Custom Paint Colors

[SalsaMTB]

Does anyone know of a good site to find custom paint colors. I'm getting a frame made and would like to send them a picture of the colors I like. I'm having a really hard time though finding a good site with colors. I want a sparkly pink, but all the sites I have found are more geared to home interiors so all the colors are matte.

[DeniseGoldberg]

If you're having a custom frame built, I'd recommend checking with the framebuilder to see the colors that he or she uses, or the colors used by the painter that is used.

Peter Mooney (http://www.peter-mooney.com/) of Belmont Wheelworks (http://www.wheelworks.com/) built my first custom bike. He works with a specific painter, and he had a huge book of colors I could choose from. My other custom bikes are built by Bike Friday (http://www.bikefriday.com). They do their own painting, but again they have a specific color palette that they use. You can see their colors at http://www.bikefriday.com/powder99.cfm, but they very clearly warn not to assume that the colors on your monitor will match the actual colors and suggest that you request a printed brochure.

Don't rely on colors as shown on the web. In my experience they are not as true as the actual colors. You should be able to request and see "real" paint samples.

Have fun choosing!

--- Denise

[Trek420]

Colors on a pc screen look different than on a bike, wall, carpet or anything else. Websites are not the best way to choose. My LBS sent me next door to the coffee shop to sit, get outa their hair, drink coffee, obsess about color and look over a book of color chips which also gave me the option to see the chip outdoors in light. Your best bet is seeing the real color even in a binder or if you can get a block of what are called Pantone chips and match that.

Some painters will match what you bring in, a piece of sparkly pink sumthin.

[SalsaMTB]

Good point about the monitor appearance. I wasn't even thinking about that, things on my monitor at work look different than my monitor at work. I'll have to go to the shop I'm going through to look at the books. Speaking with the builder, he said that if I don't see the color I like, they can do other colors. Maybe I'll look for other items that have the color I'm thinking of.

[SadieKate]

Yes, ask the builder what paint he is using, and is it paint or powdercoat? You need to see the chips in color and get the number off of it. Don't use your computer screen. Auto supply places are also good sources if he is using paint.

[bcipam]

If you go to an auto supply store - they usually have brochures of paint samples you can buy. Check with the frame manufacturer to determine if he power coats or paints and what paints he uses to get the right brochure.

Fun website to review see spectrumpowerworks.com for paint colors, designs etc.

Edited to add: Guess Sadie and I were on the same page!