best bike frame paint

[ronan]

I have an old 30's frame and girder forks that i want to paint soon , i was going to do it through the summer but summer never happened. i don't want to do a concours job or anything as the bike is only going to be a runaround, but i want a tough finish.
I don't want to spray 2k as the fumes are dangerous and where i live is built up, powder coat is not an option either because the local coaters don't do a good job (learned this with my 500).
What finish can i use ? Is there a paint i can roller/brush on that won't look rubbish ? I have considered using ordinary oil based household paint. Any ideas ?

 

[busastars]

Powder Coat would be my first option, have you been around all the local places and asked to see there work. I went around a few local and was not happy then went a bit of distance and was really happy.

Second to that is 2K, get around the fumes/dust by hand painting and flattening off after.

Another option is enamel type paint, I did my engine in High Temp Enamel and cooked it in the kitchen oven, turned out very nice.

 

[graffian]

i don't want to do a concours job or anything as the bike is only going to be a runaround, but i want a tough finish.

Powder is the only way then.
try another coater.

 

[Chipper]

Stove enamelling maybe? Or a nice brushing enamel, takes ages to dry but easily DIY.
Seems like powder coaters sometimes don't take the time to get into the little nooks on bike frames. Maybe there's another coater who knows bike frames?

 

[Robotstar5]

have you considered Tekaloid?

 

[ronan]

Its powder coaters in general over here who don't do great work , not that i have seen anyway. Also powder coat in my experience of it if it gets a small chip allows rust to get under the coat and rusts away the steel while appearing to be ok.

That tekaloid paint looks like it might work.

 

[Chipper]

Tekaloid's a brushing enamel, you'll find more under coach enamel, and from narrowboat and tractor places.

Powder - had similar here, if you don't get a coater who knows bike frames or can be bothered, it seems the nooks where the electric field fights the powder don't get enough of it.