[CR]New Respect for bike painters

(Example: Framebuilders:Brian Baylis)

From: <Wornoutguy@aol.com>
Date: Sun, 28 Apr 2002 12:08:25 EDT
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: [CR]New Respect for bike painters

I used to paint cars and now that I have 4 bikes I have been prepping and painting I have a little more respect for people who paint bikes. I wanted to pass on some wisdom I am finding as a guy at home painting. I never missed any part of a car by not getting any color coat but this is easy to do with my bikes. First off no matter what angle I put the frame there are parts in bad lighting so it is difficult to tell where you have paint and where you don't. I have moved the bike in the holder around and thought I had it all only to find no paint on the bottom of the rear brake bridge or on the inside of the seat stays. Time to paint again not a good situation. Painting a car fender is easier then painting a bike fender how do you hang it? How do you hang it so it doesn't spin and you can paint inside and outside? I have painted all kinds of cool flames and stripes on cars, new problem, laying fine line on small round tubes is harder than flames on cars and the stripes are much closer together. Lots and lots of time invested to get results. Hats off to you guys who paint these things -- The sad truth is the painter at the last body shop I managed made almost $100,000 a year how many bike painters make that???? I am having fun but have found I no longer have the patience I used to. Sam DiBartolomeo Riverside, CA