint color job ive seen

[@emilpalicpic7878]

I dont know why but if i see Manon on thumbnail. I automatically press the video

[@christoffermartinsen2124]

LOVE the colour(s) of the bike. Wish you do a bikebuild next, so we could see what wheels and stuff you would choose for this great looking frame.

[@ColaCat2001]

So the first step to painting your own bike is to get it prepped by someone else?

[@taylorm2008atyahoo]

So pleased I’ve spotted this video. I’ve been recently thinking of spraying my bike with the same paint and have seen the very same 5 colour paint on the internet but wasn’t sure of it’s colour name. Thankfully now I’ve seen this I now know it’s called Chromacoat Green and made by Kustom Canz, This will save me time hunting down the info on the net! Thank you for the sanding and painting tips too!

[@revanslacey]

"Old frame".

[@MarkCruz-si9wb]

I've been building bikes and even painting them time and again . One thing that I learned over my years of bike tinkering and so forth... when I paint a bike, as I go from left to right instead of starting from the top and going down I start at the bottom going left to right because I found out that if I sprayed left to right going from the top down the paint tends to build up faster with more of a chance of having runs in your paint but going from bottom to top the paint doesn't build up. Mark Cruz

[@yeff1127]

WOWWWW~~~ ***starts to sandpaper my existing frame and paints them with some existing spray paint in the house** XD

[@jonnyd_vids]

Looks in paint cupboard.... A $6 can of Matt Black and a 4 year old, half empty can of Clear Coat it is then

[@storegga]

Well done! I'm a sprayer by trade, only a spray painter would tell under light that's a partial DIY job. I have to say it's all in the prep and precautions. Had you not had it blasted, and primed with AAA or powder, a hand sand would be equally as hard to perfect as a rattle can primer/topcoat job. Little airbrushes are great for your decals too before clears. :)

[@capturesnaps2484]

spraying that 2K clearcoat even if it is in a can without an air fed mask is asking for trouble, a filter mask wont stop the isocyanates from getting through nor will it stop contact with eye membranes or skin eventually leading to sensitization if you ever go near 2k paint again and isocyanates kill and give you cancer fast. Always use an air fed mask with 2K watching you use that 2K clearcoat with just a filter mask remined me of how i started out using 2K paint, and nowadays i cant use 2K as i developed a sensitization to it which basically means throat ulcers glands swollen and major bodily harm. 2K is deadly because of the isocyanates make sure people are aware of this simple fact.

[@soccerchamp0511]

Your description of it looking "delicious" is right on! Beautiful!!!

[@HR-ws1rj]

Great job Manon! That looks fantastic

[@ferdinandilao5876]

It's a beautiful bike color that you made for your bike frame yourself.

[@robbchastain3036]

You were true to your school--sparkly--and you did a great job with that paint job, Manon. Fantastic. And I am still a huge fan of metalflake, too--my Sting-Ray was metalflake blue and all those custom cars, too.

[@swifty0000007]

I love painting my own bikes and would recommend it. I also do restorations. I would advise using rubber gloves while sanding, cleaning or painting as any grease from your hands will cause a reaction. Did Manon only use one can of colour and one can of clearcoat?

[@weareautumnclothing]

my question too....how many cans of paint and clearcoat were needed?

[@whothefuckisdan]

I admire your patience! In my case everything went wrong with the clear coat.... its definetly cool to do it diy but a proffessional paint job is worth doin it in a shop. If you want a perfect result

[@willba4]

to make it look even more fancy, to a wet sand to remove the orange peel of the paint! will make it look super glossy. looks amazing though!

[@jungleplaya786]

Fat Creation is Legendary. I love his work, dedication and creativity. 👌🏽❤️💕

[@andrewharris3380]

Awesome 👏

[@shaunmcnally7631]

Love the reaction when she laid down the first swath of color.

[@TradersMBA]

Looks amazing Manon 😍 you did an amazing job, delicious indeed! 😉

[@Jny010]

Well Done, and I mean all of it. Finding a paint shop to let you in and take the time show you. The Decals, - excellent in their minimalism and meaning, and the end result is beautiful.

[@desertsurfer3095]

0:51 the cameraman was already inside

[@pranavm.9513]

its for better transitions bud

[@fajnalowiec]

pretty impressed if you did it for the first time. Congrats. Looks fabulous!

[@c0989]

"Here is my lovely frame" just as the camera pans onto her bottom!

[@chrislilley5320]

I can't believe how professional the paint job looks, great job!

[@krzysztofbubienczyk9880]

what about "orange skin"? its visible in video, how its looking in real??

[@dantae666]

probably terrible without west sanding buffing and final polish. also no sanding between coats

[@mahhubbard]

Great job, great enthusiasm, love that color.

[@g1s8]

How refreshing... seeing someone being genuine embarrass by putting the mask on. Took me right back to 2019...

[@RobCharo]

Wtf are u talking about

[@michellehoward6386]

Hi i am completely amazed by your paint skillset using aerosol cans .I too am getting a 26 inch bmx frame ready for paint etc youve given me confidence to also do it myself.

[@theunknownsamurai7426]

It's not really DIY, with the cost of the paint, sandblasting and the special equipment to paint, you might as well get a specialty shop to do it. 😫

[@msk3905]

I completely disagree, no need to sand blast at all load of crap first if paint is in good shape can just be sanded but can also be removed with either sanding or paint stripper. This can all be done with spray cans so no special equipment but you really should buy a respirator if you are spraying anything? Ignoring your time this can be done for under $100 good luck finding someone who will paint it for you for less than that! I just repainted my bike for well under $100 and it looks fantastic but I’ve painted several other things so have experience sounds like you have none. At the end of the day I can step back, look at it and say I did that which gives me more satisfaction than saying a cut a check for that.

[@matthewcummings9024]

This looks amazing. And I'm also a Welsh cyclist originally from Carmarthenshire. This is just the colour I had in mind along with the Welsh flags. Expect to see another similar bike in Pembrokeshire.

[@82frankthetank]

What an incredibly gorgeous paint job. I'd rock that.

[@shellypalumbo5297]

I agree, beautiful! You are so talented and hardly an amateur.

[@switchofftogettagrip1400]

Awesome, mighty nice of the company to let you run the guns, that 5 color paint looks cool. Am slowly getting into stripping down bikes I find, some I will buy, strip them down and restore them. Why? Why not, many in my area take them to the scrap metal yard which is a waste! Once I have my car back, will hire a trailer or borrow one and have a chat to metal recyclers see what can be done to save the bikes and create opportunities, haven't thought of this as a business venture. I recycle copper and brass often, have other Investment opportunities to do a lot of reading on, this is just a Hobby and to help the youngsters around here learn how to look after the bike, racers, trikes (I don't touch electrics - been zapped too many times). Upcycle, recycle, keep it as a hand me down or pick me up, if you have ever been left out because you don't have a bike, well that is an opportunity to provide one to the youngster to enjoy him or herself.

[@theepimountainbiker6551]

That colour is AMAZING

[@joerutkowsky3261]

That was awesome! I love that colour. Thanks for this video.