12

I've seen chains with so many colours, white, red, you name it.

I would like to give it a try (this paint job is intended for visual styling of the bike, nothing related to protecting it), but I have no clue on how to do it.

I think there must be a way to paint it without "glueing" the links with paint, I don't know if spray paint does that or not... I'm sure I need to degrease it first, but then what follows?

So, the question:

How do I paint a chain without ruining it? (the painted chain needs to be in working conditions, it will be used).

jackJoe
  • 1,437
  • 4
  • 19
  • 27
  • No idea about technique, but if you have a singlespeed/fixed drive train, paint/enamel/whatever on the outside of the outer plates shouldn't cause any problems. – freiheit Jan 24 '12 at 18:58
  • 2
    I'm guessing that most "painted" chains are color-coated (with something akin to powder coating) prior to assembly, possibly before the pieces are cut from the sheet metal. But you could use something akin to Heltonbiker's scheme if you really, really think you need to do this. Any paint would wear away quickly, however, on a deraileur bike. – Daniel R Hicks Jan 24 '12 at 19:58
  • 1
    Another "quickie" option is to NOT thoroughly clean the chain, but to somehow get just the outer surfaces reasonably clean (leaving some lube in the joints), then spray paint the chain. The residual lube would probably prevent the chain from "freezing", though it would be hard to get good paint adhesion. – Daniel R Hicks Jan 24 '12 at 20:01
  • @DanielRHicks I know there is a lot of wear on a derailleur bike, but do the all-painted chains have somekind of coat/protection so that it can be used on such a bike? (and not only on fixies/singles). – jackJoe Jan 24 '12 at 20:02
  • @DanielRHicks that idea (keep lube) is interesting, but that probably is a BIG probably, anyway, I might give it a try, I have several chains... – jackJoe Jan 24 '12 at 20:05
  • 1
    @jackJoe - "Powder coating" is much harder than conventional paint and would probably survive for awhile on a derailleur bike. In particular, the outer plates only get wear when shifting to a larger front ring, so on an old 5 speed or whatever the outside should hold up reasonably well. I wouldn't expect even the factory finish to last very long on, say, a heavily used 21-speed bike, though. And the DIY finish would probably be history in a few hours on a derailleur bike. – Daniel R Hicks Jan 24 '12 at 23:08
  • 7
    just buy a factory painted chain so many colors available online –  Jun 11 '13 at 15:53
  • 2
    I'd be careful about degreasing the chain entirely. Modern chains are greased prior to assembly and once you've cut through that, you'll never be able to get the grease back into them to the same degree. –  Oct 14 '13 at 07:03

4 Answers4

9

I think @freiheit already said it: paint the outside of the outer links!

If you ride single/fixed, this part of the links never touch anything else, so the paint does not wear out neither damage other working parts.

I would do it degreasing the chain very well (boiling with soap in the end, perhaps) and then using a hard foam paint roller, with the chain over the ground with its side facing up.

If you don't mind paying for the job, most the colored chains I've seen in google seem to be powder-coated (electrostatic) or anodized. This would give a probably good result, but I think you wouldn't want to pay the price :oP

heltonbiker
  • 18,957
  • 8
  • 55
  • 88
  • Nice tips. But would painting with a roller "glue" the links after the ink is dry? – jackJoe Jan 24 '12 at 19:58
  • I meant using a paint instrument named "paint roller", not painting the rollers in the chain. ;o) If you press it soft, only the outer sides of the outer links will be painted, and they don't have relative motion with the chain pins. – heltonbiker Jan 24 '12 at 21:24
  • Thanks for that clarification! I'm going to give it a try + @DanielRHicks I'm also going to try that lube technique. – jackJoe Jan 25 '12 at 19:05
  • 1
    Are they really that much more expensive? I see some on Amazon for $8.99. Even my LBS only wants $15 or so for them. – John Doucette Aug 21 '13 at 18:04
4

I imagine the homegrown process would look like this:

  1. Take chain apart
  2. Clean links thoroughly
  3. Mask any metal to metal contact points on links
  4. Use airbrush or other spray paint on exposed portions. Apply as many coats as necessary
  5. Reassemble chain
  6. Re-grease chain

I imagine the manufactures process would look like this:

  1. Paint one side of sheet metal used for chain links
  2. Manufacture chain as usual

Since the manufacturing process is much easier I think it may be more worthwhile to just purchase one.

Criggie
  • 124,066
  • 14
  • 180
  • 423
Glenn
  • 1,427
  • 1
  • 12
  • 18
  • That's more of an alternative, but it doesn't really answer the question of how to paint a bicycle chain, if all answers were like this ("buy/service it, it's easier"), this site wouldn't exist. – jackJoe Jan 24 '12 at 18:59
  • 2
    Kept my original sentiment, but provided what I think the answer is. I do think the question is broken. – Glenn Jan 24 '12 at 19:18
3

The easiest way is to fold the chain zig-zag style so that only the outer links are exposed (the inner links are only exposed at a bare minimum). After cleaning it, spray light coats and watch for any dripping.

After you let it dry, use WD40 or something similar to get in between the links easily and work the chain by hand link by link to make sure it rolls smoothly. I worked in a folding chair manufacturing shop in their paint department. After they painted the chairs it was my job to get them folding proper, and that is what we did. Works for chains too.

BillyNair
  • 3,095
  • 1
  • 14
  • 21
  • You painted the chairs after assembly? – Emil Vikström Feb 04 '16 at 12:46
  • 1
    It was a while ago, but from what I remember, yes, the chairs were fully built before they were painted. They were hung on hooks and went through the paint room, then out to us, where we sprayed it with WD-40 then then tapped with a rubber mallet if it was still sticking. (http://www.mitylite.com/images/products/large/1-swiftset1_large.jpg) @EmilVikström – BillyNair Feb 04 '16 at 16:42
3

I see that the answers "you don't, since the professionally painted chain costs less than a rattle can spray paint" get downvoted and you are desperate to give it a try. I'd then use an old trick I learned from my dad.

First of all, grease the chain properly, especially the moving parts. As we all know - paint does not stick to greasy surface, so all the moving parts are hence protected. Now carefully degrease the parts you want to have painted. Spray paint or go with a brush over each link and leave it to dry. Once the paint is dry you can easily wipe it off from the parts that were left greasy.

Don't forget that you either have to mask the bicycle (including front chainring) or, what's much easier, just remove the chain from the bicycle before the whole procedure.

And no, my dad didn't paint the bicycle chains. It was a general trick for quickly masking the parts that were not supposed to be painted while spraying the object.

Mike
  • 4,341
  • 1
  • 16
  • 28