Jack Kane is located in NC, and I've seen plenty of his work online to know he's damn good.  However, I've never dealt with him personally and I don't know if his prices are considered reasonable.  (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links)

Hot Box here in Charlotte

I came to start basically this same thread. I'm finding it hard to get a reasonable quote for what I want (strip, 1-color solid paint and clear coat for a steel road frame/fork), when most of the custom bike painters I can find are geared more towards the ultra high-end art bikes. 

I looked into Kane but their paint jobs start at $550, a little out of my price range. 

Edit: Just found Hot Box's site. I see that they're not primarily a bike painter and only do powder coating...have you heard or seen good work things from them? I am a little hesitant about powder coating for a steel road bike when I want to maintain some level of retro look, though I know its the most affordable option.

Depending on what your experience level is with things like this its really not that hard to do yourself.   
I've done three of my own bikes now, but I also had the help, knowledge and equipment at my disposal from my dad's woodworking shop for when he needs to paint or urethane furniture.   

It also helps alot to start and practice on small stuff, getting the distance and movement right for spraying a bike frame isn't hard, but it certainly isn't easy either.   

For what you would pay someone to paint your bike you could buy a entry level spray gun, and all the paint and solvents to strip, clean and paint the frame. That way if you want to do it again you wont be stuck paying the man, and you'll probably have the confidence to do a nicer bike in the future too. 

If you choose this route I would be willing to help out with any questions you have it really shouldnt take you longer than a weekend of dedicated work either, my last single speed I had down to a bare frame, painted, and was assembling it the next day, granted that was with a spray booth and, drying oven I had at school.

nonillogical wrote on 05/27/14 at 7:17pm:


I brought a frame over to The Spoke Easy a few months ago looking for a gloss black powder coat.  I believe Spoke Easy prepped the frame (taped off the stainless dropouts, plugged water bottle holes, etc.) and then sent it to Hot Box for the PC.  Spoke Easy faced the bottom bracket and head tube when it came back and I was out the door for under $200.  The PC looked really good - I had no complaints.

Edit: Forgot to mention that Hot Box also stripped the original paint off the frame before the PC.  I basically did nothing except shell out the $$.

Drakes powder costing in Monroe is cheap, but has also screwed up some of my stuff by over media blasting. But theY are cheaper than other places, and PCing is extremely durable.
I have also had 2 frames hydro coated at Carolina Hydro Dipping in Boiling Springs SC. $125 and he can make that steel frame look like carbon..., minus the welds.

The is 1 local place in Charlotte that does anodizing.  I don't know the name but a buddy of mine uses the a lot.  Web search should turn them up.   

I don't know if they will do one item either or what cost would be.  I think they charge by the size of the object and how much space it takes up in the tanks.

also look into plastidip as an option, cheap and easy to undo if you don't like it.  i've done my car a few times and just peel it off when i get tired