Is Spraying a Cycle Frame Difficult?

[Illaveago]

That is what my brother asked me!
Well size for size it is about the same size as spraying inside and out of a car door.I know which I would prefer!
Frames are a complex shape with lots of nooks and crannies. They are not just one sided but cylindrical tubes which meet in tight corners. Powder coating would be easier as the powder will wrap around the tubes, the only difficult areas would be the tight corners where a lot of powder would have to be applied which could then be shaken off.
Tight corners are difficult for spraying as if you don't wet the areas enough a build up of overspray can form giving a rough finish. Getting paint into the inside of cable guides is a problem. Too much paint and you will have runs.
The choice of colour can also decide if spraying is going to be easy or difficult. Plain colours are easier although reds don't tend cover well and need more coats. White van be difficult as it doesn't always show where you have just painted. Candy colours which my brother's frame is is a lot more difficult! More coats of different paint. First of all a base metallic layer after primer. Next a transparent coloured paint. The number of coats depends on the colour you want to achieve. This is where areas where you haven't applied enough or too many can show up. This is different to ordinary metallic paint as once you have built up enough to cover more coats won't affect the colour. One you have built up enough colour you will then need to apply a clear lacquer. Simple!
So straight colours are the easiest then followed by metallic. Candies are the most difficult. They will also need more material either in spray cans or actual paint or cleaning of spray guns between each colour.
So the answer to his question is Yes!

 

[Sterlo]

Yes it's easy, however to do it so that it looks nice isn't. I remember doing mine as a teenager in a fetching royal blue. Of course in your youth you get impatient so I sprayed too much and got numerous runs.

 

[figbat]

I've only done it once but I found the prep the worst bit, for many of the reasons mentioned in the OP about tight corners, frame stops and such.

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

I would agree
The shape etc would be a pain unless you know what you are doing

but, as with most painting things, the prep would be the main pain and time consuming part

you would need - I presume - to take everything of the bike before you start and store them properly
and then put them all back on after wards

and a lot of bikes where I think "that would look good if it only the frame was re-sprayed" are the sort where getting some of the rusty bits off would not be as easy as it looks!

so - based on exactly zero experience of any of this - yes much more difficult that it look on programmes such as "Find it Fix it Flog it"

 

[MontyVeda]

I've sprayed a couple of frames and i wouldn't say it's difficult so long as you're diligent and get all the nooks and crannies without over spraying... but it will look like a hand sprayed frame. Hoping for a professional looking finish is shooting at the moon.