Bicycle Mechanics - Who has had a PC done @ Class Act?

I have seen several bikes done by Class Act here in PDX and I was wondering what ya'll think. I think I would like to get my bike powdercoated there and my main concern is sealing my frame up so that it is as rust proof as possible. I was in their shop yesterday and I was told they sand blast to prep the frame, but it sounds like they don't PC necessarily immediately afterwards which I hear would be ideal for rust prevention. I never asked whether they prime the frame after sand blast which would help with rust prevention... So has anyone had problems with rust on your frames? Lastly, my bike (steel frame) has been outdoors a lot the past five years and has been somewhat neglected (rarely have I wiped my bike down after rides and sometimes I store it outdoors here in PDX, I now know better), just a few patches of surface rust, but I am concerned that when I brake the bike down I'll find rust inside the frame. Should I flush the inside of the frame with phosphoric acid and seal it with frame saver before I bring it in if I want to be safest? A couple closely closely related questions, I have done a lot of searching already on the forum, but I would like to hear more about Class Act specifically without having to grill the guys at the shop about this stuff, especially because I don't really know what I am talking about. Thanks in advance for the help, wkf

I'm pretty sure they and you want no oil/grease on the frame when they put it in the oven. So no dice on the framesaver. I'd just trust them to do it right or find someone you do trust. I might give the frame the oxalic acid treatment prior to powdercoating, but it could be done afterward as well.

I have seen several bikes done by Class Act here in PDX and I was wondering what ya'll think. I think I would like to get my bike powdercoated there and my main concern is sealing my frame up so that it is as rust proof as possible. I was in their shop yesterday and I was told they sand blast to prep the frame, but it sounds like they don't PC necessarily immediately afterwards which I hear would be ideal for rust prevention. I never asked whether they prime the frame after sand blast which would help with rust prevention... So has anyone had problems with rust on your frames? Lastly, my bike (steel frame) has been outdoors a lot the past five years and has been somewhat neglected (rarely have I wiped my bike down after rides and sometimes I store it outdoors here in PDX, I now know better), just a few patches of surface rust, but I am concerned that when I brake the bike down I'll find rust inside the frame. Should I flush the inside of the frame with phosphoric acid and seal it with frame saver before I bring it in if I want to be safest? A couple closely closely related questions, I have done a lot of searching already on the forum, but I would like to hear more about Class Act specifically without having to grill the guys at the shop about this stuff, especially because I don't really know what I am talking about. Thanks in advance for the help, wkf



You've said you've store your bike outdoors for a number of years... I think that you are worrying too much. I would imagine they have their stuff together and know their business. Just spray some framesaver inside the tubes after you get it painted.

I am curious, what make of frame is receaving such amount of late attention?

Wouldn't the oxalic acid or phosphoric acid (any acid for that matter) destroy my new powdercoat if I applied it after my paint job? Also, phosphoric acid leaves no grease or oil behind, I'm guessing it gets rid of it if anything, so I should be able to do that before I bring it in to be prepped and PC'd. It does seem as though I ought to do the frame saver after PC/ before reassembly....

I've come a long ways in terms of my appreciation of my bike. I went to came to PDX about 5 and 1/2 years ago for school and one of the first things I did was get a bike. I owned cheapo mountain bikes growing up and rode them occassionally but never really got into cycling. In HS everyone had a car or wanted one, I didn't but all my friends did so I just rode around with them and walked when I needed to. Once I bought my bike my freshman year of school I began communting a lot by bike, exclusively in fact. Everyone rides and commutes by bike in PDX so friends and I would go on bike rides all the time in addition to commuting from home to school (14 miles a day, except freshman year when I was in dorms). I have never driven a car alone, lost my liscence a year ago or so, so cars aren't my thing (no money for one anyways). I rode my bike much like I imagine a lot of car commuters drive their cars, harshly. My bike was for commuting not recreation nor style. I hated servicing my bike, and so I never did except for maybe one tune up a year or two back. After doing a three week plus tour from my childhood home in Seattle, throughout the Olympic Peninsula, with various backcountry hiking jaunts through the park along the way, and my final destination my new home in PDX. My ignoramous touring setup was comprised of a piece of plywood wired down to my stock rear rack (maybe designed for 45-50lbs) upon which rested my high school basketball duffle bag with its own piece of plywood at its bottom, finally the duffle bag stapled to the piece of plywood on the rack. Behind the bag went my sleeping pad. On top of the bag rested my hiking backpack. So with about 65 lbs of gear (depended on if I had food with me or not) I slogged around my route. My weight was obviously being held way to high. I ended up doing several 80 mile plus days and one of two 100 plus mile days. I loved it the entire time (no rain in Olympics for 23 days is an anomally if you know the area). I recieved not a single flat tire the entire way (around 700 miles total I believe), and it would have taken me a rediculous amount of time to patch a tube had a needed to, let alone some kind of component or frame failure. I broke a spoke partway through but I didn't think that really mattered at the time, my wheel still spun and I was going to ride that thing into the ground. I had no idea what kind of frame to use for touring, shape nor metal type. And so to finally answer your question girona, it probably comes of no surprise to you and other knowledgeable cyclists that I was riding a near stock 1986 Miyata 1000 in perfect condition for the past five and half years. Other than new wheels (Mavics which I love, never broke a spoke with them in over a year of heavy use), new 50T chainring, a 7spd cassette upgrade, crappy aluminum bars, and a few minor components the bike is stock. About a week ago I got curious and discovered bikeforums. Let there be light is all I have to say. I have since realized that I've been riding something pretty nice. I love to ride bikes, I love to tour, and I like things that are nice and work well. Therefore, I am refurbishing the bike so that someday another individual can inherit the tradition and put their own twist. I figure there is no reason why the frame should not last into future generations if I start treating it well. Too much writing, the guys in touring would probably find this amusing, but I am changing my ways I swear....:o

Where the heck is "PDX"?

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=PDX

My understanding is that oxalic acid does not affect the top coat. I can't say for sure it applies to the plastic in powdercoating. No idea with phosphoric.

Where the heck is "PDX"?

Exactly what I was thinking. I guess it must be obvious to people in the northwest but I was clueless until looking it up. PDX is the airport code for Portland International Airport in Portland, Oregon.

wkf has seen the light! (good for you)

down here after paint/powdercoat we use LPS 3 or Corrosion X in the tubes.... no rust living 3 miles from the Atlantic Ocean!