re: [CR]Tips on Respraying Bikes

(Example: Framebuilding:Tubing)

To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
From: "H.M. & S.S. Sachs" <sachs@erols.com>
Subject: re: [CR]Tips on Respraying Bikes
Cc: pgrizic@haggie.co.za
Date: Thu, 19 Dec 2002 19:42:50 -0500

Phil Grizic wrote

All the vintage bikes that I have purchased so far, that needed respraying, I have had done by a local guy that resprays bikes. His finish is excellent. All the parts I recondition myself as a good form of stress relief and a sense of pride and joy when the job is finished. I'm getting quite good at it - Campy always cleans up well, and I love seeing the after effect. I recently purchased an old Viner as was thinking of attempting the respray myself so that I can say that I did the whole job from start to finish. Can anyone give me some tips on respraying a bike. Though of using auto paint and not spray cans as the finish is better and harder.

I don't paint, since I'm bearded and was involved in the Imron generation -- Imron is darned near lethal to look at... But, I did watch and learn from one of the masters, and to me there seem to be two things that matter:

1) Surface preparation. Les Lunas (former Bruce Gordon painter) was obcessed with getting the surface clean and perfect. Then scrubbing well with an acidic iron phosphate solution, which gives "tooth" so the primer will stick. Then he would examine every square cm for places that might benefit from just a tab of whatever, sanded out. Then the Corlon (?) 2-part epoxy primer, with thin full coverage.

2) Don't overdo it. IMHO, too darned many painters think that thicker is better. It's just more likely to chip. I still remember the factory Schwinn silver finish that was about perfect -- and you could read "531" stamped on one fork blade. Ok, that's a matter of taste, but I really don't like mounds of paint.

But, whatever you like!

harvey sachs
mcLean va