Brake lever painting?

[MrSimmo]

Hi all,

I'm buying a second hand bike for one of my children and the brake levers are scuffed; I want it to look perfect for her.

Has anyone sprayed/painted their brake levers and if so which paint did you use?


Cheers

 

[RustyMTB]

No but I did actually paint the scuffed saddle rails on one of my bikes out of boredom in the lockdown. On the basis it's not the Sistine chapel, I used bog standard rattle can metal primer & gloss black. Mask carefully, hang the work piece on a hook or string etc. & give it a few coats, it'll be golden, don't breathe in the propellant. As with any painting job, the win is in the preparation, not the painting.

If your levers are scratched, then sand/fill first to a smooth finish. No amount of paint will fill scratches or gouges.

 

[DJ57UMP]

I had scuffed Codes. Just took a sharpie to them... literally can't tell lol

 

[MrSimmo]

Nice one cheers both ?

 

[fenwick458]

I have a black van, so have a few of these touch up pens and find them to be very good for bike scratches too, just very easy to get the paint right into the scratch and then its almost invisible. no stripping, masking, painting sanding etc..

 

[MrSimmo]

Cool cheers will check it out

 

[Gary]

For a kids bike just buy new levers.

 

[MrSimmo]

For a kids bike just buy new levers.

?

 

[steve_sordy]

@MrSimmo In the car paint section of Halfords they sell their own "Satin Black". It is a perfect match for the black paint that Shimano use. It probably matches what other manufacturers use but I haven't checked. I used it to paint the tops of the brake lever assembly that gets scratched when the bike is turned upside down. The touch up canisters are small and come with a brush and a nib built in. Both are good. Don't put too much on and take your time. The nib is especially useful because it applies tiny amounts of paint. It is ideal for scratches and small paint chips. I used the brush on top of the brake levers where there was a larger area to cover. You will find that it is better to do several applications if the scratches are deep. It goes on glossy, but dries duller.

Perfection is a notable aim, but bear in mind that your daughter will not see perfection, she will just see a new bike and will not notice minor paint blemishes.

 

[MrSimmo]

Perfect thanks Steve ?

 

[RustyIron]

I'm buying a second hand bike for one of my children and the brake levers are scuffed; I want it to look perfect for her.

Good on ya, dad.
I've touched up bike parts with the same touchup pen I use on my black guns. I'm a gray haired old man who has a dark sense of humor and listens to heavy metal. Maybe your little girl would be happier with levers in her favorite color. Use Krylon or Rust-oleum.

 

[MrSimmo]

Good on ya, dad.
I've touched up bike parts with the same touchup pen I use on my black guns. I'm a gray haired old man who has a dark sense of humor and listens to heavy metal. Maybe your little girl would be happier with levers in her favorite color. Use Krylon or Rust-oleum.

Thanks mate, thats a really good idea, she’d love that.

Talking of metal/rock, she has taken a liking to Five Finger Death Punch and shes only 6!