Folding Bikes - when powdercoating your raleigh twenty...

...what did you do about that pressed in washer thing where the two frame pieces connect? anyone? mr. pixel?

hey there. My bike wasn't powder coated; it was painted by the good folks at M Steel cycles up in Newcastle upon Tyne. They did the whole job - particle blasted off the old paint then acid etch primer, 2 coats of colour, lasercut decals and a coat of clear laquer to finish. It looks like they must have simply pushed something (cotton wool? masking tape?) into the holes to stop paint getting in the threads. The washer edges are painted but it still rotates and operates as designed.
What colour are you having it done? Always nice to hear of a full on resto with a new paintjob!

right now it's flat black, done with a spraycan. i like the way it looks, but it's getting all chippy and rusty around the edges. i just had another frame powdercoated and i'm addicted. there's a place around here that has do-it-yourself sandblasting, and another place that does industrial powdercoating but they'll do a frame and fork for $30cdn. once the other bike is built, i'm thinking about redoing the folder. the powdercoat place has some colours that are cheap (from these, i shall choose) and others that aren't cheap. i don't think flat black is in the cheap pile, so i'll probably do it glossy black to keep the stealth look. as for that washer thing, i believe there's some type of heat resistant tape that i might be able to cover it with. we shall see.

i should take a couple more photos of the "folder of death" and get it up on your site, no?

Yes please! More photographic Twenty Goodness! I finished my 'day job' on friday for the summer so should have some time to do a proper job on that site and get an FAQ and more featured rides on there.
Best
--Huw

right now it's flat black, done with a spraycan. i like the way it looks, but it's getting all chippy and rusty around the edges. i just had another frame powdercoated and i'm addicted. there's a place around here that has do-it-yourself sandblasting, and another place that does industrial powdercoating but they'll do a frame and fork for $30cdn. once the other bike is built, i'm thinking about redoing the folder. the powdercoat place has some colours that are cheap (from these, i shall choose) and others that aren't cheap. i don't think flat black is in the cheap pile, so i'll probably do it glossy black to keep the stealth look. as for that washer thing, i believe there's some type of heat resistant tape that i might be able to cover it with. we shall see.

i should take a couple more photos of the "folder of death" and get it up on your site, no?


hi andy, Are you in TO? I'm also planning to get my 20 and moulton f frame powder coated. where's the place you mentioned can do for 30 bucks? I'm very interested.

cheers

i'm in vancouver. i just looked in the yellow pages under "protective coatings". there's probably some bike specific powdercoaters around, but if you go with some sort of industrial type place they'll probably be tons cheaper. just be sure to prep your frame as best you can beforehand (put some old cups in the bottom bracket, put bolts in the bottle cage and fender mounts, stuff like that. it'll save you time and money getting everything re-chased when it's done.).