Mr_Christopher

Man oh man I'd like to do this with my mountain bike but first I need to learn how to take it apart, and more importantly put it back together :-)

Chris

jsharr

Where in North Dallas are you? Cuda2K and myself are in the Coit/Campbell area and could probably give you a hand.

Mr_Christopher

That would be awesome! I have a Trek 820 mountain bike I'm wanting to pimp out yet I lack mechanic skills so having some guys to guide me along would be great. I don't know what colors this outfit in Mesquite can do but I'm leaning towards a day/glow green or red color. :-) I also plan to replce the "gooseneck" with a more mountain bike looking stem set up. It's a one piece design that is functional but it doesn't look cool. I have no idea how to do stuff like that.

I'm at Coit and Beltline and I ride mostly in the late evenings. I stop at the Starbucks on Campbell/Coit the nights I ride. We'll have to plan for the folks in the area to meet there or somewhere nearby to get acquainted. Or rather I get acquainted with everyone else, I spose you guys already know one another.

Chris

Mr_Christopher

Can someone explain the advantages/disadvantages of powder coating versus painting?

Chris

huerro

Powder coating is more durable, cheaper, and less toxic than wet paint. The only downside is that it's not as pretty (unless you want to spend lots of money).

Rammer

I think the fork might be mounted backwards.

Nonetheless, very interesting. I might have a frame to send to you.

Mr_Christopher

So you powder coating guys who did it, any updates? Are you still happy with the work? Any surprises months later?

I still have this on my mind...

Chris

txvintage

Gonna bump this thread.

I just picked up my Centurion frame from Enduro over in Mesquite. It looks awesome. I went with "Sky" white. It's so white it almost glows, and the lug work isn't filled in so it still is very defined.

I'll post some pics later.

Mr_Christopher

Good timing. I'm planning to take a frame to them within the next week. Did you get a price for them doing the lugs in a different color? I'm hoping to do the frame in one color and the lugs in another if it isn't too pricey.

Chris

txvintage

I didn't get a price to do a separate color for the lugs but he did say he can do it for an additional fee. The masking process is pretty time consuming.

He can do pretty much any thing you want from fades, muticolor, to a couple of chrome type finshes.

I'm considering taking some crank arms, brake calipers, and disassembled dérailleurs over and having them done in a black chrome finish for use on the white frame.

roadnoob412

Really cool thread you guys - I don't know why, but this has really interested me for some reason. I hope you guys post more pics of your newly powdercoated frames!

Mr_Christopher

I dropped mine off today. Graphite gray it will be.

I'll post pictures when I get it.

Chris

Mr_Christopher

I picked mine up today and I'm very pleased with the result. The lugs are nicely defined and the color matches the color chart I chose from. I had them do it in a darkish gray, 7024 on the chart. I'm putting it all together this week and will post pictures when I get some time.

Chris

Mr_Christopher

Couple of pictures. No sun today so they aren't very inspiring.

brockd15 

Chris, I like the color...clean and understated.

Anyone here looked into having decals printed from a sign shop? I'm thinking about having my wifes bike powder coated and getting some decals of her choice printed to go with it. I saw a post somewhere not too long ago where that was done and it looked great.

Anyone had a frame sandblasted that included carbon? My wifes bike has carbon seat stays.

Last question...anyone know how a good way to remove paint from a carbon fork so it's just the carbon weave? I assume sand blasting would not be a good idea.

Mr_Christopher

There are companies that sell decals for bikes, there are ones that will make them with your artwork. And colored electrical tape makes great tube stripes/bands.

Oh and Electra sells decal kits.

Sorry I lack links to any of these.

Chris

edit : and thanks for the compliments on the bike. I choose a subtle color because I want to showcase the leather and chrome. Wait until you see it in the sunshine. I hope to have pictures this weekend.

Mr_Christopher

Ok, here are a couple of before and after pictures:

brockd15 

Chris,
When I saw that bike in your garage I thought it looked familiar...
I picked up a few parts for the Raleigh yesterday and should have it up and going soon.

Mr_Christopher

Yeah that's me! Nice meeting you. Are you going to keep the gears on the Raleigh or single speed it? Post some pictures when you get done, that should be a nice bike. If I were three inches taller I'd have kept it.

Chris

motoko

Just bumping this thread to report that my powdercoat is still holding up well. Only scratches on it are my own fault from when I packed up the bike and sent it to myself at college.

Tempted to take my Surly Steamroller there and give it a blasting. Any recommendations on color? I am thinking a eggshell cream or like the 09 Surly.

Also, not the right thread, but I thought I'd ask, does anyone have an old tourer frame I could get for a restoration project? I am looking at building up a really nice tourer / city bike. In the fashion of Toei bikes from Japan, or the Ebisu by Jitensha Studios in Berkley.

brockd15 

I've got a Bridgestone T700 I'll be selling some time soon, but it's a complete bike and not a restoration.

motoko

Not a problem, googling the bike it looks like a nice frame. Let me know when you decide to sell it.

Mr_Christopher

I had them powder coat a Trek aluminum frame last week in a kinda darkish green. There are a couple of spots where the color is inconsistant and I was telling a friend of mine that it's not very noticable, that he or I might see it but my wife or someone who's not a bike geek and not looking for minor imperfections would not notice.

The first time my wife saw it she said "why is it faded right here?" as she pointed to that spot. Oh well. The price may have gone up, it was $85 for a single color with clear coat. If I had paid for a $300 paint job I would not have been happy, but a couple of light spots on a $85 job is hard to get worked up over.

I'll try and post some photos soon, the bike looks cool in spite of one or two imperfections.

Mr_Christopher

Meet Fred:

j944

I had an old Sugar 3 powder coated at custom powder coating in Dallas last year. I have been really pleased w/ the work. I was amazed at the amount of different colors you could choose from. Yet I still ran w/ flat black.