RE: [CR] re: painting a second color on a frame.

(Example: Framebuilders:Doug Fattic)

content-class: urn:content-classes:message
Subject: RE: [CR] re: painting a second color on a frame.
Date: Tue, 22 Nov 2005 08:45:39 -0800
Thread-Topic: [CR] re: painting a second color on a frame.
Thread-Index: AcXvgx3CEKW6jZmsTTuqZeP+wqhOMgAANH2w
From: "George Argiris" <George.Argiris@mitchell.com>
To: "Doug Fattic" <fatticbicycles@qtm.net>, <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>


It doesn't matter which way you do it, there's always going to be a lug edge to deal with.

george argiris san diego,ca

-----Original Message----- From: classicrendezvous-bounces@bikelist.org [mailto:classicrendezvous-bounces@bikelist.org] On Behalf Of Doug Fattic Sent: Tuesday, November 22, 2005 8:38 AM To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org Subject: [CR] re: painting a second color on a frame.

Hi Jamie, Bob and Roman,

My desire to allow the opinion that it is not an inferior method to have a second frame color come up the edge of the lug is not just a stand alone aesthetic question but is really an aesthetic question related to technical possibilities. In other words, some types of paint and some ways of filing lugs prevents a good way of having a clean color change at the bottom of the lug edge. Roman hit on one of these challenges when he mentioned that it would be difficult - if not impossible - to polish the side of a stainless steel lug. The result would be a duller and rougher side than the top so that difference would have an aesthetic impact beyond just where the color line is drawn. The types of paints I use have varying degrees of thickness that would also bring real challenges to making a smooth color transition. The thin base coat/clear coat types of paint would allow for painting the whole lug including it's edge without problems. However, if I used a candy color that might have a dozen layers of paint, I've got to balance out that thickness layer with the other color where they meet. If the lugs are really thinned, like I love to do them, the paint thickness will take away from that effect. In addition, I paint bicycle frames made from around the world where the quality of the lug edge is less than perfect (by contrast, Jamie, in your pictures of your frames, your brazing around the lug edges looked great!). This makes a smooth transition even more difficult.

So to sum it up, it isn't just a question of where to draw the line but will where the line be drawn make the whole affect look worse because of technical difficulties like the thickness of the paint choice, etc. I didn't want the judgment of the quality of a multi color paint job to be decided only by it's transition point. Besides I really like the lug edges to be painted the same color as the head tube because that is how they did it in England on my old Hetchins, Hurlow and Ellis Briggs. Hmmm, maybe I'm more conservative than I thought.

Doug Fattic
Niles, Michigan