I'm in the market for a carbon fiber fork for my road bike but I want to get the fork custom painted. I have found a few different painting outfits that say they have experience with painting carbon but in every case it sounds like (which would make sense I suppose) that one of the phases actually involves sanding the fork. I don't know if this immediately rings alarms with anyone else besides me?
So I'm in the process right now of trying to find a reputable fork manufacturer that would be willing to sell me a fork that hasn't gone through the final clear-coating phase, etc. and is in a ready-to-paint state, thus avoiding the need to have it sanded. Anyone have ideas as to manufacturers, paint shops, or how I should go about doing this? Thanks,
I'm in the market for a carbon fiber fork for my road bike but I want to get the fork custom painted. I have found a few different painting outfits that say they have experience with painting carbon but in every case it sounds like (which would make sense I suppose) that one of the phases actually involves sanding the fork. I don't know if this immediately rings alarms with anyone else besides me?
I wouldn't be that concerned. The only sanding needed would be to knock the glaze off so the paint will have some adhesion. They'll be using a very fine grit paper that won't realistically break through or create stress risers.
Quoted message said:
So I'm in the process right now of trying to find a reputable fork manufacturer that would be willing to sell me a fork that hasn't gone through the final clear-coating phase, etc. and is in a ready-to-paint state, thus avoiding the need to have it sanded.
That would leave less material protecting the, let's call it the working part of the composite and your paint shop will still want to sand it. That is what's done to produce a clean surface with some tooth. The important thing is that it be a shop that understands just what a critical weight-bearing component this is and uses suitable handling.
I can imagine an auto body guy saying "oops" when he drops and scars the thing and filling the gash with bondo. That'd be scary.
"D. Ualp" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...
Quoted message said:
Hey everyone,
I'm in the market for a carbon fiber fork for my road bike but I want to get the fork custom painted. I have found a few different painting outfits that say they have experience with painting carbon but in every case it sounds like (which would make sense I suppose) that one of the phases actually involves sanding the fork. I don't know if this immediately rings alarms with anyone else besides me?
So I'm in the process right now of trying to find a reputable fork manufacturer that would be willing to sell me a fork that hasn't gone through the final clear-coating phase, etc. and is in a ready-to-paint state, thus avoiding the need to have it sanded. Anyone have ideas as to manufacturers, paint shops, or how I should go about doing this? Thanks,
Craig Calfee's website has an option of painting a fork you send him when you buy a frame from him. I have seen carbon Wound Up forks from Co-Motion painted to match the frame. I would contact one of these frame makers, or others I am sure, and ask what the charge would be to order just a custom painted fork through them.
