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Post by brianbutler on May 16, 2020 15:33:57 GMT
I am interested in ideas for restoring or replacing painted bike finishes.
Whether or not to deal with the paint depends on several factors: 1. Cost - how much does it cost and is it worth it for a given bike? 2. Preservation - is it better to repaint a vintage bike or leave it original? 3. Purpose of restoration - 100 point restoration or putting together a beater?
For most of the bikes I find, I wet sand with 2000-3000 grit paper, then progressively polish with rubbing compound, polishing compound, and wax. I make no effort to touch up flaws, leaving all of the battle scars. This makes sense because I am a bicycle bottom feeder. My goal is to never spend over $30 for a bike and ideally zero. I have spent up to $50 on occasion.
I stripped and repainted my 1954 Raleigh Sports myself using spray can primer and paint. It took a lot of rubbing to remove the orange peel but the results are good. I was able to find a decal set for this bike but it will still need some pinstriping if I want it to be correct.
So, do you paint or not paint, do it yourself or have it done professionally, and what about graphics? I am particularly interested in home-grown solutions for decals, stencils, lettering, and pinstriping.
Brian
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Post by franco on May 16, 2020 16:47:56 GMT
Good post Brian and something I’m interested in.
It’s surprisingly how good some frames come up using T-Cut polish. Any small bits of rust I treat with Kurust and then I touched-up small chips using acrylic or enamel paint, but if there is quite a lot of it I leave it because as you say, you can end up spending more than the bike is worth. I’ve even used nail varnish as well.
The dilemma I have is with the 1959 Trent Tourist. It’s gone beyond touching up odd bits, but the decals are hand painted and not available to buy. So if I refinish it or get it powder coated it won’t be the same bike. It’s not the cost, it’s a bike I will keep, but I just can’t make a decision which way to go with it.
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Post by wheelson on May 16, 2020 17:41:43 GMT
Good posts from Brian and franco. Paint is always an issue. Most of my bikes would not warrant a professional paint job. My best, a '74 Schwinn Paramount is the Silver Mist original color. I bought the frameset used and it had a number of scrapes. I found a Chrysler Town and Country silver color to be very close and bought some quality automotive spray paint. My '84 Schwinn Voyageur SP was already powder coated when I got it, a very good job. I've had several bikes powder coated locally, my '48 Schwinn T&C tandem, a Nashbar road bike, an '83 Bianchi Grizzly mtb, and a '93 Cannondale hybrid-turned-road bike. Powder coating works well for bikes you will use and abuse hauling them around on a rack.
My current projects 1)Viscount Aerospace will get the replacement (used) fork painted to match the frame and silver frame touched up. 2)'60s Motobecane rando, paint is not good but will get a very careful cleaning and touchup not to disturb the intricate box lining. 3) '84 Fuji Touring lll, small frame steel bike for my wife, haven't received it yet but looks like some serious touchup.
Bottom line is NO professional paint for my stable of bikes other than powder coat as needed (about $135 USD per pop). Rattle can is ok if prep and quality automotive paint used. But then I have no show bikes, either.
Disclaimer: In a past life while in military service, I assisted a professional painter with 3 auto paint jobs and did one myself. "But that was yesterday, and yesterday's gone". Best, John "wheelson" Wilson
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Post by franco on May 16, 2020 21:26:17 GMT
I’m no different with what I buy, if there ever was a ‘bottom feeder’ it’s me and none of my bikes are show bikes either. Maybe one at a push. It’s good to get them more presentable though, shows a sense of pride and they will last longer if rust is treated and covered.
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Jem
Viscount
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Posts: 3,390
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Post by Jem on May 18, 2020 18:01:09 GMT
I have a similar philosophy to you Brian, in that I am trying not to spend too much. For that reason alone, I have never stripped a bike to have it blasted and sprayed. The only touch up I do is either a rub over and give a clear lacquer on spots to prevent any more rust , and on a couple of bikes where I thought I could get a near exact colour match, I used a tiny brush to cover chipped paintwork. I realised a long time ago that touching up with paint that is not quite right highlights the problem more than if left alone.
I went to the first and second Eroica Britannia (retro bike rally/ride/weekend) and loved the pristine bikes with perfect paint winning the 'best in show', and part of me would have willingly had one , but I just don't think I would have gotten 10 times more pleasure than the bike that costs £20 than the one that costs £200 or £300. But I understand why people would want that, as I am a collector of many items not just bikes, and logic doesn't really guide most collectors.
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