Apaulo

Picked up a Cilo 105 on cl, seems to be identical to a Ironman. Made in Japan, Tange 1 tubing, Shimano 105 all around. I definitely want to spruce the bike up, and i've currently got it down to just the frame. I intended to strip the paint and do my best with a rattle can, but looking into it further has me thinking paying a few dollars more to get it blasted/powder coating might be worth it, considering it wouldn't cost too much more, and would be worlds better (not to mention a lot less work).

The thing that has me worried, is I've read a lot of posts here of people urging against media blasting, as it ruins the frame. Is this completely true? Maybe the best thing to do would be leave it be?

Here's some pics i took while i was dismantling the bike.

Alan Edwards

Don't sand blast the frame it sands down what is already vary thin tubing. Look at the auto parts stores for touch up paint pens that match your paint, grease everything, add good tires, tubes, and ride. Nice looking bike, don't forget to put up pictures when your done.

Puget Pounder

The paint seems to be in very good condition. It looks like some touch up, elbow grease, polish, and wax will take you a long way.

Apaulo

What bothers me about keeping the original paint is that there seem to be some decals missing that I can't locate anywhere online. I can see raised areas of the paint that spell "Cilo". One idea i had was to order Centurion Ironman decals, as the bikes are identical and came in this same paint scheme, and brand it as that. The thing about that is would i be able to sand those raised areas to apply different decals without destroying the paint job?

randyjawa 

It would be incredibly foolish to repaint the bicycle. What will happen is that you will lower the value of the bicycle, considerably. And, you will spend a few bucks doing it.

The rattle can paint will be just fine - if you do it right. And doing it right does not include a sand blast. It does not include a few quick coats of paint, a couple of days drying time before building the bike. Rather...

Preparation must be done well to get good results. The primer and paint must be applied evenly and sanded between coats. And, when you are all done painting, you had better find a way to cure or properly dry the paint. Many people will actually make the effort to bake the paint to accelerate drying time. Failure to let the paint dry properly will result in a very fragile paint job...

The point is, know what you are getting into before you ruin the perfectly decent original paint and art. In your case, a bit of color matched touch up would be far more appropriate.

Of course, it is your bike and you should do as you please. I, personally, would not even consider painting a frame in that condition.

Hope this is a help.

Alan Edwards

Some of us consider a torn decal or paint chip as a war wound, a badge of honor, or patina. You know it's real and you can't fake it. Race cars have the coolest paint jobs and they get chipped to sh*t. Think real.

AZORCH

I can only second and third what has already been said here already. I've done very well with my repaints - yet I cannot tell you how much I regret losing the original finish, regardless of the rough condition. I have a Colnago with a number of paint chips - sure would look prettier, i guess, with a new coat of paint but I'm going to leave it alone. No sense in another case of remorse!

XLR99

+1 just do a clean & touch up, use Scratch -X, and wax it. You can get decals off Ebay from cyclomundo. I got a set for my Cilo last year.
Never heard of a Cilo with Tange tubing. Mine is Columbus Aelle; someone else just did a resto on a 531 frameset.

Oregon Southpaw

I personally think faded/worn out decals are perhaps cooler than intact decals.

Apaulo

What do you guys think of me rebadging it?? What steps would i need to take to restore the paint and get it ready for new decals? I'm almost certain that this is an identical bike as these centurions:

Puget Pounder

I think we have already told you what we think. However, if you are so adamant about rebadging, rebadge it the right way.

Michael Angelo 

I need about 12 Centurion Headbadges......that should be enough to redo all of my bikes......

mkeller234

I think rebranding it is a little weird.

frenchbikefan

I think that if you want an ironman buy an ironman. that bike parted out would get you most of the way there if not all the way. I would be all over that frame if it was my size.

randyjawa 

I think you would be lying to anyone else who views the bicycle. Rebranding an old road bicycle is shameful and, in my mind, dishonest. How would the OP feel, during his rebranding process, if he found out that the bicycle was not a Cilo, but something of lesser quality that someone else had rebranded.

I do not mean to offend but the suggestion to lie about a bicycle's pedigree is shameful, in my opinion. Were I the OP I would be taking the expert advice he came to the forum for in the first place.